Music Artistic Achievement Awards
For exceptional students interested in studying and performing music, there is no better place than Pacific Lutheran University. The School of Music, Theatre & Dance offers awards each year to incoming students seeking to develop their skills alongside some of the most talented student-musicians and faculty members in the Pacific Northwest. You do not need to be a music major to receive a Music Artistic Achievement Award; awards are offered regardless of major.
Music Artistic Achievement Awards and limited endowed scholarships are offered in renewable amounts ranging up to $7,500 per year and are in addition to academic merit awards. Awards are available to students in a single specific area (for example – strings, voice, brass, etc) and are renewable up to another three years. Recipients are required to take private lessons in the area of the award, maintain academic standards, and participate in an assigned ensemble.
Auditions are required and awards are competitive. To be considered for a Music Artistic Achievement Award for the 2024-2025 academic year, both an application to PLU as well as the scholarship application form must be submitted.
How to Apply: In order to apply for an Artistic Achievement Award, you must first apply to PLU via Common App (for First Year students, including Running Start) or Transfer student application, and make sure to mark on your application your academic and/or co-curricular interests in the scholarship areas (studio art/design, communication/media, dance, music, theatre).
We recommend you submit your PLU application by February 1, 2025 so you have plenty of time to complete the Artistic Achievement Awards application by the February 11, 2025 deadline! On campus auditions and interviews dates are February 21-23, 2025.
Once your application to PLU is submitted, you’ll set up your PLU student applicant portal and should see the Artistic Achievement Awards application there. You’ll also receive an email inviting you to apply for an artistic achievement scholarship.
APPLY!
Audition Repertoire
Prepare 5 minutes of music demonstrating both musicality and technique. We want to hear you at your best and most confident. Suggested pieces are found here: PLU Suggested Audition Repertoire
NOTE: The scholarship audition can serve as the entrance audition if you wish to declare a music major.
Audition Q & A
Do I need to apply to PLU to audition?
Yes. While you do not need to be fully admitted before submitting videos for an Artistic Achievement Award, you must begin the PLU application process before completing the award application.
Do I need to be fully admitted to PLU to receive a music scholarship?
Yes. We cannot extend an Artistic Achievement Award offer to you until you are fully admitted to the university.
How does PLU decide who gets offered a scholarship?
Scholarship auditions are competitive. Auditions are evaluated by PLU Music Faculty. Auditionees are ranked by accomplishment, talent and potential, and need within each discipline.
Can I audition in more than one area?
Yes, but here are a few considerations:
• Music Scholarships are awarded in a single specific area (e.g., voice, or cello). Submitting audition recordings in multiple areas will not increase the amount of your award.
• All music scholarships require successful participation—each semester—in private lessons and, by audition and placement, in a scholarship ensemble in the area of your award. You may certainly take lessons in a secondary area, or participate in an additional ensemble, but the scholarship expectation remains in the area of your award.
• If you audition in multiple areas, the PLU faculty will determine the area in which the scholarship is awarded. If you intend to accept a scholarship only in one particular area, do not submit multiple auditions. Audition only in your preferred area.
I want to audition in both Music and Musical Theatre. Can I do that?
Yes! All students auditioning for Voice and Music Theatre scholarships will sing for the Music faculty. Music Theatre scholarship applicants will also present a monologue and dance audition for the Theatre faculty.
Please see our Suggested Audition Repertoire page for more guidance on the selection of songs. More information regarding Theatre scholarships can be found here.
What are the requirements for a music scholarship?
All music scholarships require successful participation—each semester—in private lessons and, by audition and placement, in a scholarship ensemble in the area of your award. Artistic Achievement Awards are renewable up to three additional years, subject to review of enrollment and grades received in lessons and ensemble. If you do not meet these requirements, the award is cancelled. Exceptions to this policy are made for students in study-away programs and for music education majors during their student-teaching semester.
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