Scholarships
The Signature Artist, Forte, and Vivace Scholarships support Valparaiso University’s commitment to train some of the finest collegiate musicians in the United States.
In addition to these awards, Valparaiso University offers financial aid and scholarships for students of any major.
Valpo’s music scholarship program supports students in diverse performance areas and academic majors. The following awards are available:
Signature Artist Scholarships
- Minimum $10,000 – up to full tuition
- Awarded to support committed young performing artists in preparing for musical professions
- For prospective music majors only; a change out of the major will likely affect the award
- Applicants must complete an on-campus or live virtual audition
Forte Scholarships
- Ranges from $3,000 to $9,000 per year
- Awarded to support talented musicians for leadership roles in departmental performing ensembles
- Available to qualified students from any major
Vivace Scholarships
- $1,000 per year
- Awarded to support active student musicians in continuing their private lesson studies and ensemble participation at Valparaiso University
- Available to qualified students from any major
All students seeking a music scholarship must audition as prospective students. This typically takes place during one of several on-campus and live virtual audition days. Students complete an online music audition application in order to request an audition time. Learn more
At the audition, each student will be heard in only one performance area. Because scholarships are linked to specific performance areas, students should audition in the area of their greatest strength and interest.
Students who wish to be considered for a Signature Artist Scholarship must participate in the November or February on-campus audition days or live virtual audition; full video auditions will not be considered for this scholarship.
Students who have been awarded music scholarships maintain their eligibility through satisfactory academic progress and continued participation in key activities in the music department.
Participation requirements
All scholarship awardees must enroll in studio lessons every semester.
Every semester, scholarship awardees perform in ensembles as assigned and are expected to cooperate when assigned to an ensemble having special need of their contribution. For awardees in the music major or minor, this requirement continues even where performance requirements for degree completion have been fulfilled.
Awardees pursuing a full-time music major are also expected to perform in a department recital in their principal performance medium during each year of undergraduate study.
Academic requirements
Each awardee must continue to be a full-time student pursuing a first bachelor’s degree, meeting minimum standards of satisfactory academic progress.
As the Signature Artist Scholarship is available only to music majors, a change out of the major is likely to affect this award.