Music Scholarships and Awards

Carroll University offers merit scholarships to qualified freshmen, based on an audition and independent of financial need. Music scholarships are available to both music majors and non-majors.

• Music Participation Scholarship – Varying amounts, generally ranging from $250-$1000, renewable for 4 years.
  • Based upon audition. All students are eligible regardless of major.
• Marching Band Scholarship – $2000 total over four years; $250 first year.
  • Given to students participating in Marching Band. All students are eligible regardless of major.
• Francis Green MacAllister Endowed Music Scholarship – $5,000 total; $1,250 renewable per year
  • Available to students majoring in Music, Music Education or Music Therapy. See below for audition requirements.
• Elizabeth M. Bullock Endowed Music Scholarship – $5,000 total; $1,250 renewable per year
  • Available to any student participating in music, with preference given to organ, piano, harp, or voice. See below for audition requirements.
• Jeffrey Bonvallet '72 and Laura Fisher-Bonvallet '74 Endowed Scholarship 
  • ​Varying amount, generally ranging from $2,500-$4,000, renewable for 2 years.
  • This award requires a special application and rotates between music and business students of merit, renewable for 2 years.
• Corabelle Carlisle Scott Music Award – $1,000
  • This award is presented to an outstanding freshman music major who has shown excellent performance ability and musical progress during the first year.
• Laura Stroud Bartsch Music Scholarship – $1,000
  • Available to Carroll students majoring in Music, Music Education or Music Therapy, preference to emphasis on piano studies. Students must be of sophomore, junior or senior standing.
• Kathryn Court Hamilton Scholarship Award – $1,000
  • This award is presented to an outstanding upper class music education major.
• Charlotte & Cynthia Stevens Scholarship Award – $750
  • This scholarship in the name of Charlotte Stevens and her youngest daughter, Cynthia, a Waukesha music educator and private instructor of flute, provides funding for talented music students with flute as their major instrument to further hone their skills.
• J. Arnold Scholarship Violin
  • The outstanding violin student participating in Chamber Orchestra will be awarded the use of Carroll’s J. Arnold violin, an exceptional and rare 1860 Philadelphia instrument.
• Outstanding Senior Choir Award
  • This award, determined by a vote of the membership of Concert Choir, goes to that senior, graduating in May, whose leadership has contributed the most toward all positive aspects of the Concert Choir experience. The recipient’s name is engraved on a plaque in the music office.
• Wind Ensemble Outstanding Musician Award
  • This award is presented to an outstanding senior member of the Carroll Wind Ensemble and is chosen by members of the Wind Ensemble. The recipient’s name is engraved on a plaque in the music office.
• Chamber Orchestra Outstanding Musician Award
  • This award is presented to an outstanding senior member of the Carroll Chamber Orchestra and is chosen by members of the Chamber Orchestra. The recipient’s name is engraved on a plaque in the music office.

Music scholarships are automatically renewed for up to four years, as long the recipient maintains a 2.5 GPA and participates each semester in the music ensemble associated with their scholarship instruments:

• Vocal scholarship recipients must enroll in Concert Choir (MUS185)
• Wind and percussion scholarship recipients must enroll in Wind Symphony (MUS188)
• String scholarship recipients (violin, viola, cello, or contrabass) must enroll in Chamber Orchestra (MUS191)
• Guitar players must enroll in Guitar Ensemble (MUS195)
• Pianists will be required to enroll in private piano lessons (MUS167) and assist with accompanying and chamber music

How to Apply

Complete the music scholarship application and a representative of the music program will contact you within one business week to confirm your application and discuss audition times.

Music Scholarship Audition Guidelines

All auditions take place in Shattuck Music Center. Please arrive at least 15 minutes prior to your scheduled audition time to warm up.

Accompanist Information

For instrumentalists auditions, piano accompaniment is not required and an accompanist will not be provided by Carroll. You are encouraged to bring your own accompanist but this is not required.

All vocal auditions must be accompanied by piano. You are encouraged to bring your own accompanist. However, if you are unable to bring an accompanist, we will provide our staff accompanist for you at no charge.

If you choose to use our staff accompanist, please notify us at music@051857.com at least two weeks in advance of your audition. At that time, please send us the names of the pieces you will be performing and the book or edition in which it is found to ensure the best possible audition. When you come for your audition, you must bring an original published edition of the music (not a photocopy) for the accompanist. Your music will be returned to you as soon as your audition is over.

This audition will determine scholarship award only. All scholarship recipients will audition again in the fall for ensemble placement.

Vocal Auditions

• Accompanist required: Yes
• Audition length: 15 minutes
• Audition material: Prepare one (1) classical aria or an art song.
• Vocalists will also be asked to complete a basic sight-singing and solfège exercise.

Winds and Strings

• Accompanist required: No
• Audition length: 15 minutes
• Audition material: Two (2) contrasting works; either two pieces by different composers or time periods, or two contrasting movements from the same piece (e.g. fast / slow).
• Instrumentalists may also be asked to play common major or minor scales.

Percussion

• Accompanist required: No
• Audition length: 15 minutes
• Audition material: Two contrasting pieces or études on different percussion instruments; one on keyboard percussion (or piano) and one on timpani, battery (e.g. snare drum), or multiple percussion.

Piano or Organ

• Audition length: 15 minutes
• Audition material: 2 pieces of contrasting style (different periods or composers)
• Pianists and organists may also be asked to sight-read a simple sonatina or accompaniment.

Guitar

• Accompanist required: No
• Audition length: 15 minutes
• Audition material: 2 pieces of contrasting style (different periods or composers)
• Guitarists may also be asked to sight-read a simple piece.

For More Information

For specific information about music scholarships or Carroll's music program, contact the Music department at music@051857.com or 262.524.7182 or 1.800.277.7655, ext. 7182.

For any other inquiries about financial aid at Carroll University, contact the Financial Aid Office at 262.524.7296 or 1.800.277.7655, ext. 7296.