Methodist University is proud to offer a variety of scholarships to talented music students.  All scholarship hopefuls must complete a successful application to Methodist University, as well as a successful audition and interview. Step by step details can be found on our Music Auditions page.

Several scholarships are available for qualified candidates in the field of music:

The Berns Scholarship

  1. The Berns Scholarship is awarded at the discretion of the Department of Performing Arts faculty.
  2. Any student who receives this award must maintain an overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.5.

The Chaminade Scholarship

  1. The Chaminade Scholarship is awarded by the faculty to a full time, day student.
  2. It is available to students with a 3.0 or better grade point average (GPA).
  3. It is available only to candidates seeking degrees in music.
  4. This award is given based upon both musical ability and merit.
  5. Financial need will be considered for this award.
  6. This scholarship may be divided between students, if warranted.

The Friends of Music Scholarship

  1. The Friends of Music Scholarship is awarded by the faculty to a full time, day student.
  2. Recipients must maintain a 3.0 grade point average (GPA) or higher.
  3. The FOM Scholarship can be awarded to new or current music students who show promise.
  4. The FOM Scholarship requires a completed application and audition, as well as a brief statement of the individual’s musical interests, goals, and aspirations.
  5. Financial need, merit/potential, and musical ability are all considerations for this scholarship.
  6. This scholarship may be divided between students, if warranted.

The William and Francis Grimes Scholarship

  1. The Grimes Scholarship is awarded by the faculty to a full time, day student.
  2. Recipients must maintain a 3.0 grade point average (GPA) or higher.
  3. The Grimes Scholarship is available only to candidates seeking degrees in music performance or music education.
  4. Preference for this scholarship is given to instrumental majors.
  5. Preference is given to candidates from Cumberland County, but all residents of North Carolina can be considered.
  6. Financial need is a strong consideration for this award.

The Maurice A. and Vennie S. Hawley Scholarship

  1. The Hawley Scholarship is awarded by the faculty to a full time, day student.
  2. Freshman candidates must have a high school grade point average (GPA) above a 2.0; recipients must maintain a 2.5 grade point average (GPA) or higher for renewal consideration.
  3. The Grimes Scholarship is available to candidates studying music, yet religion majors can also be considered when a qualified music student candidate is not found.
  4. Preference for this scholarship is given to United Methodist Church members located the Fayetteville, N.C. district.
  5. Both financial need and merit/potential are considerations for this award.

The Ishee Scholarship

  1. The Ishee Scholarship is awarded at the discretion of the music faculty.
  2. Students must have and maintain an overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 to be considered for this award.

The Edward Bert Lassiter Scholarship

  1. The Lassiter Scholarship is awarded by the faculty to a full time, day student.
  2. It is available only to candidates seeking degrees in music.
  3. Recipients must have completed 24 credits toward their degree, with a 2.75 grade point average (GPA) and a 3.0 grade point average (GPA) in their junior and senior years.
  4. Preference is given to candidates from Cumberland County, but all residents of North Carolina can be considered.
  5. Annual renewal is available to students maintaining criteria.
  6. Financial need is considered.
  7. This scholarship may be divided between students, if warranted.

The Paul Scholarship

  1. The Paul Scholarship is awarded at the discretion of the music faculty.
  2. Students must have and maintain an overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 to be considered for this award.

The Porter Scholarship

  1. The Porter Scholarship is awarded at the discretion of the music faculty.
  2. Students must have and maintain an overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 to be considered for this award.

The Harold and Josephine Sturdivant Scholarship

  1. The Sturdivant Scholarship is awarded by the faculty to a full time, day student.
  2. It is available only to candidates seeking degrees in music.
  3. Recipients must have completed 24 credits toward their degree, with a 2.75 grade point average (GPA) and a 3.0 grade point average (GPA) in their junior and senior years.
  4. Preference is given to candidates from Cumberland County, but all residents of North Carolina can be considered.
  5. Annual renewal is available to students maintaining criteria.
  6. Financial need is considered.
  7. This scholarship may be divided between students, if warranted.

Ensemble Scholarships

Scholarship dollars are also available to participants of auditioned ensembles.  Contact the ensemble’s director for more information:

Frequently Asked Questions

Decisions are generally made in early April and students are contacted as soon as possible.

The department seeks out exceptionally talented students who, based upon the audition interview, possess an aptitude to be successful as a music student.  The department also looks at each student’s individual character and determines how effectively the student would represent the Department of Performing Arts at Methodist University.

Show your breadth and skill as a musician by choosing pieces in contrasting styles (contrasting languages for singers).  Official requirements can be found online.  Be prepared to sight read material that a faculty member may choose to put in front of you.  Also, at the conclusion of the audition, be ready to take a brief music theory diagnostic exam and write a brief essay about yourself.

We sincerely hope that students who are not awarded scholarships will consider joining the Department of Performing Arts at Methodist University anyway. While the pandemic has affected the breadth of awards we are able to provide in music, there are many other options to consider that may defray the cost of education. We encourage students to visit financial aid and to seek out as many types of scholarships as possible.

While performing with a live accompanist is optimal (it lets us better assess musicality and ensemble abilities), we understand that the pandemic has created a host of difficulties in this area.  If you must use a recorded version of a song, please ensure the following:

  1. There is not another voice on the recording (do not sing to a recording with another singer or with background vocals)
  2. The accompaniment track is piano only (not orchestral)

The only students who need to submit auditions are those hoping to major in music.  Students wishing to participate in ensembles who are seeking other degrees should contact individual ensemble directors to schedule an audition:

Choral             Dr. Michael Martin                 mmartin@methodist.edu

Orchestra        Dr. Michael Martin                 mmartin@methodist.edu

Bands              Dr. Daniel McCloud                 dmccloud@methodist.edu

Guitar              Dr. Carlos Castilla                   ccastilla@methodist.edu

No!  We welcome those interested in music from every degree program on campus into our ensembles, into our performance classes, and into our private lesson studios!