The Frederick Symphony Orchestra deeply cares about the future of music education and the success of aspiring instrumentalists like Young Artist Competition winners Sarah Kim and Eileen Moudou. To continue encouraging classical music beyond lessons, we’re giving you the top music scholarships for young musicians:

The ASCAP Foundation’s Michael Masser Scholarship

Michael Masser, composer and producer of The Greatest Love of All and Saving All My Love For You, established this scholarship to support the educational advancement, professional development, and professional training of a student demonstrating outstanding talent in the arts. The recipient is selected by a panel of music industry executives.

The BMI Foundation’s John Lennon Scholarships

Established by Yoko Ono and Broadcast Music Incorporated in 1997, the John Lennon Scholarships are an annual competition open to student songwriters and composers of contemporary musical genres.

Three music scholarships totaling $20,000 are presented for the best original songs submitted to the competition. Applicants must be U.S. college students between the ages of 17 and 24. Works are judged by a prestigious panel of music publishers, songwriters, and executives, making this one of the nation’s most esteemed accolades for emerging songwriters.

Submit your information for next year’s scholarship here.

Chopin Foundation Scholarship Program

In order to support and encourage young, talented American pianists, the National Chopin Piano Competition of the United States is held in Miami, Florida, every five years.

“Renewable scholarships of $1,000 are awarded each year on a competitive basis to outstanding young American pianists who demonstrate a special affinity for the interpretation of Frédéric Chopin’s music.

In addition, the Scholarship Committee may grant…$500 to qualified applicants. A half-award may be granted to an applicant only once during the four-year program.”

Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award Scholarship

According to their website, “Since 2005, From the Top and the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation have awarded more than $2 million in scholarships to exceptional young musicians with financial need.

In addition to providing these young artists with an opportunity to perform on From the Top’s national broadcasts, recipients are awarded up to $10,000 to help offset the often prohibitively expensive costs of studying classical music at a high level. Each year, From the Top chooses approximately 20 exceptional pre-collegiate musicians ages 8 to 18 to receive the Award.”

Apply here before June 17, 2017 to be considered for next year’s awards.

Percussive Arts Society (PAS) Scholarships

• Armand Zildjian Percussion Scholarship: This annual $2,000 music scholarship will be awarded to a full-time student percussionist enrolled in an accredited college or university school of music.

• Freddie Gruber Scholarship: This annual scholarship, in memory of Buddy Rich and Nick Ceroli, is $2,500 awarded to a college or university student for drumset performance.

• John E. Grimes Timpani Scholarship: The $1,000 scholarship is open to timpani students ages 18 to 26 interested in pursuing the study of period timpani playing.

• Remo, Inc./Arthur Hull Scholarship: This annual music scholarship for experienced rhythm facilitators is meant to defray the costs of attending the PAS International Convention. Applicants must be well-trained facilitators who use rhythm facilitation as a primary tool, whether within their work in an institutional setting or as an independent professional. 
• Remo, Inc./Fred Hoey Memorial Scholarship: This annual $1000 music scholarship is awarded to an incoming college freshman percussionist enrolled in the School of Music at an accredited college or university. 

• Terry Gibbs Vibraphone Scholarship: In honor of the indelible impression that Gibbs left on the world of vibes, a $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to a full-time vibraphone student registered in an accredited college or university school of music during the 2017–2018 academic year.

21st Annual Sphinx Competition

This competition for young Black and Latino string players will open by mid-June 2017. From the entries received, a screening committee of accomplished musicians will select 18 semi-finalists to compete in the live semi-final and final rounds in early 2018.

All semi-finalists will have invaluable educational and professional development opportunities through workshops and masterclasses. They must be prepared to memorize and perform everything on the repertoire list that corresponds to the appropriate age division and instrument.

Stay up-to-date by submitting your information here.

It’s important to encourage these young musicians to chase their dreams and remember that music is as important as science, literature, and mathematics.

If you’d like to donate to the FSO to ensure free Kids Go Classic concerts, Symphony Storytime, and our summer residency for listeners of all ages, click below: