Applications for Fall 2026 Music Scholarships have closed.
Awarded to incoming first-year students based on skills in music performance or composition. These scholarships:
- Are awarded during your senior year of high school (transfer students are, unfortunately, not eligible)
- Range from $2,000 to $8,000 per year
- Do not require you to major or minor in music at Wooster
- Reduce private lesson fees from $780 to $30 per semester for half-hour weekly lessons on your audition instrument
- Are only available for voice, composition, and instruments for which the College offers private instruction.
Please audition in only one scholarship area.
Application Instructions
Applicants who complete all necessary application materials by midnight EST on December 15, 2025, and attend an audition weekend will receive notification by April 1, 2026. Note that Early Decision Applicants must submit their scholarship application by the November 1, 2025, Early Decision deadline.
- Complete the general application for admission. Music Scholarship applicants must apply Early Decision or Early Action.
- Complete the Music Scholarship Application Form.
- Attend an audition date held on-campus in Scheide Music Center on November 15, February 7, or February 14.
Note that the November 15 audition date coincides with an Admissions Open House program. By selecting the Nov. 15 audition date in the Music Scholarship Application form, you will be automatically registered for the Open House.
It is highly recommended that students attend an on-campus audition date. However, virtual auditions are available under certain circumstances. Please contact Melissa Puster, Administrative Coordinator, at the time of scholarship application submission to request a virtual audition.
International Students: Recorded auditions will be considered for international applicants, following the relevant guidelines for your instrument (see below). Recordings (and all application materials) must be postmarked by your selected deadline.
Audition Requirements by Area
Click your area of interest below to view full audition requirements.
Prepare 5 to 10 minutes of music in contrasting styles that showcase your best technical and musical playing. Your repertoire may draw on:
- Solo etudes
- Movements from solo sonatas or concerti
- Jazz repertoire
- Non-Western musical repertoire
- If your audition material is all Jazz or Non-Western repertoire, please perform at least two pieces in contrasting styles.
Auditions may also include possible sightreading examples, which will be provided by the adjudicators.
Accompaniment Guidelines
- Piano accompaniment is optional. You may perform unaccompanied.
- You are welcome to bring your own pianist.
- You are also welcome to use a pre-recorded accompaniment if you send the files to Melissa Puster (mpuster@wooster.edu) at least 1 week before your audition.
- Accepted file formats: mp3, mp4, mov
- Files received after the deadline may result in an unaccompanied audition.
Prepare 5 to 10 minutes of music in contrasting styles that showcase your best technical and musical playing in at least 2 of the following areas:
- Snare drum
- Keyboard
- Timpani
- Drum set
- Multiple percussion
Your repertoire may draw on:
- Solos
- Etudes
- Orchestral Excerpts
- Transcriptions
- Jazz repertoire
- Non-Western musical repertoire
- If your audition material is all Jazz or Non-Western repertoire, please perform at least two pieces in contrasting styles.
Accompaniment Guidelines
- Piano accompaniment is optional. You may perform unaccompanied.
- You are welcome to bring your own pianist.
- You are also welcome to use a pre-recorded accompaniment if you send the files to Melissa Puster (mpuster@wooster.edu) at least 1 week before your audition.
- Accepted file formats: mp3, mp4, mov
- Files received after the deadline may result in an unaccompanied audition.
Prepare 5 to 10 minutes of music in contrasting styles that showcase your best technical and musical singing. Your repertoire should include:
- 2 memorized selections (art song or aria) in contrasting styles
- A selection in English
- A selection in another world language
- An optional third selection from musical theatre
- If included, please begin your audition with the art songs/arias.
Accompaniment Guidelines
- We will provide a collaborative pianist for live auditions if you email PDFs of your sheet music to Melissa Puster (mpuster@wooster.edu) at least 2 weeks before your audition date.
- You’ll have a brief rehearsal with the pianist before your audition
- Music received after the deadline will result in an unaccompanied audition.
- You are welcome to bring your own pianist.
- You are also welcome to use a pre-recorded accompaniment if you send the files to Melissa Puster (mpuster@wooster.edu) at least 1 week before your audition.
- Accepted file formats: mp3, mp4, mov
- Files received after the deadline may result in an unaccompanied audition.
Prepare 5 to 10 minutes of music in contrasting styles that showcase your best technical and musical playing. Your repertoire may draw on:
- Concerto movements
- Solo works, short pieces, etudes
- Jazz repertoire
- Non-Western musical repertoire
- If your audition material is all Jazz or Non-Western repertoire, please perform at least two pieces in contrasting styles.
Auditions may also include possible sightreading examples, which will be provided by the adjudicators.
Accompaniment Guidelines
- Piano accompaniment is optional. You may perform unaccompanied.
- You are welcome to bring your own pianist.
- You are also welcome to use a pre-recorded accompaniment if you send the files to Melissa Puster (mpuster@wooster.edu) at least 1 week before your audition.
- Accepted file formats: mp3, mp4, mov
- Files received after the deadline may result in an unaccompanied audition.
Prepare 5 to 10 minutes of music in contrasting styles of any genre or style that showcase your best technical and musical playing. Memorization is welcome but not required.
Prepare 1 or 2 compositions that demonstrate your creative abilities. Your portfolio may include:
- Notated scores
- Submitting recordings, including digital mockups, of your notated scores are encouraged, but not required
- Recordings of electronic-only compositions
Submit your materials to Melissa Puster (mpuster@wooster.edu) at least 2 weeks before your audition.
- Materials received after the deadline may not receive full consideration.
Expectations of Recipients
To maintain your Music Scholarship, you need to fulfill the following requirements each semester. Music Scholarships are awarded for a maximum of 8 semesters.
Applied Lessons
- Register for applied lessons on your audition instrument
- Composition scholarship holders register for composition lessons.
- Earn a minimum grade of C- or satisfactory audit (“L”)
- Perform in an end-of-semester jury, even if auditing
- Juries are not required for composition scholarship holders.
- Perform on a Departmental Recital if encouraged by your private teacher.
Your Music Scholarship dramatically reduces private lesson fees on your audition instrument:
- Half-hour lessons: $30 per semester (regular fee: $780)
- Hour lessons: $60 per semester (regular fee: $1,560)
Ensemble Requirements
- Register for one of the following large ensembles on your audition instrument (when possible). Ensembles marked * require a separate audition for admission.
- Wooster Chorus*
- Wooster Symphony Orchestra*
- Scot Symphonic Band*
- Scot Marching Band (fall only)
- Wooster Jazz Ensemble*
- Pipe Band*
- Earn a passing grade (“S”) or satisfactory audit (“L”)
- Special notes
- Composition scholarship holders may choose any large ensemble
- Keyboard scholarship recipients may fulfill the requirement participating in one of the following:
- Playing the keyboard in Wooster Symphony Orchestra, Scot Symphonic Band, Jazz Ensemble, or Contemporary Chamber Ensemble,
- Enrolling in Accompanying course
- Singing in Wooster Chorus or Wooster Singers
- Ensemble directors may invite you to enroll in a particular ensemble.
Questions and Concerns? Please contact Melissa Puster, Administrative Coordinator, at 330-263-2419.
*The maximum annual amount of Wooster merit scholarships is capped at full tuition annually, and scholarships can be applied only to tuition charges. Prospective students may apply for more than one interest-based scholarship. The Presidential Scholar, College Scholar and Dean’s Scholar are mutually exclusive. The interest-based and performing arts scholarships are renewable when qualifications and criteria are met. Scholarship award amounts will be finalized prior to notification of admission.
**Students who are eligible for and awarded a tuition benefit such as the Great Lakes College Association (GLCA) program, Wooster’s employee tuition remission, or Veteran’s Education Benefits may choose to apply for the merit scholarships noted above, but if awarded, the scholarship status will be honorary only.