Music Scholarships & Auditions

Entrance to the Music Program:

To help ensure the long-term success of music students, auditions are required for entrance into the program.  The auditions take place on campus on set audition dates, or via recording.  The same audition can serve for both admission to the program and scholarship consideration (see below).  This audition usually takes place before a student begins study. If a student has not auditioned before the first semester, the student is deemed a provisional major until the end of that semester, when performance final exams with the faculty serve as the audition.  Please note that acceptance into the music program is contingent upon a student being accepted into the University as a whole by the Admissions Office.

Scholarships:

The University offers music scholarships for tuition and private lessons that are in addition to other financial aid offers from the University. These scholarships are awarded by audition, either in person or via recording.  Awards for music majors range from $4,000 to upwards of $10,000 per year based on the quality of the audition.  Awards for music minors are $2,000.  Scholarships are automatically renewable through your senior year assuming continued musical and academic progress. There are also performance grants of $1,000 per year, awarded by annual audition, for talented students who will make a significant contribution to a UP ensemble, but who are not majors or minors.  In addition to scholarships and grants, there are work-study jobs in the department that pay up to $1,500 per year.

Auditions (In-person or recorded):

Students should prepare 7-10 minutes of music, including at least two contrasting pieces that demonstrate technique, tone quality, and musicianship. At least one piece should be classical. Vocal auditions should include piano accompaniment if possible. Recorded auditions should be submitted as a high-quality video recording. Links to online performance videos are encouraged.

In-person auditions will be held on the UP Campus on the following dates: 

February 10, 2024
February 17, 2024
March 2, 2024

All recordings must be received by Monday, March 4, 2024.

Students who submit an audition recording should also plan to meet virtually with members of the UP music faculty for approximately 10 minutes as part of the audition process. Arrangements will be made when recordings are submitted.

All students must complete the UP Music Scholarship application and bring it to their in-person audition or include it with their audition recording.

UP Music Scholarship Application

Please contact Dr. Nicole Leupp Hanig to schedule an in-person audition or to submit a recording. Dr. Hanig can also answer any questions you may have about the application process.