You could win a merit scholarship for private music lessons, our Suzuki Program, or our J@MS Program! Open to students of all ages.

Merit scholarship auditions are open to current students of The Music Settlement's Center for Music. Students interested in receiving a scholarship must complete an audition. All merit awards will be put toward tuition for the upcoming school year.  Scroll down to download the current application.

For more information about Suzuki merit scholarship auditions, click here.

Community merit scholarship auditions are offered in the summer.  Details are posted in late spring.

Now Available!
Applications for the 2025 - 2026 School Year

Current students can download their application on this page or pick up a copy at our Enrollment & Customer Service office.

• *Suzuki Application Due Date: February 1, 2025
• Traditional Private Lessons / J@MS Program Application Due Date: February 15, 2025

Auditions will be held in-person at our University Circle campus. Video auditions will also be accepted. See application for more details.

2025 - 2026 Audition Dates

• Brass & Winds -- Thursday, March 6, 2025 from 4:00 - 8:00 pm (UC Campus, Glick Recital Hall)
• J@MS Program & Percussion -- Saturday, March 8, 2025 and Saturday, March 15, 2025, as part of the J@MS daily schedule (UC Campus)
• Strings -- Thursday, March 20, 2025 from 4:00 - 9:00 pm (UC Campus, Glick Recital Hall)
• Piano -- Friday, March 21, 2025 from 3:00 - 8:00 pm (UC Campus, Glick Recital Hall)
• Voice -- Friday, March 28, 2025 from 3:00 - 8:00 pm (UC Campus, Glick Recital Hall)
• Overflow -- Saturday, March 29, 2025 from 1:30 - 4:30 pm (UC Campus, Faculty Lounge)
• Composition -- Scores must be submitted by March 31, 2025

2025 - 2026 Audition Requirements by Department

• Brass & Winds (Intermediate and up) -- Two contrasting solos. Etudes/technical pieces accepted. Memorization optional.
  - Middle School: Major scales up to 4 accidentals, one minor scale.
  - High School and Up: All major scales, one minor scale.

• Composition (Intermediate and up) -- Audition by submission of two original works that demonstrate creativity and skill level in melodic invention, harmonic and rhythmic interest, and formal structure. Printed score and hand notated sample must be submitted if work is presented electronically. Composition applicants do not need to attend an audition.  All materials must be received by Monday, July 22, 2024.
  
  
• Fiddle (Intermediate and up) -- Two hoedowns in different keys and/or tuning, memorization required. All tunes should be played at or close to dance tempo in old-time fiddle style. Cross tuning is allowed. May play alone or with one accompanist.
  
  
• Guitar (Intermediate and up) -- Two contrasting solos, memorization required. Two major scales, one minor scale, two octaves.
  
  
• Harp (Intermediate and up) -- Two contrasting solos, memorization optional. Etude, appropriate to skill level. Arpeggios optional.

• J@MS Program (Intermediate and up) -- Perform a blues melody and improvize over blues changes. Four major scales and four blues scales in cycle order: C-F-Bb-Eb.

• Percussion (Intermediate and up) -- Snare drum rudiments, open/closed rolls, prepared snare drum solo, drum set (if studied). Optional: if studied -- mallet scales and solo, timpani tuning and solo.

• Piano (Advanced Beginner and up) -- Two contrasting solos. Memorization required. No duets except for concerto movements. Three scales (your choice, major/minor). Arpeggios optional. All method book solos and movie arrangements must be submitted to the Piano Department Head for approval no later than Thursday, February 29th.

• Strings (Intermediate and up) -- Two contrasting solos, memorization optional. Etude, appropriate to skill level. Major scales up to three accidentals, one minor scale.
  - Intermediate Level: 2 - 3 octaves memorized.
  - Advanced Level: 3 octaves memorized.
  
  
• *Suzuki (Advanced Beginner and up)
  - Book 1: One octave scale, arpeggio, and solo^
  - Book 2: Two octave scale, arpeggios, and solo^
  - Book 3: Two octave scales (major and minor), arpeggios, short etude (1 - 2 minutes), and solo^
  - Book 4 and above: Three octave scales (major and minor), arpeggios, short etude (1 - 2 minutes), and solo^
  ^ Or suitable equivalents as decided by teacher

• Voice (Intermediate and up) -- Two contrasting solos. Memorization required (except for oratorio arias). One piece may be old repertoire and the other piece must be new repertoire within the last 12 months.

Download Your Application Today:

*Suzuki Program

Suzuki Application Deadline: Saturday, February 1, 2025

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

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Traditional Private Lessons
J@MS Program

Application Deadline: Saturday, February 15, 2025

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

*Suzuki Department Merit Auditions

Suzuki Department Merit Auditions are only available for current Suzuki students, held annually each spring.  For information about merit scholarship auditions for The Music Settlement's Suzuki Department, please visit our Current Suzuki Students page.