Scholarships & Application Guidelines 


Scholarship applications for the 2023-2024 fiscal year are now closed.
The deadline of June 8, 2023, has been met. Scholarships were announced during our scholarship ceremony on August 1st, 2023. Congrats to all Scholarship recipients, and a big THANK YOU to the stewards!

2023-2024 Merit-Based Scholarships to Current UMC Students

Required attachments (if any required items are not submitted your application will not be considered):

  • Completed application
  • Essay (not to exceed 2 pages) describing in detail your passion for music and the role that music plays in your life now, and how you see the role music plays in your future. Include specific musical goals, interests, and other things that you feel would be important in the consideration of this application. Creative responses are encouraged.
  • One letter of recommendation from a person who is familiar with your goals and attributes. Inform your reference that the purpose of the letter is to secure a music scholarship at the UMC.
  • Parents’ most recent tax return (the first two pages of your 1040 form). Note: Please black out your Social Security Number on these documents.
  • Parents may write a letter indicating any unusual or personal circumstances which warrant the need for the scholarship that may not be easily reflected in other attachments.

Student requirements if awarded a scholarship:
Note: “New” students are students that have never been enrolled at the UMC

New Students:

  • For the first semester of enrollment, new students will be required to participate in 1 Private Lesson & 1 Workshop per week. For the second semester, the student will be required to participate in 1 Private Lesson, 1 Workshop, and 1 Class per week. By the third semester, the student must be enrolled in the full UMC Program (1 Private Lesson, 1 Class, & 2 Workshops per week). Participation in SPG1 & CPGs would be considered a workshop requirement if applicable.
  • Student should participate in student showcases when ready and able as deemed by their private lesson instructor.
  • The student will provide 12 hours (4 hours per semester) of volunteer time to the UMC over the course of the school year for which the scholarship is provided. The student will need to submit proof of their 4 volunteer hours at the end of each semester.

Current Students:

  • Student must be continuously enrolled in the full UMC Program (1 Private Lesson, 1 Class, & 2 Workshops per week) throughout their scholarship term. Participation in SPG1 & CPGs would be considered a workshop requirement if needed.
  • Student will participate in all student showcases and special events as needed.
  • The student will provide 21 hours (7 hours per semester) of volunteer time to the UMC over the course of the school year for which the scholarship is provided. The student will need to submit proof of their 7 volunteer hours at the end of each semester.

New & Current Students:

  • Student will, according to their instructors, show progress and a desire to learn in all UMC classes, workshops, and lessons.
  • The student will maintain passing grades in all public, private, or cyber school classes. Student will submit a copy of each report card received during the length of their scholarship.
  • The student will maintain healthy habits and relationships at home & school. Problems and issues that arise should be detailed in a letter from student’s parents.
  • Student will demonstrate proper behavior and etiquette at the UMC and its events and follow all policies of the UMC as outlined in the UMC Policies and Procedures.
  • The student will be evaluated at the end of each semester by his/her private lesson, class, and workshop instructors and then in turn by the UMC Scholarship Committee.
  • Additional requirements may be added at any time throughout the length of the scholarship at the discretion of the UMC Staff and/ or UMC Scholarship Committee.

Scholarship Awards Disbursement: Scholarship awards are paid directly to the Uptown Music Collective. Scholarship availability and the award amounts are subject to change yearly.

Application Deadline:  June 8th, 2023. 

NOTE: Please MAKE SURE you have read and understood all of the above information before submitting your application.  

Questions? Please contact:

Jared Mondell, Assistant Executive Director, Uptown Music Collective

Phone:   570-329-0888 ext. 722
Email:  [email protected]