Music Scholarship Information

Music Scholarship Auditions

The music community at Simpson is rich and diverse and we hope you will be a part of it! We are proud to offer scholarships to accomplished musicians who wish to continue performing or studying music while at Simpson. You do not need to major or minor in music to qualify or maintain a music award.

Prospective students: Register now for our 2022-2023 Music Scholarship Auditions! Click the link below to sign up for an audition time.
Register for a Music Scholarship Audition

Eligibility

• High school seniors and transfer students may audition for a music scholarship.
• Scholarship auditions are separate from auditions for ensembles and productions. You do not have to audition for a scholarship in order to participate in music at Simpson.
• Awards are made to students on the basis of musical ability and academic promise.
• Music awards can be added to financial aid packages, except when those include a full- tuition award, such as the Simpson Promise or tuition exchange.
• Scholarship recipients are required to enroll in a major ensemble related to their primary performance area every semester. (two exceptions: students can keep their scholarships without ensemble participation during student teaching or study abroad semesters). The major ensembles for each primary performance area are as follows:

        Vocal majors – Mus 214C: College Choir 
        Woodwind, brass, and percussion majors – Mus 214B: Symphonic Band

        String majors – Mus 214O: Orchestra

        Piano, organ, guitar, & harp majors – One of the ensembles listed above


Auditions and registration

• Our primary in-person auditions will be held on the following dates:
  • Sunday, December 4th, 2022 
  • Sunday, February 12th, 2023 (priority deadline)
  • Saturday, March 4th, 2023
• Students who audition before or by February 12^th are eligible for maximum scholarship priority consideration.
• Students who are not able to attend the above audition dates may elect to schedule an ad hoc audition as availability allows. Contact the Music Office for more details.
• In-person auditions are highly encouraged, but please contact the Music Office if you have special circumstances. If you live more than 300 miles away, be sure to check out our Fly-In Program, which can reimburse you for all or part of your airfare.
• To register for an audition, click through to our Audition Registration Form.

Audition Requirements by Division

• Voice: Prepare 2-3 solo selections in contrasting styles. Folk songs, art songs, arias, and musical theatre pieces are all acceptable. Solo pieces used for Solo & Ensemble contests are appropriate and encouraged. Please, no choral works. 
• Instrumental: Prepare two contrasting selections – one lyrical and one more technical. These selections can be from the same piece of music, or two different works or etudes. Excerpts used for All-State auditions are appropriate and encouraged.
• Piano: Prepare two contrasting selections totaling no more than 10-12 minutes of music. Excerpts from larger works, such as sonatas, are appropriate.

For students performing accompanied pieces, we provide the assistance of a staff accompanist at no charge. Please bring copies of your music in a binder for the pianist if possible. Pre-recorded accompaniment tracks are discouraged.

Video Audition Guidelines

While in-person auditions are preferred and highly encouraged for maximum scholarship consideration, we will accept video audition submissions for those who are unable to make it to campus.

All video submissions must comply with the repertoire requirements listed above. Should piano accompaniment be included in your repertoire, recording with a live pianist or using a backing track are both acceptable options. You may record all repertoire selections on one take, or record separate tracks for each piece. Please ensure that you are visible in the frame.

Please upload video auditions to YouTube. You may choose to set the video(s) as Unlisted or Public. To submit a video audition, complete our Audition Registration form (coming soon!) and use the submission box on the form to submit your YouTube link(s).

Questions?

For additional questions, please view our Audition FAQ below, email the Music Office, or call or text 515-303-0327. We look forward to hearing from you!