Augustana College offers music scholarships to first-year and transfer students of any major. Scholarships are renewable for four years and range from $1,000-$4,000.
Note: Current Augustana students are not eligible to audition for new scholarships.
All scholarship recipients are required to take applied lessons on the audition instrument for at least one credit, or one half-hour per week, and participate in one of the major ensembles: Augustana Symphonic Band, Augustana Concert band, Augustana Symphony Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble, Augustana Choir, Jenny Lind and Concert Chorale.
Applicants will perform an in-person audition with music faculty on campus on the date selected. We will listen to you perform and have time to learn more about you and answer any questions. You will have the opportunity to take a tour on these days as well. Vocalists will be given tonal memory and sight-reading during the audition. See specific audition requirements below.
If you cannot attend one of the scheduled audition dates, please use this form to request an alternate date.
Music scholarship any major: $1,000-$4,000 annually, including the Deisenroth Scholarship, Morgan Scholarship, and Swanson Vocal Scholarships.
Carl B. Nelson Music Education Bonus Scholarship: $500 for students planning to major in music education. Can be added to your music scholarship. Students must intend to major in music education and have a high school GPA of at least 3.0.
Please indicate your interest on the application, and you will be scheduled for a meeting on the same day as your audition to meet with the music education faculty. You must apply for a music scholarship to be considered for this bonus award.
Register for a date above. If you are not able to make any of the music department audition dates, please request an alternate date as soon as possible.
Application: The music application will be emailed to you directly upon registration for your music audition date and must be completed by the deadlines indicated above.
Audition: We will schedule you an audition on the day you select if the application is submitted on or before the deadline.
Notification: Applicants will receive detailed information by email concerning their audition time about two weeks before the audition.
See audition requirements and please read the FAQ below.
We provide an accompanist for all vocal auditions, or you may bring your own. Vocalists get 5-10 minutes with the accompanist before they audition.
Do I need to be a music major?
No. With the exception of the Carl B. Nelson Music Education Scholarship, all scholarships are open to majors and non-majors.
Do I need to be accepted at Augustana in order to sign up for a visit or audition?
No. Your application for admission to Augustana College should be complete by the audition date. Please apply and set up your audition date as soon as possible, as there is limited room. Do not wait until you are accepted.
Do I have to audition to be accepted?
No. There is no audition for admission to the music program or degrees. Your acceptance to the college allows you to pursue any major. We have course requirements to ensure quality progress towards your degree.
Is this an audition for an ensemble?
No. Ensemble auditions are held the weekend before the start of classes in the fall.
Can I audition on more than one instrument?
You will be scheduled for two auditions. We do our best to schedule them within an hour or two of each other. Again, you will receive the higher of the two scholarships, as we can only award one.
How long are the auditions?
Auditions are 10-20 minutes long
Do I need an accompanist?
We provide an accompanist for all vocal auditions, or you may bring your own. Vocalists get 5-10 minutes with the accompanist before they go into the audition.
Instrumentalists may bring their own accompanist, but most audition without accompaniment. It will have no impact on your results.
Do I need to bring music or send it ahead of time?
No music is needed ahead of time.
When will I hear about my audition time?
We send a schedule approximately two weeks before the audition date.
If I receive a scholarship, what are the requirements?
All scholarship recipients are required to take applied lessons on the audition instrument for at least one credit, or one half-hour per week, and participate in one of the major ensembles. There is a fee for music lessons.
What if I cannot make one of the scheduled audition dates?
It is best to audition on a scheduled date, however if you cannot, please contact the office by email.
The Augustana Symphonic Band (formerly the Augustana Concert Band) will celebrate its 150th anniversary during a weekend-long celebration Nov. 22-24, 2024.
Pianist John Flannery '24 received a $2,500 award from the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) after performing his composition titled "My Body Turns Toward Thee Again" with vocalist Abriana Tereza '24 at the annual MTNA conference.
Grant Estes '21, commemorating Dr. Janina Ehrlich's 45 years of service at Augustana, premiered "The Quarrel Between Winter and Summer," composed by faculty member Dr. Jacob Bancks, on April 14.
Music faculty and alumni of Augustana Symphonic Band will perform.
Dr. James Lambrecht, Professor, Co-Chair, Director of Bands, Augustana Symphonic Band, trumpet, conducting, will present on the history of wind bands at Augustana as part of the Augustana Symphonic Band's sesquicentennial celebration.
Learn about exciting updates in the Department of Music as part of the Augustana Symphonic Band's sesquicentennial celebration.
