Musical America Blogs

The Bach Organ and Keyboard Music Scholarship
Every year, the Charlotte Hoyt Bagnall Scholarship for Church Musicians grants awards from $300 to $1500 for study in religious music and liturgy. The awards are intended to help musicians improve their ability to support religious worship services and are typically used for music lessons; high school, college or graduate level studies related to organ or religious music; or attendance at attendance at seminars.

The Charlotte Hoyt Bagnall Scholarship for Church Musicians
Every year, the Charlotte Hoyt Bagnall Scholarship for Church Musicians grants awards from $300 to $1500 for study in religious music and liturgy. The awards are intended to help musicians improve their ability to support religious worship services and are typically used for music lessons; high school, college or graduate level studies related to organ or religious music; or attendance at attendance at seminars.

The Christian Fellowship of Art Music Composers Scholarship
Open to Christian student composers who enrolled in a program of art music composition study in a preparatory music program, a collegiate music program, or an approved summer music program. Applicants must submit 2 letters of recommendation, a brief Christian testimony, a brief essay on how their compositional activities and Christian life are related, a curriculum vitae, a detailed explanation of how the award will be used, and 1 or 2 scores of art music composed for voice, instruments, and/or electronic media.

Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts Memorial Scholarships
Each year The Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts awards academic scholarships for higher education. The amount varies but scholarships are usually around $1000. All applicants must be students planning a career in church music and/or worship arts. In addition, all applicants must be a music degree candidate intending to pursue a career in sacred music, either entering as a freshman or already enrolled in an accredited university, college, or school of theology; OR be pursuing academic education in worship or the arts related to worship. Be a member of The United Methodist Church for at least one year immediately before applying; or, if a member of another Christian denomination, be employed in The United Methodist Church for at least one year immediately before applying; and give evidence of strong Christian character and participation in Christian activities of the church and/or campus. Demonstrate evidence of exceptional musical or other artistic talent, effective leadership ability, and outstanding promise of future usefulness to the Church in the areas of music and/or worship.

The National Association of Pastoral Musicians Scholarships
The National Association of Pastoral Musicians offers several scholarships from their website for individuals studying church performance and worship arts. Applicants must be members of the association and awards vary between $3,000 and $1,000 per award.

Ruth K. Jacobs Memorial Scholarship Fund
Established in memory of Ruth Krehbiel Jacobs, founder of Choristers Guild, the Scholarship Fund provides financial aid to full time students preparing for church music ministry. An applicant must be a junior, senior, or graduate student majoring in music, who holds choral music with children and youth as a primary interest. Scholarship grants are given on the basis of academic merit, interest in church music (especially children’s and youth choirs), and ministry of church music as a vocation.

Texas Choral Directors Association
Student applicants must be enrolled in a Texas college or university, have 60+ hours toward an elementary or secondary choral music or church music degree with choral emphasis by May 31 of the year applying, and must have maintained a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 system.

The United Methodist Scholarship Program
The United Methodist Scholarship Program provides scholarships to high school  senior, undergraduate, and graduate students. Applicants must be an active, full member of The United Methodist Church for at least one year. Membership is determined by the date the applicant was confirmed and took membership vows with a United Methodist church. (Members of other Methodist denominations are not eligible.)  Applicants must be pursuing a degree program at an accredited college or university within the United States. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale and must be a full-time student.

Elizabeth Greiger Wiegand Sacred Music of the Faiths Award (odd-numbered years)
The NFMC Elizabeth Greiger Wiegand Sacred Music of the Faiths Award of $600 is given to an individual between the ages of 16 and 26 (by March 1) of the audition year. The Award is in Choral Conducting, Piano, Organ or Voice for students majoring in Church Music. The applicant must be a member of the National Federation of Music Clubs and an American citizen or naturalized citizen. Selections are submitted on tape or CD.