Music Scholarships

All prospective students (whether you're planning to major in music or another academic area on campus) are encouraged to audition for a music scholarship at Coe! We offer a wide variety of scholarships, ranging up to full tuition, all of which are renewable each year, as long as the student remains in good academic standing at the college and continues to perform successfully in his or her assigned ensemble.

2024-2025 Scholarship Audition Dates

Saturday, September 21, 2024
Saturday, October 26, 2024
Saturday, November 9, 2024
Saturday, January 25, 2025 (also Williston Jones Marshall auditions)
Sunday, February 15, 2025 (also Williston Jones Marshall auditions)

Scholarship Options

Visual & Performing Arts Scholarships (up to $4,000): These scholarships are awarded each year to high school seniors and transfer students who demonstrate superior talent and ability in music. These scholarships are open to all students, regardless of major, and are awarded on the basis of an audition and an interview with members of the faculty. They may be combined with other Coe-funded scholarships and financial aid. Go to www.coe.edu/vpa to reserve your audition spot. For your audition, please prepare 5-7 minutes of music, consisting of two contrasting pieces/excerpts, to sing/play.

All-State Music Scholarship ($5,000): Students who have made All-State during their high school career are automatically awarded $5,000 if accepted to Coe (February 1 admission deadline). No audition required! Students who are interested in majoring in music at Coe are also encouraged to sign up to audition for the Williston Jones Marshall Music Full-Tuition Scholarship. Go to www.coe.edu/williston-jones for application details.

Schauwecker Scholarships ($4,000): Schauwecker Scholarships are awarded to high school seniors and transfer students who plan to participate in an ensemble at Coe. This includes students pursuing a Music Minor or a Bachelor of Arts in Music. The Schauwecker Scholarship may be combined with other Coe-funded scholarships and financial aid. Go to www.coe.edu/vpa to reserve your audition spot. For your audition, please prepare 5-7 minutes of music, consisting of two contrasting pieces/excerpts, to sing/play.

Basler Scholarships ($4500 + $500 Stipend): The Basler Scholarship is open to prospective students planning to pursue a Music Major at Coe. In addition to a traditional scholarship, this financial package includes funding that can be used for the student's additional education expenses (i.e. textbooks, sheet music, etc.). The Basler Scholarship may be combined with other Coe-funded scholarships and financial aid. Go to www.coe.edu/vpa to reserve your audition spot. For your audition, please prepare 5-7 minutes of music, consisting of two contrasting pieces/excerpts, to sing/play. The initial Basler award is a $4,500 scholarship and a $500 stipend. Each year thereafter, for the next three years, the scholarship and the stipend each increase by $500! So in your senior year you would have a $6,000 scholarship and a $2000 stipend to spend on musical expenses. Apply now!

Williston Jones Marshall Music Scholarship (up to Full-Tuition): The Marshall Music Scholarship is open to prospective students who have the motivation and background necessary to pursue a Music Major. The Marshall Scholarship exists under the umbrella of the college-wide Williston-Jones Full Tuition Scholarship Program and therefore includes additional requirements. Full-tuition Williston Jones awards are renewable for an additional three years at the rate of tuition of the student’s entering year, plus a yearly increase of $1,000. Students who receive a Williston Jones scholarship valued at $40,000 or more are not eligible for any other Coe-funded financial aid and the Williston Jones scholarship will replace any institutional scholarships or grants they may have been awarded. To receive the full scholarship amount, students must live on campus. Commuter students should contact the Office of Admission with any questions.

To apply for the Williston-Jones Marshall Music Scholarship:

Submit your application form by January 3, 2025 for competitions on January 25, 2025 and February 15, 2025
Submit your screening audition tape.
For the interview/audition, please prepare to:
- Play 5-10 minutes worth of music, consisting of two contrasting solo pieces/excerpts (no repeats or da capos please).
- Perform sight-singing and pitch-matching exercises (provided by the music faculty during the audition).
- Complete a music theory placement test.
- Interview briefly with a music faculty panel.

For more information on Music Scholarships at Coe, contact the Music Department Chair Dr. William Carson (wcarson@coe.edu).