Shields Music Scholarship Awards

Frederick Community College and the George L. Shields Foundation are pleased to offer annually Shields Music Scholarship Awards in the following categories:

Merit: Students with prior or current experience studying privately with a music instructor: (ages 8-18) Scholarships conferred on students who perform exceptionally on a live audition that includes a piece or excerpts of no more than five minutes in length that will best show the student's abilities. A student's written statement and a teacher evaluation are also part of the application. All materials must be submitted by Sunday May 14, 2023. Award renewals in the Spring semester are determined by FCC teacher recommendation.

Developing: Children who have no prior private musical instruction: (ages 6-14) Scholarships conferred on students who have never taken private music lessons on any instrument or voice. No audition is required. Scholarship renewals in the spring semester are determined by their FCC teacher recommendation.

Continuing: Children who have completed one year of musical instruction at FCC under the Developing category: (ages 7-15) Scholarships conferred on students who have successfully completed the fall and spring semesters under the Development category and wish to extend their studies on the same instrument for an additional year at FCC. Selections in this category will be based on the recommendation of the student's FCC music teacher and participation in FCC solo recital or ensemble performances. No audition is required. Scholarship renewals in the spring semester are determined by FCC teacher recommendation.

For more information contact

Marjory Serrano
Shield’s Scholarship Coordinator
[email protected]
540.664.4068 (cell)

College Students

First Year College Freshmen Majoring in Music at FCC: Scholarships conferred on 1st year declared college music majors or open campus/dual enrollment high school students who are enrolled for a minimum of 6 credits of MUSC classes for the academic year. All applicants must enroll for credit lessons. Scholarships are based on a live audition that includes one piece or movement no more than 10 minutes, a short essay describing career goals, an accompanying high school transcript (an unofficial copy can be emailed to Dr. Marjory Serrano at the address below), and a teacher recommendation (reference). See Important Information on Auditions below. Award renewals for the spring semester are determined by teacher recommendation.

Second Year College Music Majors Grants: Grants are awarded to 2nd year music majors determined by student recital or jury adjudication performance, FCC instructor recommendations (two references--one from an MUSC class instructor and one from the applied lesson instructor), a short essay by applicant describing career goals, and college transcripts. Award amounts are variable and are renewable for another semester. All applicants must enroll for credit applied music lessons, have a current GPA of 2.5 or better, and have completed a minimum of 8 credits in FCC’s music degree program.

For more information contact

Marjory Serrano
Shield’s Scholarship Coordinator
[email protected]
540.664.4068 (cell)

Limited Needs-Based Scholarships: The George L Shields Foundation and the FCC Foundation offers partial scholarships to continuing education students who qualify for financial assistance. For information and application, please contact Michael Thornton ([email protected]), Scholarship Program Manager, FCC Foundation.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION Regarding Auditions

• Auditions will take place in JBK (Percussion in room F146)
• Auditions should include a piece or excerpts (no more than ten minutes in length) that will best showcase the student's abilities. The judging criteria, along with the student's statement and the teacher evaluation, will include technique, tone, intonation, expressiveness, and stage presence.
• Audion dates will be:
  • Saturday June 24  - Strings, Guitar, and Percussion
  • Sunday June 25 - Piano, Voice, Woodwind and Brass
• You will receive an email from Dr. Serrano on Sunday June 18th with the time of your audition.