Music Scholarships
Pacific University has an extensive program of grants, scholarships and awards to help students finance their education.
Scholarships for music are awarded on the basis of musical merit, and do not require that the recipient be a music major. All scholarship awards from the Music Department become part of the total institutional package offered by the university to the student.
Scholarships
All students, regardless of their major or minor, are eligible for a music scholarship with the exception of dental hygiene. Scholarship awards are offered from $2,000 to $7,000 per year, per student, renewable for all four years of study.
Eligibility
Future students must apply for the scholarship before they become a student at Pacific University to be eligible for this scholarship.
Music Scholarships are awarded to students during the application process to the University and are part of the student’s financial aid package upon admission. Music scholarships are based upon auditions (either live or recorded) and are awarded at the discretion of the music faculty. Each scholarship recipient is required to perform in one major ensemble appropriate to their primary instrument, per semester of residence. Additionally, each scholarship recipient is required to take lessons on their major instrument/voice for each semester in residence at Pacific.
Auditions
In-person auditions will take place on February 15, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Taylor-Meade Auditorium at Pacific University.
Students will be assigned specific audition times as the date approaches. Auditions consist entirely of material prepared in advance by you. Contact Becca Ellenbecker at talentauditions@pacificu.edu if you have questions.
Please complete the online scholarship application and upload a copy of your Letter of Recommendation and Scholarship application form.
Auditions may be submitted online via either an MP3 file or a YouTube link.
If interested in auditioning for the Music Therapy program, please submit a 200 - 300 word essay about why you would like to pursue this major field. You can submit this essay through the online scholarship application.
If you wish to audition for a music scholarship audition beyond March 1, please contact us at talentauditions@pacificu.edu
Audition Selections
Please upload the sheet music of the songs and pieces that you will be performing during your in-person audition. Please also follow the criteria for your specific instrument that is detailed below. You can also submit your letter of recommendation during this time or you or your recommender can send the letter to talentauditions@pacificu.edu in the format of Lastname_Firstname_LOR.
Requirement for every applicant: Please submit a short answer paragraph about why you are interested in continuing your music studies at Pacific.
Pianists:
Prepare two memorized contrasting works that showcase your strongest abilities. Options include: one or more movements of a Sonata from the Classical, Romantic or Contemporary genres; or from a Baroque Suite, Prelude and Fugue or Invention. You may also choose a work from more contemporary styles such as Jazz or Pop, or accompanying another instrument to reflect your particular skill set.
Vocalists:
- If interested in classical genres, please prepare 2 memorized, contrasting pieces that showcase your vocal range and musicality- 1 piece should be composed before 1900 and 1 selection in a foreign language is encouraged.
- If interested in contemporary or musical theater genres, please prepare 2 memorized, contrasting pieces in styles that best reflect your interests and capabilities. 1 piece should be composed before 1970. Foreign languages are welcome, but not required.
Strings:
One or more contrasting movements from a baroque work and one or more contrasting movements from a classical or romantic sonata or concerto
Winds:
Two contrasting pieces, or two movements from a solo sonata or concerto
Percussion:
Performance on a snare drum, timpani, and one or more mallet instruments
Guitar:
Guitarists should prepare two solo pieces. One should be slow to display your lyrical sound. The second should be at a faster tempo to display your technique.
Music Therapy Majors:
Prepare two contrasting pieces: One must be on your primary instrument (or voice type) in either classical, jazz, or contemporary styles. Your additional piece can also be on your primary instrument, in a contrasting style from your first piece, or a self-accompanied piece in which you sing and play piano, guitar, ukulele, accordion, etc.
University Admissions
To become a music major, a student must be admitted to Pacific University and file a declaration for the music major with the Registrar's Office.
If you have questions about applying for admission, please contact Undergraduate Admissions at admissions@pacificu.edu, or calling at 503-352-2218.
