Music Scholarships
You must apply to the college via the Common App before you apply for the scholarships.
Scholarship Application Deadline: Nov. 15, 2024, or until all slots are filled
2025 Music Scholarship Auditions: Jan. 18, 2025
General Scholarship Information
Annual merit scholarships of $5,000 are available to selected incoming first-year students who major or minor in Theatre, Dance or Music and have demonstrated artistic excellence. One full-ride East Bay Performing Arts scholarship is available to a Black student or student of African-descent.
Phase 1
After applying for Early Action to Saint Mary's College, submit a music questionnaire via the departmental scholarship application form.
Once we get your questionnaire please submit a video no longer than 10 minutes demonstrating your current ability level.
Videos must be sent to musicscholarships@stmarys-ca.edu preferably as an unlisted YouTube link. You can also use Google Drive or Dropbox, but YouTube is preferred. The preferred and recommended deadline for videos is November 15. Anything after 11/15/24 will not get priority.
If you have any questions please email Prof. Sixto F. Montesinos at sfm5@stmarys-ca.edu
Phase 2 Candidates advancing to Phase 2 will be invited to audition in-person at our beautiful campus. Candidates not able to travel to Saint Mary's may request a virtual audition for Phase 2.
Phase 2 Requirements
Instrumentalists
Flute, Clarinet, Oboe, Bassoon, Saxophone, Trumpet, French Horn, Euphonium, Trombone, Tuba, Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Harp, Percussion (drum set only) should prepare at least 2 short solo pieces, movements, or excerpts of contrasting styles showing a variety of tempi and ability to perform fast and lyrical passages. Musical excerpts can be from any source, including something played in high school band or orchestra. You will be asked to play at least one major scale and one natural, harmonic, or melodic minor scale of your choice. Scales must be tongued up and slurred down at a tempo of your choice and reflect characteristic tone, steady tempo, and clear articulation. For specific questions about these requirements contact Dr. Sixto Montesinos, Head of Instrumental Studies at sfm5@stmarys-ca.edu
Pianists should play two contrasting pieces or movements, preferably by memory, from two different historical periods.
If you perform jazz, we suggest you use a recording of a rhythm section over which you improvise a solo.
The sight reading portion of the audition is meant to be non-threatening – we simply want to understand the breadth and depth of your musicianship skills. Instrumentalists will be asked to read a short excerpt appropriate for their instrument and ability. It is recommended to play under-tempo accurately than at performance tempo with numerous errors, stammerings, and having to start over again.
You will be asked to take a written assessment in basic music theory at the audition. (phase 2 only)
Interview with music faculty. (phase 2 only) More info here.
Vocalists
Sing two songs, preferably from memory, selected from two contrasting styles of music. Ideally one piece will be an art song or aria (non-English language preferred), and the other contrasting piece would be anything of your choosing (e.g. a contemporary genre such as pop, folk, R&B, Gospel, Musical Theatre, Jazz, etc. for which you may use sheet music or backing track recording).
Vocalists will be asked to clap a line of rhythmic notation, sight-read either single line notation or your part from a SATB chorale by Bach, vocalize to demonstrate range, and listen and sing back short melodic fragments.
You will be asked to take a written assessment in basic music theory at the virtual audition.
Interview with faculty. More info here.
To maintain scholarship eligibility you are expected to:
Major or minor in Music
Be a full-time student
Pass all classes
Enroll in an ensemble each semester
Serve the ensemble and department as a model student and citizen of the College