The School of Music is excited to have a community of donors and friends who are committed to supporting our promising performers. Students majoring in music or studying in any major at MSU are encouraged to apply each year for music scholarship consideration. A variety of factors will be taken into consideration when our committee reviews the applications. These factors may include academic achievement, financial need, residency and talent. Students who receive a scholarship from the School of Music are expected to participate in studio/private lessons, our ensembles, and other various activities at the School of Music. 

ALL STUDENTS MUST FILL OUT THE FAFSA TO BE CONSIDERED FOR ALL MUSIC SCHOLARSHIPS.

Important Dates

  • Cat Scholarships Application Opens - November 1st
  • MSU FAFSA Priority Deadline - December 1st
  • Priority Application Deadline is - February 1st
  • Scholarship Audition Day - February 3rd 
  • Cat Scholarships Application Closes - May 1st

How To Apply

Incoming First-Year & Transfer Students:

Step 1: Apply to Montana State University
Step 2: Receive Letter of Acceptance from MSU Admissions, with Generated Student Identification Number (GID)
Step 3: Establish your NetID (your MSU unique identifier) and set a password.
Step 4: Apply via the Cat Scholarships Application
Step 5: Sign up for an audition time, upload a video or send in a link

Audition! Attend Scholarship Audition Day in-person on February 4th or send in a shared link. 

*If you are unable to audition in person, please video record yourself performing the requirements below and upload a file or share a Youtube link on the MSU SOM Scholarship Sign Up Page. - February 4th Priority Deadline.

We will continue to accept applications and video auditions for music scholarship consideration after the Priority Deadlines as long as scholarships remain available. Questions? Please contact [email protected]

Continuing Undergraduate Students:

Step 1: Apply via the Cat Scholarships Application
Step 2: An audition is usually not required. Please reach out to your studio or ensemble professors and let them know you are interested in a scholarship.                                                                      

(Please note: this is not how you renew a current School of Music Scholarship. For more information on how to renew a current Music Scholarship, please keep scrolling!)

Audition Requirements by Instrument

For questions regarding audition repertoire, please contact the appropriate School of Music faculty member. Click here to view a list of our faculty.

All Applicants:

  • All applicants are expected to prepare as listed Below.
  • Piano accompaniment is required for vocalists only.
  • Instrumental auditions do not require an accompanist.

Woodwind and Brass

  • Two-octave major scales in instrument keys of E & A flat in 8th notes at 120 bpm. (oboe only one octave of A flat required)
  • Full range chromatic scale in quarter notes at 144 bpm
  • Two solos or etudes in contrasting styles of length 2-4 minutes each

Percussion

Must perform on at least 2 of the following:

  • Snares: published solo (rudimental or orchestral)
  • Keyboard: 2 or 4 mallet published solo
  • Timpani: published solo that best demonstrates your ability on technique and tuning

Piano and Guitar

  • Guitar: Two contrasting pieces or movements from the solo classical repertoire
  • Piano: Two solos in contrasting styles
  • Piano: D major & d harmonic minor - minimum 2 octaves, hands together ascending and descending

Voice

  • Two contrasting songs with piano or recorded accompaniment. Memorization and professional attire are strongly encouraged.

Strings

  • Two 3-octave scales; one major, one minor (Basses please prepare 2-octave scales)
  • Two contrasting pieces

How To Accept

2-4 months after a successful audition at Montana State University, you will receive an email containing your award amount via the email address you provided. Please follow the steps below to accept your scholarship. 

These steps are for both First-Year/Transfer Students and Continuing Undergraduate Students:

Step 1: Check you Email! You will receive your award letter via the email address you provided in Cat Scholarships.
Step 2: Fill out all of the required information in the letter (name, MSU Student ID, major).
Step 3: Read your letter carefully to ensure there are no errors. If you find errors please contact us. 
Step 4: Sign your acceptance form electronically to accept your award!
Step 5: Email your completed form to [email protected]

All students receiving awards from the School of Music must meet the following requirements:

  • Registered as full-time students (minimum of 12 credits)
  • Must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0
  • Must renew their scholarship application each year
  • Must meet specific requirements, detailed in award letter

How To Renew

This procedure applies to continuing students who have already received a scholarship from the School of Music and are looking to renew it for the next year. 

Step 1: Sign in and fill out the Cat Scholarships form. You will not need to audition again unless instructed by a faculty     member. 
Step 2: Submit the following to [email protected] by February 1.

  • In the subject line of the email, please type – Music Scholarship Renewal and your last name
  • In the body of the email:
    • Confirm your desire to continue on a music scholarship in the next academic year
    • Confirm that you have filled out and updated your information in Cat Scholarships
    • List the studio and professor that you studied with this academic year
    • List the ensembles that you were involved with this academic year
    • List the ensembles that you plan to be involved with the next academic year
    • Attach to the email a current transcript (unofficial is fine)

Step 3: If/When you receive your updated scholarship offer letter, sign the acceptance form and email back to [email protected]

What's the difference between tuition waivers and scholarships? 

Tuition Waivers

  • 75% of our awards come from tuition waivers
  • Available to majors and non-music majors
  • Waivers can only be applied to tuition costs
  • Students may only receive one waiver per semester. WUE, Presidential and MSU Employee dependent waivers cannot be stacked with a School of Music waiver. It is advised that the student accept the largest waiver.

Scholarships

  • Come from donated funds
  • Amounts vary depending on sufficient funding
  • Majority require recipient to be a Music Major, although a select few can be awarded to non-music majors
  • May be applied to tuition and fees. Excess will be refunded back to student
 

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