If music is your heart, you may be concerned that you will be unable to pay for college without taking out loans. The good news is that you may still be able to save money on your education by applying for a scholarship. There are a variety of music scholarship programs, notably full scholarships. Despite the fact that these scholarships are competitive, applying for them could help you go one step closer to being compensated for your love.
Students who want to pursue a degree or a profession in music can apply for music scholarships. However, this does not always have to be linked to performance. There are scholarships for music production, music education, and even music therapy. Scholarships are available from a variety of organizations and foundations. However, it’s worth noting that many music scholarships are for tiny sums of money; however, there are a few exceptions that provide more than $10,000.
There are a lot of scholarship websites that can assist you in locating music scholarships and determining whether or not you are eligible. You may also be able to supplement your music scholarship with other sources of money, such as grants, additional scholarships, and even student loans, to cover your expenses. These are the top 10 scholarships for music therapy.
1. Berklee College of Music Presidential Awards
Berklee College of Music, Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Berklee Valencia, Berklee NYC, and Berklee Online students receive more than $60 million in institutional scholarships and grants each year. Institutional aid is provided to about 40% of new campus pupils, with the average award paying 40% of tuition. When enrolling at the College, Conservatory, or Berklee NYC, all entering undergraduate and graduate students are routinely assessed for merit-based grants as part of the admissions policy. Within their online admittance form, Berklee Valencia graduate applicants complete an application form. Students at Berklee College of Music can submit materials as part of their admissions application to have their songwriting and composing abilities examined. Undergraduate scholarships are offered for up to eight semesters of attendance and are automatically renewed each semester if students meet the scholarship’s terms of service. Berklee College offers one of the few full-ride music scholarships available. Applicants who are selected must exhibit both financial needs and musical ability. This scholarship provides free on-campus housing and a laptop in addition to covering tuition.
Provided By: Berkley University
Amount: Varies
Education: Undergraduate
Deadline: Varies
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2. John Lenon Scholarship
The John Lennon Scholarships are an annual competition accessible to student songwriters and composers from alternative, pop, rock, indie, electronica, R&B, and experimental musical genres. Over the last two decades, more than $400,000 in scholarships has been presented to exceptional young musicians from colleges and universities across the country, making this one of the most prestigious awards for composers in the country. Three scholarships worth $20,000 are awarded thanks annually to the generosity of Ono and Gibson Musical Instruments for the finest original songs submitted to the competition. Candidates must be 17 to 24 years old and enrolled in a college in the United States. A prominent jury of music publishers, songwriters, musicians, and executives judge the works. Samantha Cox, Assistant Vice President of Writer-Publisher Relations at Broadcast Music Inc., is in charge of the competition.
Provided By: BMI Foundation
Amount: 20,000 USD
Education: Undergraduate
Deadline: Varies
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3. Namm President’s Innovation Award
Some artists prefer a penthouse suite to a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The NAMM President’s Innovation Award, while not a traditional grant, grants $750 to prospective music industry CEOs to help pay the costs of visiting The NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA, in January. This grant is open to full-time students with a 3.0 GPA or higher. It provides the chance to attend the NAMM Show for career development events like connecting with well-known musicians. “We define progression as someone who aspires to work in the fields of music, music business, and/or music products and helps bring their level of skill and digital natives to the field, as well as a vision of creating within the field—whether musically, new creative products or processes,” said Mary Luehrsen, Executive Director of The NAMM Foundation. “As university students, we realize that many of our peers are on the edge of becoming creative, and we want to encourage them to explore their passions for art and music.” Take this your initial $750 investment in the musical Shark Tank’s best and brightest idea.
Provided By: NAMM
Amount: 750 USD
Education: Undergraduate
Deadline: January 7
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4. Top of the Rock Peggy Gram Scholarship
The Top of the Rock Peggy Gram Scholarship Fund (PGSF) grants scholarships to women participating in senior music education or vocal performance training to help them continue their music education. The scholarship is named after Peggy Gram, who served as director of Top of the Rock Chorus for more than 40 years. Based on the outcomes of yearly charity events, the TOTR PGSF Committee specifies the number and value of awards to be presented each year. Women who have completed one semester of the university are qualified to apply for the scholarship, which is given out every year in the spring for the following academic year. One academic year is covered by a scholarship.
Provided By: Top of the Rock Chorus
Amount: Varies
Education: Undergraduate
Deadline: Yet to be Updated
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5. Big Arts Classical Music Scholarship
BIG ARTS is providing its Classical Music Scholarship once more to those who want to continue professional study in classical music instruments, such as a piano. This scholarship, worth $25,000 (first prize), $15,000 (second prize), and $10,000 (third prize), may be granted to up to three individuals each year (third). Students currently studying in an approved Florida bachelor music program at a university or college are eligible. Students in Florida can get $15,000, $10,000, or $5,000. This organization also offers a creative arts scholarship, open to students interested in music and other creative arts.
Provided By: Big Arts
Amount: Varies
Education: Undergraduate
Deadline: April 22
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6. Mario Lanza Institute Scholarship
Candidates for this prize come from all across the United States as well as foreign countries. Each spring, the Institute’s Board of Directors analyses the rationale for selecting applicants for the following year in consultation with the competition’s organizers. Proposals are written and sent to a variety of universities across the country, and anyone with the ambition and ability to participate can submit one. As part of the application procedure, the candidate must have a vocal/music study background. Enrollment in a study program, either past or present, could be used to indicate this. There is currently only one-course category for students aged 21 to 28. The first-place award is $2,000, while the second-place prize is $1,500, and the third-place prize is $1,000. Tryouts are held every year in October. A judging panel selects the winners, who would then play in front of the full crowd at the Mario Lanza Anniversary Ball to receive their awards. The success of the MLI Scholarship Program is contingent on hard work and dedication. The Mario Lanza Foundation is pleased to report that all proceeds from different events fund the scholarship fund, exhibition, and, eventually, Mario’s dream.
Provided By: Mario Lanza Institute
Amount: 2000 USD
Education: High School Graduate
Deadline: Varies
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7. Peermusic Latin Foundation Scholarship
The Peermusic Latin Scholarship is a yearly contest for student Latin music musicians and composers. The award was founded in 2003 through the generosity and foresight of Peermusic CEO Ralph Peer II. It is one of the rare accolades of its kind. The program has cultivated potential artists who have gone on to make their mark in the realms of television, film, recorded music, and concert performance for more than a decade. Gloria Trevi, a platinum performer and BMI songwriter is the competition’s honorary spokeswoman. The finest original song or instrumental creation in any Latin genre receives a $5,000 prize each year.
Provided By: BMI Foundation
Amount: 5000 USD
Education: Undergraduate
Deadline: Varies
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8. Glenn Miller Birthplace Society Scholarship
Since 1977, the Glenn Miller Birthplace Society has celebrated Glenn Miller’s music and legacy by hosting a yearly scholarship contest for high school graduates and college freshmen who plan to pursue music as a career. Students from all over the country register for the prize, and the Glenn Miller Festival selects 10 vocal semi-finalists and 10 musical semi-finalists to participate. Three winners are chosen from each category, and they will play at the festival’s Stage Show the following day. Each year, the Glenn Miller Society awards $12,000 in scholarships.
Provided By: Glenn Miller Birthplace Society
Amount: 12,000 USD
Education: Undergraduate
Deadline: June 9th
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9. VSA International Young Soloists Competition
The Kennedy Center hosts this competition, which is aimed at musicians with disabilities. Musicians from all around the world can demonstrate their abilities on instruments or with their voices. Each musician that is chosen for this competition receives a monetary prize of $2,500 as well as access to professional development opportunities.
Provided By: The Kennedy Center
Amount: 2,500 USD
Education: Undergraduate
Deadline: Varies
Apply Now
10. National Federation of Music Clubs
Smaller, more targeted awards are sometimes simpler to obtain. The National Federation of Music Clubs has a number of scholarships available for various musical pursuits. You might be able to acquire a scholarship for playing a specific instrument, such as the French horn, or for studying composition. The prizes vary from $600 and $3,000. To qualify, you may need to pay an entry fee and join the National Federation of Music Clubs, as well as be between the ages of 19 and 25.
Provided By: The National Federation of Music Clubs
Amount: Varies
Education: varies
Deadline: Varies
Apply Now
