Music Scholarships

Department of Music Scholarships range from $350 to $2,000 per semester and are available to majors and minors in the keyboard, voice, and instrumental areas. They require an audition and are renewable provided that the recipient maintains a minimum course load of 15 credit hours, participates satisfactorily in the area(s) for which the scholarship is awarded, makes satisfactory progress toward their degree, and maintains an institutional cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or higher.  Scholarship recipients must complete a total of 30 earned credit hours per year (Fall, Spring, Summer) in order to renew their award.

All members of the Jaguar Marching Band receive a scholarship, ranging from $750 per semester and up. They require an audition and are renewable provided that the recipient maintains a minimum course load of 15 credit hours, participates satisfactorily in the area(s) for which the scholarship is awarded, and maintains a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher.  Scholarship recipients must complete a total of 30 earned credit hours per year (Fall, Spring, Summer) in order to renew their award.  Jaguar Marching scholarship recipients are allowed to take an unbalanced credit hour load (ex. 12 for Fall, 18 for Spring) provided they meet 30 total earned credit hours for the academic year.

All members of the Jaguar Pep Band receive a $1000 stipend for their service. This is paid in monthly installments in the Spring semester (January, February, March). The Jaguar Pep Band is open by audition to members of the Jaguar Marching Band. Up to 80 students will be selected. Auditions occur in the beginning of October. 

The Rose Palmai-Tenser Endowed Vocal Scholarship was established in 2009 by the Rose Palmai-Tenser Advisory Board to provide funding for an annual award to a deserving junior student in music who demonstrates vocal excellence. Awards range from $500 to $750 per year. Previous recipients will be ineligible to receive said scholarship in subsequent years. The recipient must be enrolled in applied voice, carry a 15 credit hour load, maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher, must be able to perform three arias in original languages/keys, and must sign a release for publicity pictures. Interested juniors should contact the Vocal Area Coordinator for audition information.

The Harper Endowed Scholarship in Music was established in 2006 by friends and colleagues of Dr. Andrew H. Harper to provide funding for an annual award for a deserving student in music. Awards range from $500 to $1,000 per year and are available to music majors. The award is available to an incoming freshman student by audition who plans to obtain a degree in music, is a full time student with a minimum high school grade point average of 3.0. Previous recipients at a higher collegiate level will be eligible to receive said scholarship in subsequent years if they are a full time student with a minimum grade point average of 2.5. Recipients must be enrolled in applied music study, participate in appropriate ensembles, carry a 15 credit hour load, and maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher. There is no application form for this scholarship, as outstanding musicians are identified by the faculty and recommended to the chair on an annual basis.

This scholarship was established in honor of percussionist Mike Bartels, a graduate of McGill-Toolen High School and student at USA. Awards range from $250 to $550 per year and are available to majors and non-majors. The recipient must be enrolled in applied percussion, participate in Percussion Ensemble, carry a 15 credit hour load, and maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher. There is no application form for this scholarship, as outstanding percussionists are identified by the faculty and recommended to the chair on an annual basis.

The Presser Undergraduate Scholar Award is a tuition scholarship awarded by the music faculty to a rising senior music major for a period of two consecutive semesters. The criteria for the award are musicianship, scholarship, and contribution to the department. There is no application form for this scholarship, as students must be nominated by a faculty member for consideration. As the name implies, this scholarship is made available to the Department through the kind support of the Presser Foundation of Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.

The John W. Laidlaw Scholar Awards are available to outstanding music students in all areas of music study and range from $2,500 to $5,500 annually. For consideration, all students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Laidlaw Scholarships are renewable provided that the recipient carries a 15 credit hour load, participates satisfactorily in the area(s) for which the scholarship was awarded, and maintains a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher. There is no application form for this scholarship, as outstanding musicians are identified by the music faculty and recommended to the chair on an annual basis.

The Sue Houston Hanlein Endowed Scholarship for Piano is an award for an outstanding piano student at the University of South Alabama who demonstrates high academic achievement. The award can be made to a freshman student; however, if an upper level student meets the criteria set forth, such a candidate may be selected as well. The recipient must be a music major enrolled in applied piano, carry a 15 credit hour load, and maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher. There is no application form for this scholarship, as outstanding pianists are identified by the keyboard faculty and recommended to the chair on an annual basis.

This scholarship is named in honor of John W. Laidlaw, the benefactor for the Laidlaw Performing Arts Center. Awards range from $750 to $2,000 per year and are available to music majors with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher. The recipient(s) must be enrolled in applied music and appropriate ensembles, carry a 15 credit hour load, and maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher. This award is available to incoming freshman who have a minimum high school grade point average of 3.0 or higher and based on their audition before a faculty evaluation committee. There is no application form for this scholarship, as outstanding musicians are identified by the music faculty and recommended to the chair on an annual basis.

This scholarship is named in honor of Dr. John H. Chester, a pianist who taught at USA in the early 1960's. Ellie Chester, his widow, and a number of friends established a fund to assist outstanding pianists. Awards range from $300 to $750 per year and are available to majors and non-majors. The recipient(s) must be enrolled in applied piano, carry a 15 credit hour load, and maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher. There is no application form for this scholarship, as outstanding pianists are identified by the keyboard faculty and recommended to the chair on an annual basis.