Music Scholarships

The Northwestern College music department offers a variety of scholarships for undergraduate students who are either music majors or who are involved in music at NWC. If you are an all-state musician, you're eligible for an additional scholarship along with your Music Performance Scholarship. To be given preference for a music scholarship, please audition by Dec. 15.

Audition dates during 2023-24

    • Any  RED101 Day
    • Any weekday you  visit
      • Audition only: Email Lisa Koerselman or call 712-707-7062 to arrange.
      • Campus visit and audition: Register online and add music audition as a note in the "General Information" section.

Application process

      1. Fill out our online music scholarship application.
      2. Schedule your audition.
      3. Audition.
      4. Receive notice of your scholarship.
      5. Accept your scholarship.

If the distance you live from campus prevents you from auditioning in person, you can audition by submitting a DVD or YouTube link (see audition requirements).

Music Performance Scholarship

The Music Performance Scholarship is available to any student regardless of major and can be renewed annually. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of past music experience, potential for further development, music teacher recommendation, and an audition. Online Music Department Scholarship application

McGilvra Music Scholarship

Several McGilvra Music Scholarships are available to incoming freshman music majors, though music minors and transfer students will also be considered. The scholarships—$2,500 the first year and $1,500 in subsequent years—are renewable for all four years of college study. They are available in the following areas: vocal, keyboard, music ministry, percussion, strings, brass, woodwinds and composition. (To be considered for the McGilvra Composition Scholarship, applicants must submit one or two compositions in manuscript, PDF, or Finale format. Email Blair Lansink for details.) To apply for a McGilvra Scholarship, simply submit the online application for a Music Performance Scholarship. Those who list music as their intended major or minor will be considered for a McGilvra Scholarship. Preference will be given to students with declared majors in music. However, if there are not qualified recipients in any of the fields listed above, students with music minors may be considered. Preference will be given to students who apply and audition by Dec. 14.  Online Music Department Scholarship application

Den Hartog Dutchmen Field Championship Scholarship

The John & Ann Den Hartog Dutchmen Field Championship Scholarship is designated for an incoming first-year student who has performed at the Dutchman Field Championship marching band competition in Orange City, Iowa. It is a one-year $1,000 scholarship awarded to a student who applies for a music scholarship, auditions and participates in the Northwestern College Symphonic Band. Online Music Department Scholarship application

Other music scholarships

Alumni and friends of Northwestern College have established a number of privately funded scholarships for musically talented students currently attending NWC. Some—but not all—require the recipients to be music majors. The application process varies, but usually involves an audition or submission of an essay describing the development of the student’s gift of music.

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