Music scholarships
Music scholarships are available to all Concordia students, whether or not music majors, and are based on merit. For students entering in 2009, scholarships are available in amounts ranging from $500 to $6,000 per year, with the higher awards reserved for music majors. This is awarded in addition to other financial aid from Concordia. To be considered for a music scholarship, you must:
- be accepted to Concordia University before your audition date;
- complete a music scholarship application;
- have your music teacher (school or private) send a letter of recommendation; and
- audition in person or submit a recorded audition. See the instructions for scholarship auditions, below.
If you receive a music scholarship, you will be required to take lessons on your scholarship instrument or voice each semester and participate in a vocal or instrumental ensemble of the department’s choice, or serve as a piano accompanist or chapel organist, for each year you receive a scholarship. You must also be a full-time student (at least 12 semester hours) and maintain satisfactory academic and musical progress.
Music scholarships are awarded on an annual basis. If the above conditions are met, they may be renewed for up to 8 semesters for students in a four-year program and for up to 10 semesters for students in a five-year program.
Scholarship auditions
New students applying for music scholarships must audition either in person or by submitting a video recording. Students should contact the music office to schedule an audition time. The 2009 comprehensive audition day at Concordia is Saturday, Feb. 21. Those auditioning on that date receive tours and a free lunch, which features a concert by current music students.
Students who cannot audition on the comprehesice audition day may submit a video. Awards for those who audition by Feb. 21 or whose video is received by that date will be announced on or before Mar. 20.
A second round of awards is available to students whose audition video is received by April 10. Award announcements will be made by April 30.
Audition requirements
General requirements for all students: Prepare two pieces or excerpts in contrasting style from the standard solo repertoire for your voice or instrument. They do not need to be memorized unless indicated below. The total length should not exceed 8 to 10 minutes. Note also the following requirements for specific instruments:
Organ: Prepare an introduction and two stanzas of a hymn in addition to the two solo pieces or excerpts.
Piano: Memorization is preferred.
Voice: Memorization is preferred. Select music from the standard vocal literature: no pop tunes, show tunes, or contemporary Christian songs. If you submit a recorded audition, include a vocalise or scale that illustrates how high and low you can sing.
You may audition on more than one instrument.
Accompanists
If your music requires an accompanist, you may either provide your own or have us supply one. If we supply one, mail your music and a check for $10 to the music office so that we have it in hand two weeks before your audition. To comply with copyright law, photocopied music is acceptable only if the edition was published before 1923 or is otherwise in the public domain; otherwise you must submit an original, which will be returned immediately after the audition.
Instructions for audition videos
Videos may be submitted on VHS videotape, digital video disc (DVD), or electronically as a digital audio file. When preparing the recording, do the following:
- write your name on the tape or DVD;
- state your name clearly at the start of the recording;
- position the recorder so that the part of your body producing the sound (face, hands, or feet, as appropriate) is visible (it does not need to be a close-up);
- state the composer and title of each piece before you play or sing it; and
- record each piece in turn. If you are auditioning on two instruments, you may use the same tape or DVD for both.
Make certain that the sound quality is adequate and that the soloist can be heard over any accompaniment.
To submit the recording by mail, send it to the music office together with your audition application. Make sure you allow enough time for it to arrive by the deadline. If you have access to a web server and you wish to submit it electronically, send your audition application to the music office by mail, email or fax, providing a web address where we can access your video.