Music Scholarships and Awards

Carroll University offers various music scholarships to qualified students, awarded based on an audition and open to both music majors and non-majors. Awards vary in amount and are independent of financial aid. 

• Music Participation Scholarships – $500-$2,000, renewable for 4 years.
• Marching Band Scholarships – $2,000 total over four years.
• Endowed Scholarships – $1,000-$5,000 to majors or specific instruments (piano, voice, flute, strings, etc.)

Music scholarships are automatically renewed for up to four years, as long the recipient maintains a 2.5 GPA and participates each semester in the music ensemble(s) associated with their scholarship:

• Vocal scholarship recipients must enroll in Concert Choir (MUS185), Chamber Singers (MUS186), or Treble Choir (MUS187)
• Wind and percussion scholarship recipients must enroll in Wind Ensemble (MUS188)
• String scholarship recipients (violin, viola, cello, or bass) must enroll in Chamber Orchestra (MUS191)
• Guitar scholarship recipients must enroll in private guitar lessons (MUS165) or in an ensemble as assigned
• Piano scholarship recipients must enroll in private piano lessons (MUS167) or in an ensemble as assigned

How to Apply

Complete the music scholarship application and a representative of the music program will contact you to confirm your application and discuss audition times.

Music Scholarship Audition Guidelines

All auditions take place in Shattuck Music Center on February 14, 2026. Please arrive and check-in at least 30 minutes prior to your scheduled audition time to warm up.

Accompanist Information

For instrumentalist auditions, piano accompaniment is not required, and an accompanist will not be provided by Carroll. You are encouraged to bring your own accompanist, but this is not required.

All vocal auditions will be provided an accompanist. Please send PDF scores of the pieces you will sing for your audition to jcawley@carrollu.edu. As part of the audition day, you will have the opportunity to warm up and rehearse with your provided accompanist. 

By special arrangement, you may provide your own accompanist. Please email Dr. Cawley (jcawley@carrollu.edu) to make these arrangements. 

Vocal Auditions

• Accompanist required: Yes
• Audition length: 15 minutes
• Audition material: Prepare two (2) solo pieces: 
  • One (1) classical piece (aria or art song)
  • One (1) piece in an another style (e.g., musical theatre, pop, or jazz).
  • Note: these should be solo pieces and not choral parts!
• Vocalists will also be asked to sing a major scale and minor scale, preferably of solfège.

Winds and Strings

• Accompanist required: No
• Audition length: 15 minutes
• Audition material: Two (2) contrasting works; either two pieces by different composers or time periods, or two contrasting movements from the same piece (e.g. fast/slow).
• Instrumentalists may also be asked to play common major or minor scales.

Percussion

• Accompanist required: No
• Audition length: 15 minutes
• Audition material: Two (2) contrasting pieces or études on different percussion instruments; one on keyboard percussion (or piano) and one on timpani, battery (e.g. snare drum), or multiple percussion.

Piano or Organ

• Audition length: 15 minutes
• Audition material: Two (2) pieces of contrasting style (different periods or composers)
• Pianists and organists may also be asked to sight-read a simple sonatina or accompaniment.

Guitar

• Accompanist required: No
• Audition length: 15 minutes
• Audition material: Two (2) pieces of contrasting style (different periods or composers)
• Guitarists may also be asked to sight-read a simple piece.

For More Information

For specific information about the vocal scholarships, contact Jeremiah Cawley at jcawley@carrollu.edu.
For specific information about the instrumental scholarships, contact Stacy Dziuk at sdiuk@carrollu.edu.

Additional Opportunities for Current Students

• Doc Aamot Award
  • The Dr. Mark C. Aamot Choral Conducting Award was established in honor of Dr. Mark Aamot, Professor Emeritus of Choral Music, who mentored and taught at Carroll from 1974-2001. This honored award recognizes a promising Music Education student who demonstrates talent and exceptional merit in the choral program to support their continued studies and pursuits in the music field.
• Laura Stroud Bartsch Music Scholarship – $1,000
  • Available to Carroll students majoring in Music, Music Education or Music Therapy, preference to emphasis on piano studies. Students must be of sophomore, junior or senior standing.
• Kathryn Court Hamilton Scholarship Award – $1,000
  • This award is presented to an outstanding upper class Music Education major.
• Charlotte & Cynthia Stevens Scholarship Award – $750
  • This scholarship in the name of Charlotte Stevens and her youngest daughter, Cynthia, a Waukesha music educator and private instructor of flute, provides funding for talented music students with flute as their major instrument to further hone their skills.

Aditional Awards for Outstanding Students in Ensemble

• J. Arnold Scholarship Violin
  • The outstanding violin student participating in Chamber Orchestra will be awarded the use of Carroll’s J. Arnold violin, an exceptional and rare 1860 Philadelphia instrument.
• Outstanding Senior Choir Award
  • This award, determined by a vote of the membership of Concert Choir, goes to that senior, graduating in May, whose leadership has contributed the most toward all positive aspects of the Concert Choir experience. The recipient’s name is engraved on a plaque in the music office.
• Wind Ensemble Outstanding Musician Award
  • This award is presented to an outstanding senior member of the Carroll Wind Ensemble and is chosen by members of the Wind Ensemble. The recipient’s name is engraved on a plaque in the music office.
• Chamber Orchestra Outstanding Musician Award
  • This award is presented to an outstanding senior member of the Carroll Chamber Orchestra and is chosen by members of the Chamber Orchestra. The recipient’s name is engraved on a plaque in the music office.