Scholarships

In addition to offering admissions scholarships for incoming students, the Department of Music and the College of Fine Arts & Communication are proud to offer a wealth of scholarship opportunities to returning students. We offer merit-, talent-, and need-based awards through application and audition processes in the Fall and Spring semesters. We are fortunate to work with wonderful donors who wish to support Towson music students and who have established funds in memory of loved ones or in honor of their own experiences in the TU Department of Music. We are continually grateful for and honored by the support of these generous donors. Please see the scholarship opportunities and requirements listed below.

Procedures for Department of Music Scholarship1 Applications

FOR STUDENTS:

  • All scholarship applications must be submitted via Academic Works/Blackbaud. 
  • Click HERE to access the Academic Works/Blackbaud site for scholarship applications
  • Your application may require uploading documents to Blackbaud such as a) unofficial transcript, b) narrative statements, c) program copy, d) resume etc…
  • Competition recitals require submission of print-ready program information (singers must include translations). Your applied teacher must approve the print-ready recital program information before you submit your competition application.  Be sure to proofread your information carefully.  A Sample Translation example may be found HERE.
  • Competitions require published scores. Plan ahead to make sure you have these well before the competition day.  If your pieces are in the public domain, you must submit bound scores from IMSLP.  A Program Template may be found HERE. 
  • If you need help writing your supportive statement(s), please see a member of the scholarship committee or talk to a faculty member who can assist you.
  • Promote yourself and your accomplishments as a performer, scholar, or future educator, sharing as many details as you think are relevant. Assume the committee members are not aware of your accomplishments.  Thus, advocate for yourself by articulating clearly your qualifications for the scholarship(s).  

Department of Music Scholarship Committee 24-25









(Spring 25)

 1 - Scholarships for matriculated and current music majors in good standing.

FOR FACULTY:

  • All scholarship applications by students must be completed using Academic Works/Blackbaud. 
  • Request for faculty recommendations for an applicant will come to you via an e-mail request and link to the Blackbaud site where you can upload or enter your recommendation. 

Available Scholarships

  • The listed scholarships are administered through the Towson University Foundation.
  • Review each category to identify which scholarships may apply to you
  • The Blackbaud/Academic Works website will assist in identifying your qualification status
  • All scholarships require a minimum GPA of 3.0 unless otherwise articulated
  • Scholarship recipients are required to attend a scholar’s luncheon during the Spring semester and to communicate their gratitude in the form of a letter to the donor(s)

Scholarships selected during the Fall semester

Applications open on the first day of the Fall semester.

Category 1:  Student Self-Nominated Scholarships

  • Requires submission of the Music Department Common Application on BBAM.
  • Applications are due on November 1, 2024

Ben O’Brien Scholarship – Fall Selection (Funds awarded Spring semester)

  • Music Education majors
  • Based on financial need

Origine Huss Scholarship – Fall Selection (Funds awarded Spring semester)

  • Full-time undergraduate student
  • Music Education Major
  • Must be entering junior year
  • Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.4
  • Renewable for a second year upon maintaining 3.4 GPA and continuance as a major in the music education program

John H. Kelbaugh Scholarship - Fall selection (Funds awarded Spring semester)

  • Open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors
  • Based on merit, but need may also be considered

Presser Undergraduate Scholar Award – Selected in Fall, awarded in Spring

  • Awarded annually in the amount of $3000.00
  • Music major
  • Must be a current senior
  • Recommendation from Faculty for student excellence and merit
  • Student may apply for this award
  • Awardee will be designated the “Presser Scholar”

Category 2: Scholarships requiring an audition or division-specific process.

  • Requires submission of the Music Department Common Application on BBAM.
  • May also require an additional application on BBAM or a division-specific audition process.
  • Requires the approval of the student's applied instructor(s).

Cecylia B. Barczyk Cello Endowment Fund – Fall Selection (Funds awarded Spring semester)

  • Awarded annually, amounts vary
  • Selection based on outstanding or emergent talent in cello performance
  • The International Friends of the Cello Association may recommend actual or prospective TU students for the award
  • Please contact (Cello) for information

Reynaldo Reyes Piano Endowed Scholarship – Fall Selection (Funds awarded Spring semester)

  • Awarded annually, amounts vary
  • Open to undergraduate or graduate piano students majoring in performance or music education
  • Award based upon performance merit
  • Please contact (Piano) for information
  • Applications are due November 20, 2024

Henry Sanborn Music Scholarship – Fall Selection (Funds awarded Spring semester)

  • Awarded to one music major in voice and one music major in piano
  • May be awarded to undergraduate or graduate students
  • Winners perform in public recital
  • Piano applicants, please contact (Piano) for information
  • Voice applicants, please contact (Voice) for information
  • Applications are due November 6, 2024
  • The competitions dates are to be determined.

Wilfred Mickey Fields Scholarship – Fall Selection (Funds awarded Spring semester)

  • Awarded annually, amounts vary
  • Jazz/Commercial student
  • Please contact (Jazz) for information

James L. Dunbar Jr. Memorial Scholarship– Fall Selection (Funds awarded Spring semester)

  • BBAM Application due on Monday, October 7, 2024
  • Auditions held on Monday, October 21, 2024
  • Awarded annually, amounts vary
  • open to non-traditional (25+ years of age) undergraduate music majors
  • Selection is made by audition
  • Student submits an essay of approximately 500 words defining their future goals and how the degree will assist them in achieving those goals
  • Please contact and Prof. (Committee Co-Chairs) for information

Peggy Friedmann-Gordon Music Competition – Fall Selection (Funds awarded Spring semester)

  • BBAM Application due Monday, October 7, 2024
  • Auditions held on Monday, October 21, 2024
  • Annually each Fall, 1st prize - $1000, 2nd prize - $650, 3rd prize - $350
  • Fund to support a classical music competition with three awards – first, second, third place
  • Supported by an annual gift from the Peggy & Yale Gordon Charitable Trust
  • Full-time undergraduate music major currently enrolled in applied lessons
  • Applicants must be sponsored by a faculty member
  • Preceding years’ first place winners in the Friedmann Gordon or the Lieberman Music Competition are not eligible to participate
  • Competition based on musicality, technique, interpretation, stage presence, style and execution
  • Published scores required at the audition. Failure to have published scores results in disqualification
  • Please contact and Prof. (Committee Co-Chairs) for information

Jaclyn "Jackie" Bryant Memorial Scholarship - Fall Selection (Funds awarded Spring semester)

  • Awarded to one full-time undergraduate Junior or Senior clarinet student
  • Enrolled in the College of Fine Arts and Communication as Music Education majors or double majors in both Music Education and Performance
  • 3.2 cumulative GPA or higher
  • Students must play clarinet
  • Please contact Prof. (Clarinet) for information

Scholarships awarded in the Spring semester

Applications open on the first day of the Spring semester.
ALL Applications are due by Friday, March 14, 2025.
Note: You must complete the Music Department Common Application again even if you applied for Fall Scholarships.

Category 1: Student Self-Nominated Scholarships

  • Requires submission of the Music Department Common Application on BBAM.

Mary Pat Hughes Scholarship - Spring Selection (awarded Fall semester)

  • Award years vary, amounts vary
  • Must be a junior music major
  • Minimum cumulative GPA 2.5
  • Demonstrate outstanding versatility within different dimensions of music performance

Category 2: Scholarships requiring an audition or division-specific process.

  • Requires submission of the Music Department Common Application on BBAM.
  • May also require an additional application on BBAM or a division-specific audition process.
  • Requires the approval of the student's applied instructor(s).

C. James Veile Memorial Scholarship in Music Education – Spring Selection (Funds awarded Spring semester)

  • Full-time sophomore, junior, or senior
  • Music education major
  • Requires audition
  • Please contact and Prof. (Committee Co-Chairs) for information

Sidney Lieberman Music Competition Fund – Spring Selection (Funds awarded Spring semester)

  • Annually each spring, amounts may vary but usually 1st prize - $1000, 2nd prize - $500.
  • Open to both undergraduate and graduate music majors
  • Competitive audition required
  • Students must have a minimum of 25 minutes of music prepared at the audition
  • Published scores required at the audition. Failure to have published scores results in disqualification  
  • Please contact and Prof. (Committee Co-Chairs) for information

Sylvia & Irving H. Cohen Scholarship – Spring Selection (Funds awarded Fall semester)

  • Awarded annually, amounts vary
  • Awards based on talent and by audition
  • Demonstrated financial need as defined by the Financial Aid Officer
  • Please contact and Prof. (Committee Co-Chairs) for information

Talent Award Competition – Spring Selection (Funds awarded Spring semester)

  • Awarded annually, amounts vary
  • Open to undergraduate students in good standing within the Department excluding the preceding first or second place winners in the Friedmann-Gordon competition, or the preceding year's winners of the Talent Award or Lieberman competitions
  • Winners are presented in an annual all-department convocation concert
  • One student from each of the following areas of the Department of Music: Keyboard, Strings, Woodwinds, Brass, Percussion, Voice, Guitar, Jazz/Commercial, Composition, Music History and Culture, Music Theory, Music Education
  • Please contact your division leader for more information

Gordon & Marcha Becker '99 Scholarship for Percussion Performance - Spring Selection (Funds awarded Spring semester)

  • Full-time undergraduate or graduate students
  • Enrolled in the BM, BS, or MM Percussion Performance Program
  • 3.0 cumulative GPA
  • Demonstrated excellence in the major and especially in percussion performance
  • Please contact Prof. (Percussion) for information

Category 3: Scholarships awarded through the COFAC Dean's Office

  • Require submission of the Music Department Common application on BBAM.
  • These scholarships rotate between various departments within COFAC or may be offered annually and some scholarships are competitive between all COFAC Departments
  • Students may self-nominate and/or seek faculty nominations for these awards unless otherwise noted

Beulah M. Price Scholarship – Spring Selection (Funds awarded Fall semester)

  • Awarded annually, amounts vary
  • Competitive award between all COFAC Departments
  • One one nominee from Department of Music is sent forward to the Dean as a semi-finalist
  • Students may self-nominate or seek faculty nomination
  • Based on merit, though need may be considered
  • COFAC give fullest consideration to those students who also demonstrate extraordinary accomplishment, impact, and promise beyond the Department level
  • Application must be accompanied by faculty letters of recommendation

Alexander E. Sidorowicz Scholarship – Spring Selection (Funds awarded Fall semester)

  • Award rotates between COFAC Departments, amounts vary
  • Recommendation made by the Scholarship Committee to the COFAC Dean
  • Open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors

McConnell- Brungardt Scholarship – Spring Selection (Funds awarded Fall semester)

  • Awarded annually
  • Recommendation made by the Scholarship Committee to the COFAC Dean
  • Must be in good standing with the Music Department

Three Arts Club of Homeland Award – Spring Selection (Funds awarded Fall semester)

  • Awards vary but usually $200.00
  • Talent based
  • Awardee may be required to perform a 30-40 minute recital at the Three Arts Club of Homeland
  • Must have approval of applied faculty member

College of Fine Arts and Communication General Scholarship – Spring Selection (Funds awarded Fall semester)

  • Award years vary, amounts vary
  • Based on need and merit
  • Enrolled in the College of Fine Arts and Communication

Ira. J. and Mary K. Basler Scholarship – Spring Selection (Funds awarded Fall semester)

  • Nominated by any member of the Department of Music faculty
  • Based on need and merit
  • Enrolled in the College of Fine Arts and Communication

Jack F. Tolbert Memorial Scholarship – Spring Selection (Funds awarded Fall semester)

  • Award years vary, amounts vary
  • Rotates between various Departments within COFAC
  • Full-time junior or senior music major
  • Based on merit as well as talent

Franklin and Alice Cooley Scholarship for Fine Arts – Spring Selection (Funds awarded Fall semester)

  • Award years vary, amounts vary
  • Based on merit
  • Enrolled in the College of Fine Arts and Communication