Scholarship Opportunities Open year-round for Visual and Performing Arts

Music Scholarships

Independent Music Scholarships

Against the Grain
Several scholarships for students who are at least 25% Asian and/or Pacific Islander ethnicity. Application deadline: May 31

American Association of University Women
Fellowships and grants for graduate school. Application deadline: November

American Association of University Women International Fellowships
Graduate school support for women who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Must have equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree to apply. Application deadline: November

American Indian College Fund
Scholarships for enrolled members of federal or state recognized tribes or descendants of at least one grandparent or parent who is an enrolled tribal member or Native Corporation member (AK). Application deadline: May 31

American Legion Legacy Scholarships
For offering of U.S. military members who died while on active duty on or after 9/11/01. Also for offspring of post-911 veterans with a 50% or greater disability rating. Application deadline: April 1

American Music Therapy Association
Scholarships and grants for students, interns and grad students who are members of AMTA and are pursuing music therapy. Application deadlines vary by program – most are March or June.

ASCAP Foundation Scholarships
Several scholarships available in many areas of music. Check with the financial aid office at your school to see if a scholarship is available and if you are eligible. Application deadlines vary by program

Associated Male Choruses of America
Annual scholarships for music majors enrolled in undergraduate college-level music programs. Voice/choral majors preferred. Application deadline: March 1

Bart Pitman Memorial Music Scholarship
Two annual keyboard scholarships for high school seniors who apply and audition. Must live in PA or NJ or study with a teacher in one of those states and be accepted to a degree-granting music school to major in classical piano or organ at time of application.Application deadline: April 15

Big Arts Classical Music Scholarship
For current undergraduate classical music majors attending college in the State of Florida. Application deadline: March 25

Blackburn Memorial Composition Competition
$1000 grand prize for a composition by a female student composer (enrolled in an accredited college, university or graduate music program). Application deadline: April 30 2023

BMI Foundation Scholarships
Several scholarships available in several areas of music including film/tv/video game composing; classical composing; songwriting in several genres. Application deadlines vary by program.

Boettcher Foundation Scholarships
For Colorado high school seniors nominated for excellence in academics, leadership, and community service. Includes tuition, room, board, stipend to be used at colleges in Colorado. DACA and Colorado ASSET applicants will be considered. Application deadline: November 1 of senior year

Chopin Foundation of the U.S.
Gives up to ten renewable scholarships of $1000 each to pianists age 14 – 17. Application deadline: May 15

Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation
Scholarships for high school seniors. Application deadline: October

D’Addario Foundation – Kevin Garren Scholarship
For college juniors, seniors or grad students in Music Business or Woodwind Performance. Renewable for up to 4 years. Minimum 3.0 GPA. Application deadline: July 15

Davidson Fellows
Scholarships are awarded to “extraordinary young people, 18 and under, who have completed a significant piece of work” in several areas including music. Application deadline: February

Dell Scholars Program
For grades 11 & 12, need-based, not specifically for music students. Application deadline: December 1

• Young Arts Foundation: Identifies and supports the next generation of artists with scholarships and development

• Scholastic Art and Writing Awards: Scholarships for creative young artists and writers.

• Coca Cola Scholarships: Achievement-based scholarships awarded to graduating high school seniors each year.

• Art Program Scholarships: Painting, photography, design and illustration, as well as culinary, musical or literary artistic forms.

• The BMI Foundation John Lennon Scholarships for Songwriters and Composers - Yoko Ono and the BMI Foundation created this program in 1997 to honor the memory of the Beatles' legendary John Lennon. It offers three scholarships totaling $20,000 for U.S. college students between the ages of 17 and 24. You must not be signed with a label.

• National Federation of Music Clubs Scholarships - With small awards for every type of musician, from reed players to musical therapy students, these clubs offer music scholarships for high school students to check out!

• Federated State Associations for Music Education - Check your state's music education association, as some will offer music scholarships for high school seniors looking to teach music. Each state has its own rules, and not all offer a scholarship, so see what's out there!

• National YoungArts Foundation - Students 15 to 18 years old can apply to win a $10,000 cash award, take a master class, and achieve national recognition.

• School Band and Orchestra Magazine Essay Contest - Many of these applications require performances, which can be stressful. These small scholarships for high school students (grades four to 12) require written entries.

• VSA International Young Soloist Competition - An award of $2,000 is given to an outstanding musician with disabilities, and that musician gets the opportunity to play at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

• Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Performing Arts Scholarship - These are scholarships for music majors who are African-American full-time students with a GPA of at least 2.5 and who are permanent residents or citizens. Award-winners get a grant of $3,000.

• Glenn Miller Birthplace Society Scholarships - This foundation, named for the famous big-band trombonist, gives out $12,000 in scholarships after a competition.

• John Philip Sousa Foundation's Dr. Robert Hawkins Memorial Scholarship - This scholarship is for those looking into instrumental music education.

• Drum Corps International Scholarship - Marchers may be interested in this program, and you don't need to be a music major to apply!

• Women Band Directors International (WBDI) Scholarships - If you're hoping to become a band director and are enrolled in a university curriculum for music education, this award could be for you!

• Chopin Foundation Scholarship Program - For young pianists ages 14 to 17, this program requires playing Chopin's works.

• Strings Magazine Edith Eisler Scholarship Award - For string students, this $3,000 grant can help pay for an accredited college or conservatory program, based on financial need.

• Opera Foundation Scholarships - Opera singers can compete for these highly prestigious awards.

• Zildjian Scholarships for Percussion Players - The famous cymbal company offers scholarships in Kerope and Armand Zildjian's names.

• Percussive Arts Society Scholarships and Grants - High school students who play percussion instruments, whether it be timpani or the vibraphone, may qualify for these small scholarship programs.

• Jazz Education Network (JEN) Scholarships - Several student scholarships are available for university and high school students of jazz.

• Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge - High school students with a passion for musicals can submit a song of their own creation. The national champion earns a scholarship of $25,000, and the finalists will have their songs officially published.

• American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers (ASMAC) Scholarships - Undergraduate and graduate students may apply.