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

Merit:

Scholarships are available for students (ages 8-18) who have prior or current experience studying privately with a music instructor. To apply, students must perform exceptionally on a live audition that includes a piece or excerpts between five to ten minutes long, which will showcase their abilities. In addition, applicants must submit a written statement and a teacher evaluation. All application materials must be submitted by Friday May 31st, 2024. Renewals for the Spring semester will be determined by FCC teacher recommendation.

Developing:

Scholarships are available for children (ages 6-14) who have no prior private musical instruction. No audition is required to apply for this category. Renewals in the spring semester will be determined by their FCC teacher recommendation.

Continuing:

Scholarships are available for children (ages 7-15) who have completed one year of musical instruction at FCC under the Developing category (see above) and wish to continue 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 to apply, and renewals in the spring semester will be determined by FCC teacher recommendation.

A link to apply will be sent directly to continuing students who are currently under the Developing category via email on Monday April 1st.
Application Deadline: Friday May 31st, 2024

College Students

First Year College Freshmen Majoring in Music at FCC:

Scholarships are available for first-year college music majors at FCC or open campus/dual enrollment high school students who are enrolled for a minimum of 6 credits of MUSC classes per academic year. Applicants must enroll for credit lessons and undergo a live audition that includes one piece or movement no more than 10 minutes long, along with submitting a short essay describing career goals, an accompanying high school transcript (an unofficial copy can be emailed to Dr. Marjory Serrano), and a teacher recommendation. Renewals for the spring semester will be determined by teacher recommendation.

Second Year College Music Majors Grants:

Grants are awarded to second-year music majors based on student recital or jury adjudication performance, FCC instructor recommendations (two references required—one from an MUSC class instructor and one from the applied lesson instructor), a short essay describing career goals, and college transcripts. Award amounts are variable and 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.

Limited Needs-Based Scholarships:

The George L Shields Foundation and the FCC Foundation offer partial scholarships to continuing education students who qualify for financial assistance. For more information and application details, please contact Michael Thornton, Scholarship Program Manager at FCC Foundation.

Auditions:

Auditions will take place in JBK (Percussion in room F146). Audition pieces or excerpts should not exceed ten minutes in length and should best showcase the student's abilities. The judging criteria include technique, tone, intonation, expressiveness, and stage presence along with the student's statement and teacher evaluation.

Audition dates are as follows:
- Saturday June 22 - Piano, Guitar, and Percussion
- Sunday June 23 - Strings, Voice, Woodwind, and Brass
 
You will receive an email from Dr. Serrano on Sunday June 9th with your audition time.

For more information contact

Marjory Serrano

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

Music Scholarship Donations

Related Links

Credit Music Programs
Personal Enrichment Music Lessons & Ensembles