Scholarships

Linfield’s Department of Music offers a variety of scholarships by audition.

Each year, approximately $140,000 in renewable music scholarships are available to incoming first-year and transfer students who demonstrate outstanding music potential. Individual scholarships range from $2,000 to $6,000 per year and may be offered to music majors, minors and non-majors.

As a first-year student at Linfield, you are eligible to audition for:

• Linfield Scholarship and Visit Weekend Awards
• Music Achievement Awards
• Music Participation Awards

How to apply and schedule your audition

1. Submit an application to the Office of Admission if you haven’t already applied to Linfield University.
2. Fill out the online music scholarship application form to schedule your audition. A confirmation email with audition details will be sent once the application form is received and processed.
3. Email all necessary materials (copies of music, scores, recordings if applicable) and optional materials (resume, recommendation letters) to musicoffice@linfield.edu NO LATER THAN MARCH 22, 2025.

Audition overview

In-person auditions are held on scheduled audition dates before a panel of music faculty members. Auditions take place every February. An accompanist will be provided for all vocal auditions and is available upon request for instrumental auditions if needed.

See below for specific requirements for the different scholarships.

Linfield Scholarship and Visit Weekend Awards

FOR: First-year students regardless of major/minor

WHEN: February 16, 2025

The Linfield Scholarship and Visit Weekend exams in music recognize outstanding students who have achieved success with an enriching musical experience in their high school career.

Linfield Scholarship and Visit Weekend is by invitation only from the Office of Admission. To be considered for these significant scholarships, you must plan to audition in person and submit your Common Application and all required materials (transcript, recommendations) by December 15, 2024, to receive priority registration and exam selection. If selected for a music exam, be sure to fill out the online music scholarship application form by January 31, 2025, to schedule your audition.

The Department of Music may nominate up to three scholarship winners in each of the following areas:

• Music theory/composition
• Vocal performance
• Instrumental/piano performance 

Music theory/composition If you have composed your own music, or are a current high school student taking Music Theory or AP Music Theory, we encourage you to apply for this award. You will have a 10-minute interview with the music faculty and complete a music theory exam to demonstrate music skills and comprehension. You may also submit examples of your own composition, if applicable. Learn more about music theory/composition >

Vocal or instrumental performance Show your versatility in style and perform portions of one or more compositions. You will be expected to prepare and perform solos that demonstrate contrasting styles by two different composers, or within one longer composition. Learn more about vocal or instrumental performance >

Students who are invited to audition for Linfield Scholarship and Visit Weekend awards in music but not awarded a scholarship will automatically be considered for a Music Achievement Award if they plan to major or minor in music at Linfield, or Music Participation Award (descriptions below).

If you are invited to take the Linfield Scholarship and Visit Weekend exam in an area other than music but plan to major/minor in music or participate in an ensemble at Linfield, you may also audition for Music Achievement or Participation Awards.

Music Achievement Awards

FOR: First-year and transfer students majoring or minoring in music

WHEN: TBA February 2025

Students who have successfully participated in music during high school and plan to major or minor in music can audition for Music Achievement Awards. These are annual awards that provide scholarship assistance from the music department. In-person auditions are required.

• First place: $6,000
• Second place: $5,000

HOW: Complete the music scholarship application form and required materials NO LATER than January 31, 2025. To be eligible, you must have already applied for admission.

Music Participation Awards

FOR: First-year or transfer students not planning to major/minor in music

WHEN: TBA February 2025

The Music Participation Awards are annual scholarships of $2,000 that allow the Department of Music to recognize non-music majors/minors for sharing their talents by participating in departmental ensembles, including Concert Band, Choirs and Chamber Music.

HOW: Complete the music scholarship application form and required materials NO LATER than January 31, 2025. To be eligible, you must have already applied for admission.

If you are not intending to major or minor in music, you will be considered for participation awards only. Awards are renewable annually for up to eight semesters based on enrollment in a qualifying ensemble.

Virtual auditions

In-person, on-campus auditions are encouraged for the best scholarship consideration, but we understand that in-person auditions are not always possible. If you are unable to attend the scheduled audition dates, you may email musicoffice@linfield.edu to explain your situation and discuss the possibility of an alternate audition date or a virtual audition.

Requirements for virtual auditions are the same as for the in-person auditions, with the exception that recorded accompaniment is permitted for the virtual auditions. Please refer to the requirements listed above for your performance area. A digital copy of your music is still required, even though recorded accompaniment may be used.

Please have an additional device ready for the sight-reading portion of the audition.

It is recommended that you use your laptop – not your smartphone – for the virtual audition Zoom meeting. For the sight-reading portion of the audition, we will share our screen with you, so please make sure that your device has a screen large enough for you to discern music notation.

Details regarding the Zoom invitation for your virtual audition as well as the placement exams will be in your confirmation email.