We’ve worked hard to compile this list from many sources since we know scholarships for music majors are difficult to find. The list is updated with new opportunities and new deadlines as quickly as we can get the information, so visit often.
When you apply for music scholarships –
1. Check scholarship deadlines carefully. Make sure your application arrives before the deadline.
2. Be sure to include all of the information requested. You will be considered based on the thoroughness of your application.
3. Note that while some of these are small scholarships, several small scholarships can add up to a significant chunk of tuition costs.
Link to Participating Music School Scholarship Info
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
Scholarships for offspring of U.S. military members. Several options. Application deadline: March 1
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
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 1
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
Doris & Clarence Glick Classical Music Scholarship
For Hawaiian students majoring in music with a focus on classical music and attending a nonprofit college in the US. Must demonstrate financial need and have a GPA of 2.7 or higher. Application deadline: February 28
Edward Hosharian Foundation
For students of Armenian descent who want to study music. Application deadline: May 1
Evalee C. Schwarz Charitable Trust for Education
Interest-free loans for students who demonstrate high academic performance and financial need. Application deadline: early April
FASTWEB
Generic scholarships for high school, college, grad school and returning students. Categories include ethnicities, LGBTQ, veterans and many others. Application deadlines vary by program.
Fund for Education Abroad (FEA)
Financial support for study abroad for a semester or a full year, for currently enrolled undergraduates. Application deadline: February 7
Gates Scholarship
Full college tuition for Pell-eligible, high-achieving minority high school seniors. Application deadline: September
GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarships
$10,000 scholarships for college for high school seniors who demonstrate excellence in academics and leadership. Application deadline: January 4
Gilman Scholarship Program
Financial support for study abroad for undergraduate U.S. citizens receiving Federal Pell Grant funding. Application deadlines: January 4 and March 7
Glenn Miller Birthplace Society Scholarship Program
Voice and instrumental scholarships. Application deadline: April 12
Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes
Must be nominated by an adult who has solid knowledge of your “heroic activities.” Ideal for someone who’s made a difference through music. Application deadline: April
Golden Key Visual and Performing Arts Achievement Award
Annual scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students who are members of Golden Key International Honour Society. Application deadlines: December 15
Great Value Colleges
Annual $5,000 scholarship offered 2X/year to black undergraduate or graduate students accepted to or currently majoring OR minoring in music. GPA must be 3.0 or higher, essay or video required. Application deadline: July 30 and November 30
Horatio Alger Association
Various scholarships awarded to high school juniors who plan to pursue a bachelor’s or AA degree. Criteria include critical financial need involvement in co-curricular and community service activities, U.S. citizen, and minimum GPA of 2.0. Application deadline: March 15 (July 15 for 2-year schools)
House of Blues Music Forward Foundation
Several different types of $10,000 scholarships for college undergraduates pursuing Music Industry careers. Application deadline: March 31
Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award – From the Top Scholarship
Young musicians (ages 8-18) are selected for the Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award.Applicants must be pre-collegiate classical musicians ages 8-18 who demonstrate a high level of musical achievement and financial need. Application deadline: rolling deadlines Dec, Jan, March
JEN (Jazz Education Network)
JEN offers several scholarships for members. Application deadline: April 15
John Lennon Scholarships
Student songwriters, ages 17 through 24 and enrolled in a U.S. college. Application deadline: January 15
Leslie Richardson Memorial Swan & Sparrow Scholarship
For a high school senior with a 2.5 or higher GPA from Virginia, D.C., or North Carolina accepted into a historically black college or university (HBCU) to study musical performance, jazz studies or choral conducting. Deadline: May
Lessons In Your Home Annual Scholarship
$500 scholarship for a prospective or current full-time college student 18 + and studying in the U.S. Deadline: July 1, 2024
Loan Forgiveness Programs
This program discharges any remaining debt on federal student loans after 10 years of full-time employment in public service and 120 payments.
Loren L. Zachary Society National Vocal Competition
For opera singers, ages 21-35,preparing for a professional career in opera. Audition deadlines: January (NY), February (LA).
Marine Band Concerto Competition
High school musicians grades 9-12 compete for a cash prize and a performance in Washington, D.C. Application deadline: November
Mario Lanza Institute Scholarship
Vocal scholarships for talented, aspiring singers ages 21 – 28, with a vocal/music study background. Application deadline: October
Mark Zinger Memorial Foundation Violin Scholarship
Scholarships for violinists of all nationalities between ages 17-23 who are pursuing an undergraduate degree in music (or a double major with music) at an accredited university, college or conservatory in the U.S. Application deadline: October 1
Music Business Association (Music Biz)
$5,000 scholarships for undergraduate & graduate students planning a music business career at schools that are members of Music Biz. Also for high school seniors applying to one of these schools. Application deadline: March 1
National Federation of Music Clubs
Various scholarships for current college music majors (instrumental, vocal, music therapy, music education), summer arts programs, music education/outreach projects, festival attendance for college as well as high school students. Application deadline: varies by program
North Valley Music School Scholarships
Two renewable $500 scholarships for American Indian music students from Montana who attend or plan to attend a college music program. Deadline: Applications accepted year ’round
Paul and Daisy Soros Foundation Scholarships for New Americans
Grad school fellowships offered annually to immigrants and children of immigrants. Up to $90,000 for up to two years. Applications open in spring and deadlines in October
PanHellenic Scholarship Foundation
Annual scholarships for full-time college undergraduates of Hellenic descent and based on academic achievement, financial need, or leadership. Application deadline: January
peermusic Latin Scholarship
For songwriters and composers of Latin music who are current students at colleges and universities located in the United States and Puerto Rico. Applicants must be between the ages of 17 and 24. All words and music must be original. Application deadline: January
PFLAG Scholarship Program
Graduating seniors entering college who identify within the LGBTQ spectrum or as an ally. Application deadlines: vary by state.
Percussive Arts Society
Scholarships and grants for student percussionists who are current members of the Percussive Arts Society (PAS). Applications open in March.
Point Foundation LGBTQ Scholarship Fund
Community college scholarships, undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree scholarships.
Deadline: Varies by scholarship
Posse Foundation
H.S. juniors and seniors of all backgrounds with leadership skills can be nominated for full tuition scholarships (NOT need-based) to attend Posse partner colleges and universities. Application deadline: Vary by city
Pride Foundation
For LGBTQ+ or questioning? And do you live in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, or Washington Application deadline: early January
Regions Riding Forward Scholarship Essay Contest
High school seniors who are legal residents of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee or Texas. Requires written or video essay about an African-American individual who inspires and motivates you. Application deadline: March
Scholarships for Students with Disabilities
Various scholarships offered to challenged learners. Application deadline: varies by scholarship, typically Jan-March
Sphinx Competition
Open to current U.S. residents who are Black or Latino and play the Violin, Viola, Cello or Double Bass. Cash scholarships, summer program scholarships and college/conservatory scholarships. Application deadline: October
Sweet Adelines
Grants and scholarships for women with at least one semester of university coursework and involved in a barbershop or Sweet Adelines chorus.Deadline: Opens mid-November, closes mid-January.
The James and Virginia M. Smyth Scholarship Fund
For applicants from Missouri, Mississippi, Georgia, Illinois, Oklahoma, Texas and Tennessee. 4-year renewable scholarships. Application deadline: February
The Music Center’s Spotlight Program
A scholarship and arts training program for high school students in Southern California in these categories of music: classical and non-classical voice; jazz instrumental; classical instrumental. Application deadline: October
Tuesday Musical Club of Pittsburgh
Bi-annual scholarships for high school and college music majors whose permanent residence is within 100 miles of Pittsburgh. Application deadline: March
U.S. Bank Scholarship Program
Not specific to music. Available to high school seniors and college undergraduates. Winners selected at random. Eligibility: high school senior planning to enroll in or a current undergraduate college student at an eligible two- or four-year college or university. U.S. citizen or permanent resident alien. Application deadline: October
Vandoren Emerging Artist Competition (VEA)Classical clarinet, saxophone and jazz categories for U.S. musicians ages 18-23. Application deadline: December
VSA International Young Soloists Program
The VSA (international Organization on Arts and Disability) International Young Soloists Award is given annually to young musicians with disabilities ages 14-25. Ensembles with at least one member with a disability are also eligible. Application deadline: January
Wilshire-Quinn Musical Arts Scholarship
One $10,000 scholarship for full-time college-level music major or minor, ages 17-24. Application deadline: May
Women Band Directors International
Women Band Directors International (WBDI) offers scholarships to female college students majoring in music education with the intention of becoming band directors. Applications open Fall.
YoungArts
Monetary awards to promising high school students in all of the performing and visual arts plus writing. U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts are chosen from YoungArts Finalists. Application deadline: October
Young Artist Competition for Bassoon and Oboe
Sponsored by the International Double Reed Society for musicians under age 22. Competitions alternate annually between oboe and bassoon. Application deadline: March
NOTE: MajoringInMusic.com does not endorse any of the scholarship or financial aid sites listed, nor can we confirm the accuracy of information provided by these sites.
Photo Credit: Kellie Smith for LYNX Camps at (CU Denver)
