Scholarships and Grants: Instrumental
National Federation of Music Clubs Awards
The National Federation of Music Clubs (NFMC) offers more than $750,000 in competition and award prizes on the local, state and national level. The Biennial Young Artist and Ellis Duo-Pianists competitions award a total of $92,000 in awards and two years of performance bookings. Additional competitions are sponsored by the Federation in a wide range of categories, including voice, instrumental music, composition, dance, conducting, handicapped and visually impaired, and music therapy. NFMC also sponsors more than 38 annual and biennial awards for students desiring to attend the 20 sponsored Summer Music Centers.
BAND
Elon University Music Scholarships
Students majoring in music, music education or music performance may compete for talent and need-based scholarships on the basis of letters of recommendation and audition/interview. Band and choral scholarships are available to both music and non-music majors. The music major scholarships range from $500 to $8,000 annually. For more information, contact the Department of Music, (336) 278-5600 or visit the Music website.
Women Band Directors International
The Women Band Directors International award scholarshipss of various amounts designed to salute the people for whom they are named and to support young women presently preparing to be band directors. Any female student pursuing a degree in instrumental music is encouraged to apply. The application deadline is December 1st each year.
BRASS
Young Musicians Foundation John Audino Memorial Scholarship
Each year, in perpetuity, a talented brass players in their junior and senior years of college, in both Los Angeles County, CA and Cook County, IL will be selected for an award of $1,250.
PERCUSSION
The Percussive Arts Society/Remo, Inc. Fred Hoey Memorial Scholarship
This annual $1000 scholarship is awarded to an incoming college freshman percussionist enrolled in the School of Music at an accredited college or university. Applicants must be current PAS subscribers at the VIP level or higher.
The Percussive Arts Society/Terry Gibbs Vibraphone Scholarship
One $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to any full time vibraphone student registered in an accredited college or university school of music during the academic year. Applicants must be current PAS subscribers at the VIP level or higher.
The Percussive Arts Society/John E. Grimes Timpani Scholarship Scholarship
This $1,000 scholarship is open to timpani students (ages 18–26) interested in pursuing the study of period timpani playing. Scholarship may be applied to lessons, travel to study, etc., as long as the focus is baroque/classical period timpani playing. Applicants must be current PAS subscribers at the VIP level or higher.
The Percussive Arts Society/Armand Zildjian Percussion Scholarship
This annual $2,000 scholarship will be awarded to a full-time student percussionist enrolled in an accredited college or university school of music. Applicants must be current PAS subscribers at the VIP level or higher.
PIANO
The Ellis Duo-Piano competition
The National Federation of Music Clubs Ellis Duo Piano competition, open to citizens of the United States, was made possible by a legacy left by Annie Lou Ellis (Mrs. Edgar B. Ellis) of Birmingham, Alabama, friend and benefactor of the National Federation of Music Clubs. The applicants must have reached 18th but not 39th birthday by March 31st. 1st Prize: $20,000 (duo team); 2nd Prize: $4,000 (team).
American Music Award (Duo Team) — Fay & John Abild
$1,000 to be awarded to one of the four finalists of National Federation of Music Clubs Ellis-Duo Competition for the best performance of American Music.
STRINGS
Abell Family String Scholarship
Abell Family String Scholarship Fund offers a scholarship to students enrolled in or currently pursuing college coursework consistent with a degree in string music performance. Applicants must submit a sampler performance on CD. This scholarship is awarded to one student each year. The scholarship award amount will be $1,275.
