Scholarships for Musicians: Top Music Awards for 2026

Looking for scholarships for musicians to help fund your degree? Whether you're a high school senior, undergraduate student, or aspiring vocalist or instrumentalist, pursuing a music major should leave you with massive student debt. Below, we've rounded up the best music scholarships, performance e awards, and need-based financial aid available for 2026; thousands of award dollars in funding for instrumentalists, vocalists, songwriters, and audio engineers alike.

Music Scholarships for High School and College Students

Musicianship Scholarship

The Musicianship Scholarship is available to students attending the Musicians Institute. You must be enrolled in an instrumental performance or composition program to be eligible for this award. International students may apply. Deadline: 8/28/26
Available to: Undergraduate Students
Award Amount: $1,000 - $2,000

1st Art Gallery Art and Design Scholarship

The 1st Art Gallery Art and Design Scholarship is available to high school seniors and current college students. You must be majoring in the arts, natural sciences, social sciences, languages, linguistics, mathematics, philosophy, psychology, or religious studies to be eligible for this award. Art students must submit a piece of art, and liberal arts students must submit a 2,000 - word writing sample. Deadline: 8/31/26
Available to: High School Seniors & College Students
Award Amount: $300

Sphinx Competition

The Sphinx Competition is open to Black and Latinx classical string players under 30. To be considered, you must submit a video audition in one of the following categories: violin, viola, cello, or double bass. Deadline: 10/20/26
Available to: Ages 30 and under
Award Amount: $3,000 - $50,000

Bill Wells Memorial Youth Scholarship

The Bill Wells Memorial Youth Scholarship is available to students in grades six through 12 residing in South Carolina. To be eligible, you must be involved in bluegrass and/or traditional music by playing one of the bluegrass instruments, like the fiddle, guitar, banjo, mandolin, upright bass, dobro, or dulcimer; or by being a singer/vocalist of this genre of music. Deadline: 11/6/26
Available to: High School Students
Award Amount: Varies

Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award

The Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award is available to students between the ages of eight and 18 who demonstrate exceptional musical ability. You must demonstrate academic achievement and financial need to be eligible for this award. Recipients of this award must participate in From the Top's Learning and Media Lab Fellowship program. Deadline: 11/9/26
Available to: Ages 8-18
Award Amount: $10,000

Marine Band Concerto Competition

The Marine Band Concerto Competition is open to high school students. You must be a woodwind, brass, or percussion player and be a U.S citizen to be eligible for this award. Deadline: 11/15/26
Available to: High School Students
Award Amount: $500 - $2,500

PortraitFlip Art & Design Scholarship

The PortraitFlip Art & Design Scholarship is available to graduating high school seniors. You must be planning to major in the arts, languages, or cultural studies to be eligible for this award. Deadline: 11/30/26
Available to: High School Seniors
Award Amount: $1,000

Space Coast Jazz Society Scholarship

The Space Coast Jazz Society Scholarship is available to graduating high school seniors from Brevard County, Florida. You must plan to study music with an emphasis on jazz to be eligible for this award. Deadline: 3/12/27
Available to: High School Seniors
Award Amount: $1,500

Thea Foundation Performing Arts Competition Scholarship

The Thea Foundation Performing Arts Competition Scholarship is available to high school seniors and GED students in Arkansas. You must submit a two - minute audition video of you singing, dancing, acting, or performing spoken word poetry to be considered for this award. Students may sing with an instrument, however, instrumental solos and a cappella performances are not accepted. Deadline: 1/10/27
Available to: High School Seniors
Award Amount: $3,000 - $10,000

Juilliard Scholarship

Juilliard Scholarships are available to newly admitted students at The Juilliard School. You must demonstrate financial need and artistic merit to be eligible for this award. Deadline: Varies
Available to: Entering Students
Award Amount: Varies

Berklee College of Music Presidential Scholarship

The Berklee College of Music Presidential Scholarship is available to entering freshmen at Berklee. You must demonstrate high musical merit and financial need to be considered for this award. This award also covers on-campus housing, the meal plan, a laptop, software, and the comprehensive fee. Deadline: Varies
Available to: High School Seniors
Award Amount: Full-Tuition

Curtis Institute of Music Full-Tuition Scholarship

The Curtis Institute of Music Full-Tuition Scholarship is available to all admitted students at the Curtis Institute of Music. This award is highly selective. Deadline: Varies
Available to: Entering Students
Award Amount: Full-Tuition

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