Scholarships
The Department of Music is proud to offer scholarships to music students of outstanding musical and academic ability.
All students are eligible to apply for music scholarships which are awarded annually, including incoming first-year students, incoming transfer students and continuing students. Scholarships are awarded to incoming first-year students for a period of four years, and to transfer and continuing students for shorter periods, and require students to:
- Declare the music major (with the exception of the Choral Scholars Scholarship).
- Make consistent progress towards the completion of the major coursework in the expected time.
- Remain in good academic standing.
Application and Audition Dates
Application Process
- Apply for a scholarship audition by submitting the Scholarship Application form, including Choral Scholars.
- Send one letter of recommendation (one from a music professional) and unofficial transcripts to musicscholarships@sandiego.edu.
- Students unable to attend an in-person audition must also submit a video audition.
*** You may email the files, share a private or public YouTube link, or share via GoogleDrive.
Music Scholarship Dates
Shadow Day and Early Audition Day: February 16 (President's Day), 2026
Application and Video Audition Due Date: March 16, 2026
In-person Audition: April 11, 2026
Late submissions will not be accepted.
Audition Guidelines
Instrumental auditions
Prepare one significant piece from the repertoire or two shorter, contrasting pieces/etudes and major scales. Also prepare major scales and be ready to sight read. Percussionists should prepare repertoire for at least one mallet instrument and at least one other (snare, timpani, drum set, etc.). For more information, contact Dr. Jeff Malecki at jmalecki@sandiego.edu.
Vocal auditions
Please submit two contrasting selections. We recommend choosing at least one classical/art song (preferably in a language other than English) and one piece in English. The selection in English can be from musical theater. No other genres accepted.
Each piece should be memorized and no longer than five minutes. A live pianist is encouraged but piano-only backing tracks are acceptable.
If submitting a recorded audition, please ensure clear video and high audio quality.
If you have any questions please contact Enrique Toral at etordahl@sandiego.edu
Shadow Day and Early Audition
RSVP now for the Shadow Day/Early Audition!
Schedule
Monday, February 16
11:30 a.m. | Meet-n-greet, donuts, introduction to student shadow
12:20 p.m. | Visit class #1
1:30 p.m. | Lunch with faculty and students, tour music facilities
2:30 p.m. | Optional Audition Time
4:00 p.m. | End
Available Scholarships
Anne Catherine Swanke Memorial Scholarship
Available to
College of Arts and Sciences - Music
Purpose
Fund to support tuition grant to a Music major who plans to be a performing musician, either a vocalist or instrumentalist.
Author E. Hughes Music Scholarship
Available to
College of Arts and Sciences - Music
Award
Purpose
Established in honor of USD President Emeritus Author E. Hughes in the Jack L. Adams Endowed Scholarship Agreement.
Choral Scholars Scholarship
Available to
College of Arts and Sciences - Music
Award
Candidate description
- Annual re-audition
- Satisfactory completion of coursework for the music major or comprehensive minor, and maintenance of a minimum 3.0 GPA
More Information
Please submit two contrasting selections. We recommend choosing at least one classical/art song (preferably in a language other than English) and one piece in English. The selection in English can be from musical theater. No other genres accepted.
Each piece should be memorized and no longer than five minutes. A live pianist is encouraged but piano-only backing tracks are acceptable.
If submitting a recorded audition, please ensure clear video and high audio quality.
Music Endowment Scholarship
Available to
College of Arts and Sciences - Music
Award
Candidate description
- Must be a music major who shows outstanding promise and demonstrates a desire to contribute to the Department of Music in a significant way.
- Audition must be completed by early spring of each year (contact Dr. Jeff Malecki to schedule).
Purpose
Established by a gift from the Philip Y. Hahn Foundation.
Sister Aimee Rossi/James H. Kolar Amadeus Endowed Scholarship
Available to
College of Arts and Sciences - Music
Award
Candidate description
- Must be an incoming or continuing music major
- Recipient must have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or higher.
Purpose
The Sister Aimee Rossi/James H. Kolar Amadeus Endowed Scholarship is a combination of the Sister Rossi Scholarship – which was established by Alan and Irene Lund in memory of USD's Sister Rossi and in appreciation of their daughter Victoria Lund, who flourished in the Department of Music – and the James H. Kolar Amadeus Fund, which was established by Professor Emeritus Henry Kolar in honor of his son, James H. Kolar. The purpose of the Sister Rossi/James H. Kolar Amadeus Scholarship is to promote sacred and classical music at USD.
USD Music Scholarship
Available to
College of Arts and Sciences - Music
Award
Candidate description
Must be an incoming or continuing music major who excels in performance, composition, education or research in music history or culture and shows promise of making a strong contribution to the Department of Music.