Music and Media & Performing Arts Scholarships

Amount

Music Department Performance Scholarship: Up to $2,000/year; $8,000 over four years.

The Performance Scholarship is open to all new and transfer students. It is available to students of any major who plan to participate in one of the Bethel music department ensembles.

Rockley Family Foundation and Alleen Jefferson Fraser Scholarship combined with Music Performance Scholarship: $18,000 and $17,000 over four years.

These two competitive scholarships are provided through the generous donations of the Rockley Family Foundation and the Fraser estate. Recipients are selected after a live audition. Two highly talented new or tranfer students will be offered either the Rockley or the Fraser Scholarship. These scholarships will be added to the $2,000 Music Department Performance Scholarship to provide a total of $4,500/year (Rockley) and $4,250/year (Fraser). Scholarship Competition Day is February 22, 2025.

Media & Performing Arts Scholarship: Up to $2,000/year; $8,000 over four years.

This scholarship will be offered to up to two students annually who are interested in media, communication, or digital marketing. Potential applicants should also have interests and talents in music or theater arts.

All four music scholarships are stackable with academic scholarships.

Renewal

Renewable each year for up to four years. Music faculty renews scholarships annually if students:

Maintain full-time enrollment status.
Make satisfactory degree progress.
Maintain a minimum 2.50 GPA.
Participate each semester (including all concerts and tours) in a Department of Music and Theatre performance organization on the instrument or voice for which the scholarship was awarded.
Complete the Financial Aid process.

Music Performance Scholarship recipients must register for a weekly 30-minute music lesson each semester (a music lesson fee is billed to the student account each semester). Media and Performing Arts Minor scholarship recipients must be enrolled in the minor and produce monthly social media content.

Eligibility

Incoming freshmen and transfer students.
Students of any declared major.
Must commit to participation in a musical performance group each semester, including all concerts and tours.
Must have completed the Bethel University application for admission by February 1, 2025.

Additional eligibility criteria for Media & Performing Arts Scholarship:

Declared minor in media and performing arts.
Must work as an on-campus content creator in collaboration with the Department of Communication Studies and the Department of Music and Performing Arts.

Academic requirements

Must be enrolled at least half-time in courses required for graduation, be in good standing, and be working toward their first bachelor's degree. Scholarships will be prorated for less than full-time attendance.
Half of each award will be credited to the student's account each semester.
The award will be renewed annually by the music faculty with evidence of continued musical progress on the awarded instrument or voice, based on fall and spring music juries and teacher recommendation.

Deadline

February 1, 2025, for fall 2025

Scholarship timeline

June 1, 2024, to February 1, 2025: Scholarship application, recommendations, and recordings accepted. Your completed Bethel University application for admission must be on file with the Office of Admissions.
February 22, 2025: On-campus, in-person music scholarship auditions.
March 1, 2025: All in-person or recorded auditions must be submitted by March 1, 2025.

The scholarship application will close on February 1, 2025.

How to apply

Complete the Music and Media & Performing Arts Scholarship application and:

Music Performance: Talented students should prepare two contrasting selections in voice or instrumental for either an on-campus or recorded audition. Students should apply by February 1 and can contact lydia-shull@bethel.edu to schedule an audition or submit a recording by March 1. Students can audition on more than one instrument.

Rockley Family Foundation and Alleen Jefferson Fraser Scholarships: Indicate participation for the scholarship day on the application by February 1. Prospective students should prepare two contrasting selections in voice or instrumental and may audition in both, if applicable. Students should contact lydia-shull@bethel.edu to schedule a performance time during the competition day and receive further information.

Media & Performing Arts Scholarship: New and transfer students will be asked to complete a vocal or instrumental audition. Prospective students will also have an interview to gauge interest and abilities in media and marketing. Students interested in a live audition should contact lydia-shull@bethel.edu.

More information

For live auditions, contact lydia-shull@bethel.edu.

If you are interested in applying for the scholarship in the future, please contact the Department of Music and Performing Arts at music@bethel.edu.