The first goal of the EBMPA is “to encourage and support quality music education for all students in the East Bridgewater Public Schools.”  With that goal in mind, the EBMPA offers need-based scholarships for private voice and instrumental lessons to students who attend East Bridgewater Jr/Sr High School. These awards were made possible through the generosity of the Jacob Batchelder Fund.  Students may apply for up to $250 per school year to pay for private lessons: depending on response, two to four scholarships will be awarded in the 2025-26 school year.

Requirements:

• The student must be currently enrolled in the East Bridgewater Jr/Sr High School and performing with a school band or chorus.

• The student has been a member of the school music program for at least one year, with an average of 85% or above in music classes [or recommendation from an EB music ensemble faculty member].

• The student has had little opportunity to study privately due to financial need. 

• The student displays a prominent interest and talent and would benefit from private instruction.

• The student demonstrates a strong work ethic and positive attitude toward musical practice and study.

Expectations:

• Scholarship recipients are expected to participate in a school music program for at least one year after receiving scholarship lessons. 

Find a link to the required application form below, which should be completed by the music student. All responses are confidential: only the sponsoring teacher and the scholarship committee chair will know who applied. There will be no public announcements of recipients.

Click here for the EBMPA Lesson Scholarship Application

For the 2025-26 school year, applications will be reviewed at the end of each month. Students can apply any time during the school year, but, because we have a limited number of scholarships to offer, it is best to apply early. We do not accept applications after May 31, but will support summer lessons if applications are received before that date.

EBMPA Scholarship Requirements

This scholarship is for $500 and will be distributed after the awardees’ first semester at college. Applicants must be active in school music organizations for no less than three years, including senior year. Transfer students who arrived either in their sophomore, junior or senior year may apply providing they present a letter from their previous school’s music director describing the student’s involvement in that music department.

School music organizations are defined as follows: Concert Band, Concert Choir, Marching Band, Color Guard, Extracurricular Instrumental or Vocal groups. Candidates must demonstrate advancement and quality of musical or organizational performance, as well as diligence, leadership, and good citizenship. Participation in EBMPA fundraising activities is required.

Scholarships will be awarded first to those students who are enrolled in a program with the intention of pursuing a career in either music education or the performing arts and then to those who are enrolled in other programs of study. If, however, none of the eligible candidates intend to pursue careers in any field of music, the scholarships will be awarded to students who are enrolled in other fields of study who have made a significant contribution to the music department through their participation in the music program.

There is a specific essay prompt for this scholarship: please see the EBJSHS Guidance website for more information (it’s usually made available in late February).