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Music & Scottish Arts Scholarships

Applications for the Fall 2027 Music Scholarships and Scottish Arts Scholarships are now open!

Symphonic-Band1_wr

Music Scholarship Application

Music Scholarships are 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 not eligible)
  • Range from $2,000 to $12,000 per year
  • Do not require you to major or minor in music at Wooster
  • Reduce private lesson fees from $810 to $35 per semester for half-hour weekly lessons on your audition instrument (minimum value of $1,620 annually)
  • Are only available for voice, composition, and instruments for which the College offers private instruction.

Please apply in only one scholarship area.

Application Instructions

Applicants who complete all necessary application materials by midnight EST on December 1, 2026, and attend the Music Scholarship Experience or a scholarship lesson will receive notification by April 1, 2027. Note that Early Decision Applicants must submit their scholarship application by the November 1, 2026, 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 the on-campus Music Scholarship Experience on February 14-15, which coincides with our Scot Showcase visit program for admitted students.

It is highly recommended that students attend the on-campus Music Scholarship Experience. If you are not available on Feb. 14-15, options are available to request an alternative on-campus date this fall or a virtual audition. Please contact Melissa Puster, Administrative Coordinator, at the time of scholarship application submission.

International Students: Recorded auditions will be considered for international applicants if a live virtual appointment is not possible. Please contact Melissa Puster to coordinate your virtual audition.

Scottish Arts Scholarship Application

Scottish Arts Scholarships are awarded to incoming students based on skills in music or dance performance.

These scholarships:

  • Are awarded to first-year applicants during your senior year of high school (transfer students may be considered)
  • Range from $2,000 to $12,000 per year
  • Do not require you to major or minor in music at Wooster
  • Reduce private lesson fees from $810 to $35 per semester for half-hour weekly lessons on your audition instrument
  • Are available for Bagpipes, Highland Dance, and Scottish Drumming.

Please apply in only one scholarship area.

Application Instructions

Applicants who complete all necessary application materials by midnight EST on December 1, 2026, and attend the Music Scholarship Experience or a scholarship lesson will receive notification by April 1, 2027. Note that Early Decision Applicants must submit their scholarship application by the November 1, 2026, Early Decision deadline.

If you are not able to join us on February 14-15, options to schedule an on-campus scholarship lesson on an alternative date may be available (see options in the Scholarship form). Scholarship lesson participation fulfills the audition requirement. If attending an on-campus scholarship lesson is not possible, a virtual audition may be available.

Please contact Melissa Puster, Administrative Coordinator, at the time of scholarship application submission to request a virtual audition or alternative scholarship lesson date.

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.

Attend a Scholarship Lesson!

In lieu of a traditional audition, scholarship applicants will attend a scholarship lesson as part of the Music Scholarship Experience on February 14-15, 2027.

By attending a scholarship lesson, applicants automatically earn a $2,000 annual Music or Scottish Arts Scholarship if admitted to the College. Based on performance in your scholarship lesson, faculty may recommend additional scholarship funding beyond the $2,000 guaranteed minimum, with total awards reaching up to $12,000.

The Music Scholarship includes heavily subsidized private lessons for all four years of your education. Scholarship recipients are required to fulfill the expectations outlined below to renew their Music or Scottish Arts Scholarship annually.

If you cannot attend the Music Scholarship Experience on February 14-15, please contact Melissa Puster, Administrative Coordinator, at the time of scholarship application submission to request an alternative on-campus date this fall or a virtual audition.

Wooster Chorus

Scholarship Lesson Requirements

Performance Applicants

Please bring a piece you would enjoy exploring during your scholarship lesson. You may bring either a completed or nearly performance-ready piece, which the instructor may approach as a masterclass, or a work in progress that you would like to develop further in a lesson setting. Whichever you choose, please select music you know well enough to work on interpretation, technique, and expression rather than basic notes and rhythms. Neither option carries an advantage in scholarship consideration. 
Composition Applicants

In your Music Scholarship application, please submit one composition to work with during your scholarship lesson; a second piece is optional. You may share either a completed work or a substantial work in progress.

For notated music, please submit a score; a link to a real-time or MIDI recording is welcome but not required. For electroacoustic music, a link to a recording is sufficient. Completed works and works in progress receive equal scholarship consideration. 

Expectations of Music Scholarship 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: $35 per semester (regular fee: $810)
  • 1-hour lessons: $70 per semester (regular fee $1620)

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 by 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.

Expectations of Scottish Arts Recipients

Beginning with the first semester of the first year and continuing for as long as the scholarship is held, recipients must:

  • Enroll in and successfully complete private lessons on the instrument in which the Scottish Arts Scholarship was won.
  • Participate in the Scot Marching and Symphonic Bands.

Notes & Conditions

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 and awards can be applied only to tuition charges. If Presidential Scholar is awarded, all other merit scholarships awarded become honorary for all four years. 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 and award status will be honorary only.