Scholarships & Fellowships

Music scholarships and fellowships are awarded on the basis of performance ability and musical promise and are competitive across the applicant pool. Each student is considered for talent-based scholarship, and audition for admission to the School of Music constitutes audition for all talent-based monies, except for the Presidential Music Scholarship Competition. Types of awards include:

The Presidential Scholarship
Bain Vocal Fellowships – renewable annually based on maintenance of appropriate criteria.
Instrumental Ensemble Fellowships – renewable annually based on maintenance of appropriate criteria.
Performance Grants – renewable annually based on maintenance of appropriate criteria.

Music scholarship/fellowship determination will be made by March 21, 2008.

Audition requirements (PDF, 133KB) and application forms (PDF, 140KB) will be sent upon request, or can be downloaded from the website. You may also apply online. Write, call, or e-mail the Greatbatch School of Music, Houghton College, for more information.

For information on general financial aid and financial aid packages, please contact
Student Financial Services, Houghton College.

Click here for information on visiting Houghton College.

Presidential Scholarship

A $50,000 award ($12,500 per year, renewable annually) to the outstanding First-Year Student majoring in music at Houghton College. Audition is by invitation only.

A $20,000 award ($5,000 renewable annually) to the runner up.

Download the application (PDF, 62KB) for the Presidential scholarship, or read further:

The Competition Process
Repertoire Guidelines for the Competition
Conditions
Eligibility

Competition Information for the Presidential Scholarship

Competition Dates: Saturday, February 2 and Saturday, February 16, 2008.
To apply for the competition, a cassette tape or CD must be submitted. Music should consist of two selections from the guidelines listed below. Include your name, repertoire titles and composers on your cassette or CD.
Tapes are to be submitted by December 1, 2007.
Applicants will be notified regarding invitation to compete by December 15, 2007.
Auditions will be video-taped for reference. The decision of the audition committee is final.
The winner will be notified by mail by March 21, 2008.
Those not selected to receive the Presidential Scholarship are automatically under consideration for all other scholarship monies awarded by the School of Music.
Application and recommendation forms for the School of Music will be sent upon receipt of the audition tape, if needed.

Please request a complete information packet from the Greatbatch School of Music, including Presidential and other audition/scholarship information, if you do not already have this information. Be sure and include your 'snail-mail' address and telephone number!

The Process

The Presidential Competition will consist of two parts:

an audition/interview with faculty in the specialty, which will also serve as an entrance audition. This entrance audition must be completed prior to the date on which the candidate performs in the competition. This prior audition may be scheduled on the Friday immediately prior to the competition.
a performance of 10-15 minutes of music (composition applicants will perform at least one original piece live, and may also play recordings of other pieces, as appropriate).

Repertoire Guidelines for the Competition

Composition: Written scores (and recordings, if available) of two or three original compositions must be submitted. If invited for an audition, applicants will perform at least one original piece live, and may also play recordings of other pieces, as appropriate.

Instrumental: Three solo pieces or movements demonstrating both technical ability and legato technique. One piece should be from either the Baroque or Classical eras. At least one piece should be performed from memory.

Organ: Two selections from different style periods (one by Bach, if possible) on the organ, and one or two selections on the piano. Music may be used for the organ pieces, but piano compositions should be performed from memory.

Piano: Three selections from different style periods (Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Modern), to be performed from memory.

Voice: Four or five selections, demonstrating both slower, legato singing and faster more technical work. The selections should be made from the standard repertoire of art song and easier operatic arias, and should be performed from memory. At least one song in Italian from the 17th-18th centuries and at least one German Lied (sung in either German or English) must be presented.

Conditions

The scholarship will be awarded only to an entering first-year students majoring in Applied Music, Music Education, or Composition at Houghton College.
The scholarship may be held for a maximum of 4 years, and will be forfeited if the recipient changes to a degree other than BMus.
A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 in college work is required to continue the scholarship

Eligibility

All entrants must have completed application procedures to Houghton College and the School of Music prior to their audition date.
High-quality academic work is expected, as evidenced by high school record and SAT test scores.
Entrants shall exhibit evidence of outstanding talent, high potential, and solid preparation.
Entrants must have made a personal Christian commitment, and have undertaken to live out this commitment in their daily life and through their musical calling.