Each year, we honor talented first-year and transfer students with our music scholarships. These four-year scholarships are awarded in voice, piano, strings, woodwind, brass, percussion, guitar, organ, and composition. Music scholarship amounts range in value from $1,000-$5,000 per year and are stackable with academic scholarships. All music scholarship applicants are also automatically considered for our Christiansen Award of $25,500 per year (replacing all other scholarships due to its high value), awarded to a select few students of exceptional musical ability. Both of these scholarships are open to all students regardless of major and utilize the same application process below. Please note that some scholarships require the recipient to take private lessons and join one of our major music ensembles in the area of their scholarship.
Please reach out to Kristen Hatfield with any questions regarding music scholarships. Information on auditioning for music degrees can be found in the section below the music scholarship application process outline.
To receive a music scholarship, you must:
Music scholarships cannot be combined with other talent scholarships (visual arts, speech and debate, or theatre), but students will be given a choice of which to accept if offered multiple talent scholarships.
(If you are applying in more than one area, you only need to submit your online application one time. However, you will be able to submit a separate recording for each performance area (maximum of three areas)
If you are interested in majoring in music, you may have your music scholarship audition also act as an audition for acceptance into one of our professional music degree programs (music education, performance, or composition). may be different than scholarship requirements. In order to have your scholarship audition count as your degree audition, you need to review the degree audition requirements and prepare the appropriate repertoire/materials for your live audition. No additional application is necessary. The Bachelor of Arts in Music (a general music program often paired with another major) and the Bachelor of Arts in Music and Business Entrepreneurship do not require an entrance audition. Please reach out to Kristen Hatfield with questions regarding music major auditions.
Recipients of this award are automatically advanced to the final round of the music scholarship process without being required to submit a recording in their application. These awards are available for incoming students of any major and recognize talented individuals who have exceeded the bar for musical excellence through participation in approved honor ensembles, receiving similar awards, winning competitions, etc. They may also be given directly to students who demonstrate excellence in a meeting/lesson with our faculty.
You are automatically eligible to receive this award if you have participated in any of the following:
In order to receive the Conductor's Choice or Faculty's Choice Award, please contact Kristen Hatfield and present proof of participation in one of the above-listed qualified ensembles (or similar auditioned group), or proof of other criteria listed. Examples include a concert program, a letter from your ensemble director or teacher, an acceptance letter, etc.