Overview
First-year Music Scholarship
Scholarships are available for piano, organ, voice, winds, strings, percussion and composition. Students who are awarded a music scholarship take private lessons (if required) in the area of the award and participate in an appropriate faculty-directed ensemble (if required) for the duration of the scholarship.
Composition Scholarship
As Calvin College offers many opportunities for student composers and songwriters to have their music performed while in college, we invite incoming students who have already written music to apply for our composition scholarships. Your application might include traditional concert music, original songs, music for worship, film music, or music for web pages or video games. Recipients of the composition scholarship agree to have at least one new work performed in a Calvin context and take private music lessons during the year of this scholarship.
String Instrument Award from the Cayvan Collection
Mr. and Mrs. Leo L. Cayvan were long-time supporters of the Calvin Music Department. In addition to funding several music scholarships, Mr. and Mrs. Cayvan donated an excellent collection of stringed instruments to Calvin. This collection includes a small number of professional-quality instruments that are made available to students as non-monetary awards. Incoming and returning students are eligible for these awards, which are based on achievement and need. The awards are renewable, pending review by a music faculty committee. Students who are awarded these non-monetary Llewellyn L. Cayvan Violin, Viola, Cello or String Bass Awards are expected to perform with the Calvin Orchestra and take private lessons. First year students are required to perform a live or recorded audition to be considered for this award.
Eligibility
First-year Music Scholarship
Scholarships for first-year students are available in the areas of:
- Piano
- Organ
- Voice
- Winds (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone, trumpet, French horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba)
- Strings (violin, viola, cello, double bass)
- Percussion
Students who are awarded a music scholarship take private lessons (if required) in the area of the award and participate in an appropriate faculty-directed ensemble (if required) for the duration of their scholarships.
Composition Scholarship
Any first year student may apply for a composition scholarship.
String Instrument Award from the Cayvan Collection
Incoming and returning students are eligible for these awards, which are based on achievement and need. The awards are renewable, pending review by a music faculty committee. Students who are awarded these [non-monetary] Llewellyn L. Cayvan Violin, Viola, Cello or String Bass Scholarship are expected to perform with the Calvin Orchestra and take private lessons. First year students are required to perform a live or recorded audition to be considered for this scholarship.
Auditions
Live Audition
Live auditions will be held on Saturday, February 9, 2013 and Saturday, February 16, 2013 at the Covenant Fine Arts Center. Applicants are encouraged to attend a live audition.
Please note: No pre-recorded accompaniments are permitted.
Recorded Audition
Unable to attend a live audition? Consider submitting a recorded audition. Recordings should be submitted in mp3 format only. All recorded auditions must be received by January 16, 2013.
Audition and Repertoire Requirements
Piano & Organ Auditions
Piano audition length: 10 minutes
Piano audition repertoire: choose two (2) from the following (music must be memorized)
- a baroque work, such as a Sinfonia or Prelude and Fugue by J.S. Bach
- a fast movement from a sonata by Haydn, Mozart or Beethoven
- a Romantic work (Chopin, Brahms, Schumann, etc.)
- an Impressionistic or 20 th Century work
Organ audition length: 10 minutes
Organ audition repertoire:
- one composition by J.S. Bach such as a Chorale Prelude or a Prelude and/or Fugue
- a contrasting composition from any style period (if the Bach work is meditative, this choice should be vigorous and vice versa)
Instrumental Auditions
Audition length: 10 minutes
Audition repertoire: choose two (2)contrasting selections from the following solo literature:
- a movement from a sonata or concerto
- a solo piece that is appropriate for high school solo & ensemble festival (contest)
- a standard solo etude
Accompaniment live audition: No accompanist required.
Recorded audition: Please arrange to have a pianist accompany your performance if the piece calls for it
For percussion auditions:
- Snare drum: (rudimental or concert style) one etude demonstrating technical ability (examples of acceptable books include Peters, Cirone, Whaley, Delecluse, Firth, Pratt, Wilcoxen) Demonstration of standard rudiments (flams, drags, rolls, etc.)
- Mallets: (marimba, xylophone, or vibraphone) One short work or etude (5 minutes or less) demonstrating technical and musical facility. Either 2 or 4 mallet works are acceptable (examples of acceptable material include works by Abe, Bach, G.H. Green, Musser, Peters) All major scales through 4 flats and 4 sharps
- Timpani: One etude or solo work demonstrating technical and musical facility (examples of acceptable works include etudes by Goodman, Firth, and Delecluse or solos by Carter, Beck, Cahn) Ability to accurately tune intervals of 4ths and 5ths
Voice Auditions
Audition length: 10 minutes
Audition repertoire (music must be memorized): two art songs in contrasting styles (one must be in English) and an operatic aria or a musical theater selection appropriate for voice type and development
Recording type DVD recording is permitted for voice auditions. MP3 preferred.
Accompaniment:
- Live audition: Accompaniment is required from either a Calvin staff accompanist or you may provide your own. Indicate which you would prefer on your application form.
- Recorded audition: Please arrange to have a pianist accompany your performance if the piece calls for it.
- Please note: No pre-recorded accompaniments allowed for recorded or live auditions.
Application Process
- Complete your application for admission to Calvin College through the Admissions Office.
- Complete scholarship application form (see "Apply" tab above)
- Complete letter of recommendation [ Download PDF ]
- Submit a copy of your music (for vocal auditions who are using a Calvin staff accompanist.)
- Submit a recording (if you are unable to attend a live audition)
- Applicants for a composition scholarship must submit 2-5 original compositions. Include a score (or lead sheet), recording, and program note (describing the composer’s intent for the music) for each composition. Submissions may be mailed or submitted electronically (PDF, mp3, and Word docx files are preferred.)
Deadline: January 16, 2013
All application materials (on-line application, teacher recommendation, recording and music for vocal accompanist, if applicable) must be received by January 16, 2013. We will notify you about your audition time after all of your application materials have been received. Notification of the results will be mailed to the applicants by March 1, 2013.
Scholarships Application Form
Please note: This application is for first year music scholarships. You can find other scholarships, music and non-music, through the Financial Aid Office.
Application form
