Scholarships for Singers: A Comprehensive Guide

For aspiring vocalists, the path to a successful music career often involves significant investment in education and training. Scholarships can provide crucial financial assistance, helping talented singers pursue their dreams without being burdened by excessive debt. This article explores a variety of scholarships available to singers, covering eligibility requirements, application processes, and valuable resources for finding the right opportunities.

Types of Music Scholarships

A music scholarship is a financial aid award given on the basis of a student’s involvement in the musical arts. These scholarships may be offered to music majors or hobbyists who pursue music for recreation; students who participate in choir, band, marching band, orchestra, composition, theory, musical theatre, and music education programs may qualify. It is important to remember that completing the FAFSA does not mean you must accept any loans. It just allows the government to determine whether you qualify for federal financial aid.

Merit-Based Scholarships

Many music scholarships are solely merit-based, meaning that financial need status is not considered as a factor when the scholarship committee chooses its recipients. One example of a purely merit-based music scholarship is the prestigious Dolly Parton Songwriters Award.

Need-Based Scholarships

Some music scholarships, especially those not offered through a college but rather a private organization, may require applicants to demonstrate financial need in order to qualify.

Scholarships for Specific Instruments or Vocal Styles

There are music scholarships for students in every field imaginable, from show choir to bass clarinet to songwriting to viola, and at any skill and grade level.

Read also: Camp Scholarships Guide

Scholarship Opportunities

General Music Scholarships

The Music Talent Scholarship: This scholarship is awarded to students who have a passion for music. If you sing in a choir, play in a jazz band or play the piano, guitar or other instrument and want to continue to develop your knowledge and skills while having opportunities to perform, you could earn a Music Talent Scholarship.

Scholarships for Vocalists

Schmidt Vocal Arts Scholarships: Schmidt Vocal Competition winners who choose to pursue a career in music may be eligible for need-based scholarship assistance to their college or university of choice. SVA scholarships are typically used to close gaps left by other sources of funding, also known as “last dollar” scholarships. SVA scholarship funding is typically for four years of undergraduate study at most music-granting universities and conservatories in the United States. Note that SVA does not offer funding for graduate studies. Numerous national conservatories and universities are represented by Schmidt Vocal Scholarship recipients, including: Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Carnegie Mellon University, Curtis Institute of Music, Eastman School of Music, Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music, Mannes School of Music, Miami University, New England Conservatory of Music, Northwestern University, Oklahoma City University, Peabody Institute, Stetson University, University of Cincinnati, Oberlin College, University of Michigan, and University of North Carolina School for the Arts.
Shirley Rabb Winston Scholarship in Classical Voice: The National Society of Arts and Letters invite performers to apply for the Shirley Rabb Winston Scholarship in Classical Voice. In honor of Shirley Rabb Winston, NSAL established an annual scholarship for young classical singers between the ages of 16 and 22. Applicants must demonstrate exceptional talent and promise of future success. The scholarship funds are only for private study, special training or personal advancement in the applicant’s vocal career. They can be used for workshops, voice teachers, summer programs, college tuition, housing or travel.
James A. Hyter Vocal Music Scholarship Fund: This fund is for applicants who will pursue a vocal music degree. Applicants will be invited to a vocal audition. Those chosen for the audition should be prepared to perform three musical selections. The range of scholarships is $1,000 to $2,000.
Clarinda’s Glenn Miller Birthplace Society: Offering vocal scholarships of $3,000, $2,000 & $1,000. These scholarships, which are awarded without regard to any other award, may be used for any education-related expense. It is not the purpose of this competition to select Glenn Miller look-alikes or sound-alikes, nor is it limited to pop music performance. Applicants must have submitted an audition CD and application postmarked by March 1.
Annamaria Saritelli-DiPanni Bel Canto Vocal scholarship: The Annamaria Saritelli-DiPanni Bel Canto Vocal scholarship was established in 1988 by soprano Annamaria Saritelli-DiPanni to provide scholarship to young American opera singers between the ages of 21 to 36 who are actively seeking careers in opera performance.

Read also: Benefits of NSHSS Scholarships
The Young Singers Foundation: The Young Singers Foundation provides scholarships, specifically to young women involved in the barbershop art form, to assist in the furtherance of their music education.

Scholarships for Songwriters

ASCAP Foundation Leiber & Stoller Scholarship for Songwriters: This scholarship is for college-bound high school seniors who will be majoring in music and is an aspiring songwriter, musician, or vocalist. Each year, the scholarship awards $2,500.
Dolly Parton Songwriters Award: The Dolly Parton Songwriters Award is a prestigious annual competition designed for aspiring songwriters across the nation. Established in 2015, originally as the Nashville Songwriting Scholarship, this award offers a generous grant of $20,000 for up to two individuals. The grant supports various professional expenses, including study, instrument purchase, recording costs, and more.

Scholarships for Gospel Music

The University of Olivet Gospel Choir Scholarship: Scholarships are awarded to students who have a passion for Gospel music. Students may earn up to $2,000 per academic year. At The University of Olivet, they believe being a part of the Gospel Choir is something every interested student should have the opportunity to do.

Scholarships for Minority Students

Make Noise Today Scholarship: This scholarship is open to AAPI students of the arts, including music. Nine high school students receive up to $2,000 from this scholarship each year.
Singhaus Scholarship for the Performing Arts: This is another example of a music scholarship for minorities.

Read also: Scholarship Guide
CBC Spouses Performing Arts Scholarship: The scholarship is open to African American and Black students pursuing an undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral degree in performing arts. Every year, ten lucky recipients earn $5,000 paid directly to their academic institutions. The scholarship is offered by the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBC), a Washington, D.C.-based educational foundation with a mission to “advance the global Black community by developing leaders, informing policy, and educating the public.” Since 2000, their Performing Arts scholarship has vowed to support Black students in the performing arts and honor Curtis Mayfield, an influential singer-songwriter and soul musician.

Scholarships with Specific Eligibility Requirements

Ruth DeYoung Kohler Scholarship for Artistic Excellence: This scholarship is an amazing opportunity for graduating seniors from Sheboygan County! Applicants must have a passion for the arts and be attending high school in Sheboygan County (Wisconsin) or be homeschooled and residing in Sheboygan County. This incredible opportunity awaits those who dream of pursuing a career in writing, theater, music (both instrumental and vocal), music composition, visual arts, dance, and more. The Kohler Foundation values exceptional talent above all else, not placing emphasis on grades or test scores. With awards of up to $100,000 for private or top 20-ranked out-of-state public institutions, or up to $50,000 for any other public institution over four years, the possibilities are endless.
OnPoint Community Credit Union Scholar Program: Each year, the program awards between $5,000 and $10,000 to six (6) Oregon student-athletes. Winners will be selected based on success in the classroom, leadership in the community, how participating in OSAA activities has either taught them a lesson or helped them achieve their goals, and two letters of recommendation. If you're an Oregon high school senior whose earned a varsity letter during high school, we encourage you to apply!
F. Lammot Belin Arts Scholarship: The scholarship is open to individuals planning to become professional/fine artists who are residing in or formerly resided in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Every year, they are happy to offer multiple recipients up to $10,000 to use for individual projects, formal or informal study, or travel. Established to provide financial assistance to artists of outstanding aptitude and promise in the fine arts, the scholarship aims to help artists pursue their desired careers.
Rogene Russell Scholarship Fund: If you're a graduating senior or alumni of Booker T. Washington High School in Dallas or the Fine Arts Chamber Players' music education initiatives, and you wish to pursue a music-oriented undergraduate education, we encourage you to apply!
Iowa Scholarships for the Arts: These are annual scholarships awarding $4,000 to multiple students. To apply, submit 3-5 artistic work samples that best represent the artwork you intend on studying in college. This scholarship is for Iowa high school seniors with a passion for the arts who intend to attend an in-state (Iowa) college or university to pursue an arts-related major.
Clark-Floyd Counties Scholarship: This $4,000 scholarship is offered to high school seniors residing in Clark or Floyd County who are passionate about pursuing a degree in the arts. Applicants must have a minimum 2.8 GPA, graduate with a minimum Core 40 diploma or equivalent, and attend an accredited two or four-year college or university.
Kathryn Holden Slater Scholarship: The Kathryn Holden Slater Scholarship is available to graduating seniors from Loudoun Valley High School in Purcellville, Virginia. Applicants are reviewed for participation in extracurricular activities and academic achievement. Students who express an interest in teaching or coaching at the primary or secondary school level upon graduating from college are encouraged to apply.
George and Icy Vaughn Performing Arts Scholarship: To qualify for the scholarship, individuals must be graduating high school seniors at a public Hancock County, Indiana high school, have achieved a minimum 2.5 GPA in their first semester of senior year, and be involved in music either through school participation or individually. Two students from each Hancock County high school will be chosen to earn the $3,500 scholarship.
Lee & Bessie S. Blazer Memorial Scholarship: Each year, the Lee & Bessie S. Blazer Memorial Scholarship awards $3,077 to one (1) Hancock County high school senior with plans to study music in a college or conservatory. Selection will be based on a personal statement, musical performances outside of the school setting, extracurricular activities, and academic performance. Financial need may also be considered in selection.
Scarborough Renaissance Festival Scholarship: The Scarborough Renaissance Festival is excited to announce the expansion of its 2025 Scholarship Program, offering financial assistance to high school seniors in Ellis, Dallas, Tarrant, Collin, Denton, and Johnson Counties.

Competition-Based Scholarships

YoungArts Competition: Every year, their YoungArts Competition awards up to $10,000 to multiple high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors passionate about dance, music, design, film, jazz, photography, theater, visual arts, singing, or writing who submit a written piece or video showcasing their talents. The YoungArts Competition is funded by YoungArts, an organization that identifies exceptional young artists, amplifies their potential, and invests in their lifelong creative freedom.
GMBS Music Scholarship: The GMBS Music Scholarship is an amazing opportunity for music-oriented high school seniors and college freshmen who intend to make music a central part of their future. Students are welcome to apply for either the "vocalist" or "instrumentalist" category, each of which will select 10 semi-finalists. The first-, second-, and third-place winners will receive $3,000, $2,000, and $1,000, respectively.
Marine Band Concerto Competition for High School Musicians: The Marine Band Concerto Competition for High School Musicians is open to high school students who play the harp, piano, and various string instruments.
Coastal Alabama Business Chamber’s Singing for Scholarships Competition: This $1,000 singing-based award is only open to high schoolers in Alabama’s Baldwin County, which greatly limits the applicant pool. Students can apply regardless of whether they are enrolled in an academic singing program, let alone whether they wish to major in vocal performance.
National Federation of Music Clubs (NFMC): 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.
The Institute for Young Dramatic Voices: Each spring, the Institute’s Board of Directors, working together with the administrators of the competition, review the criteria for selecting applicants for the coming year. Applications are prepared and forwarded to various schools throughout the country and are provided to anyone who has the ability and desire to compete. A requirement for application is that the student must have a vocal/music study background. This may consist of either previous enrollment or current enrollment in a study program. Currently there is only one program category for ages 21 through 28. Prizes awarded are First Place: $2,500, Second Place: $2,000, Third Place: $1,500 and Fourth $1,000.
Eastman Opera Voice Competition: Catherine Creed was the First Prize winner of the Eastman Opera Voice Competition, judged by Christine Goerke.

Other Scholarship Opportunities

The Walt Disney Company UNCF Enhanced Scholars Program: This scholarship offers relevant career readiness tools to help students learn about potential career paths in the entertainment industry and is dedicated to helping high-achieving African-American students across the country.
Anthony Quinn Foundation Scholarships: Each year, this competition offers funding for summer intensive programs in various artistic disciplines, including Literary Arts, Media Arts, Performing Arts, and Visual Arts. If you are a high school student planning to attend a summer intensive arts program, you may be eligible. Recipients are awarded up to $3,000 to go towards the costs of attending their chosen art programs.
"Creativity Takes Courage" Scholarship: The "Creativity Takes Courage" scholarship is open to students studying any form of visual and/or performing arts who write an essay on an important piece of art in their lives. This could be a song that moves you, a building in your community, a poem, a video game, a piece of clothing, a family recipe, or something you've created yourself.

How to Find and Apply for Scholarships

Utilize Online Scholarship Platforms: The best way to find and apply for music scholarships is by signing up for a free account on Scholarships.com. From there, music students can view the details for each of their scholarship matches and sort them in order to organize their applications. Also explore Scholarships360 for similar scholarships.
Check College and Conservatory Websites: Many colleges offer institutional scholarships for students pursuing music, especially if the student is enrolled in the college’s school of music. The University of Redlands' Conservatory of Music allows musically talented admits to not only pursue a music-related degree, but also participate in one of their many orchestras or ensembles available. To qualify for this scholarship, University of Redlands students must apply, audition, and be accepted to the U of R Conservatory of Music. The San Francisco Conservatory of Music, for instance, awards merit-based scholarships that may cover a student’s entire attendance cost. Other schools may only award partial-cost scholarships for music students.
Contact State Music Educators Associations: Some state music educators associations offer scholarships to high school or college music students.
Explore Scholarships for Specific Demographics: Finding scholarships based on your minority status is a great way to narrow down your scholarship search.
Understand Scholarship Criteria: By following a few tips-such as looking for scholarships everywhere, understanding their criteria, and staying organized-you could be awarded thousands of dollars for school.
Complete the FAFSA and CSS Profile: The 2026-2027 FAFSA will be available in October 2025. In addition, if you are like our other singers, you may be applying to one of the colleges that require another financial aid application, called the CSS Profile. Don’t let the cost of the Profile keep you from filing! If your income is within their range, the application may be free, and will ensure that these colleges, with significant financing help, get the documents they require.

Tips for a Strong Application

Demonstrate Exceptional Talent: Applicants must demonstrate exceptional talent and promise of future success.
Highlight Musical Achievements: Selection will be based on a personal statement, musical performances outside of the school setting, extracurricular activities, and academic performance.
Showcase Dedication and Commitment: If you possess exceptional dedication and a strong commitment to personal artistic growth, seize this opportunity to nurture your creativity and pursue your dreams!
Craft a Compelling Essay: The "Creativity Takes Courage" scholarship is open to students studying any form of visual and/or performing arts who write an essay on an important piece of art in their lives.

The Importance of Music and the Arts

Music is far more than entertainment. Music allows you to express joy, sadness, anger, love, celebration, worship and grief. It also has the ability to soften a heart, lift a spirit, enrage an individual or group, or bring a person to tears. Creative outlets, such as music, are an amazing way to destress, express your emotions and imagination, and even earn a scholarship! Performers also build character traits such as hard work through practicing, public performance, teamwork and perseverance while doing what they love.

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