Christendom College will host a music scholarship competition this coming February, offering talented student musicians the chance to earn significant tuition reductions through vocal and organ auditions.
Christendom’s music competition highlights the college’s commitment to cultivating excellence in sacred music and supporting students who wish to contribute their musical gifts to campus liturgical life. To this end, the college offers several music scholarships each year, including the St. Cecilia Choral Scholarship, the Palestrina Scholarship and the Benedict XVI Organ Scholarship. Each of the scholarships, which are available for current, incoming, and transfer students, provides tuition reductions and private lessons in exchange for participation in the college’s Liturgical Music Minor or Liturgical Music Track in Theology.
The St. Cecilia Choral Scholarship is typically awarded to one woman and one man. Recipients receive a $4,500 tuition reduction and voice lessons. Scholarship holders sing for Sunday Masses, First Friday Holy Hours, weekday liturgies and assigned special events, in addition to attending full and sectional rehearsals.
The Palestrina Scholarship usually offers four awards, two for women and two for men. Recipients receive a $2,000 tuition reduction and free voice lessons, and also participate in the college’s regular liturgical music schedule.
The Benedict XVI Organ Scholarship is available to students with proficiency in organ or piano. The scholarship awards a $6,000 tuition reduction for a principal organist and $4,000 for an assistant organist. A $2,000 award may be offered to advanced beginners who show strong potential. Recipients regularly play for chapel services and receive private lessons.
Students interested in applying for any of the scholarships must have already been accepted via Early Action and must submit a refundable $500 enrollment deposit before applying for the scholarship competition. Scholarship applications open January 1 and are due February 1.
Applicants must submit a recommendation from a music instructor and a video prescreening. Vocal applicants should submit a recording of either a 17th- or 18th-century Italian piece or an English art song. Organ applicants should follow the repertoire guidelines provided in the scholarship application.
Select applicants will be invited to campus for live auditions on Saturday, February 28. Vocal finalists will perform two classical selections, complete sight-singing and tonal memory assessments, and participate in a brief interview. Organ finalists will perform prepared repertoire, sight-read and interview with the faculty panel.
For more information about the competitions or the college’s Liturgical Music Track in Theology, visit christendom.edu/music.