Scholarships

At Cal State LA, scholarships are awarded by both the Music Department, and the University. Both prospective and current students may apply for scholarships. Find more information about the application process for each below.

The due date for both Music Department and University scholarships is April 18, 2024, at 5:00 P.M.

Music Department Scholarships

Music Department merit scholarships are available to support both current and prospective students who exhibit potential for growth through either their audition or current performance in the program.

To be considered for Music Department merit scholarships, students complete the Music Scholarship Application. The scholarship application asks for the following information, which we encourage you to complete in advance before starting the form.

  1. Your Contact Information
  2. Names and contact information for four references (private teacher, ensemble director, a reference who can speak to your musical talent, an a reference that speaks to your academic work or contributions to your program.)
  3. A personal statement describing your accomplishments, musical goals, and anything else you would like to share with the Department (500 words maximum.)

Click here to complete the Music Scholarship Application. 

Andreas-Jackson Scholarship

  • 3.0 GPA
  • Funds awarded based on musical ability in vocal performance

Kathryn Strassburg Opera Scholarship

  • 3.0 GPA • Gifted student enrolled in the opera workshop at CSULA
  • FRIENDS OF MUSIC – Elrod/Snyder Endowed Scholarship
  • 3.0 GPA
  • Undergraduate Student enrolled in at least 12 units or Graduate Student enrolled in at least 6 units
  • Majoring in Music Education and Vocal Performance

FRIENDS OF MUSIC – Esther Andreas Scholarship in Voice Performance

  • 3.0 GPA
  • Full-time Music major specializing in Vocal performance
  • Graduate or undergraduate student

FRIENDS OF MUSIC - Victor E. Turecek Endowed Scholarship

  • 3.0 GPA required
  • Music major with emphasis on vocal performance
  • Primary preference to student interested in opera
  • Secondary preference for music major/vocal performance emphasis with interest in opera with financial need

FRIENDS OF MUSIC - Mona Paulee Scholarship

  • 3.0 GPA
  • Voice student
  • Minimum academic program of 12 units per semester for undergraduates
  • Minimum academic program of 6 units per semester for graduates

Phi Beta Pi Iota Chapter Scholarship

  • Vocal music major
  • Enrolled full-time or part-time
  • No GPA requirement

FRIENDS OF MUSIC - Robert Fowells Scholarship

  • 3.0 GPA
  • Undergraduate Student in at least 12 units
  • Graduate Student at least 6 units
  • Music Major
  • Choral Conducting or Organ Performance

James A. Penn Memorial Scholarship

  • Classical Voice or Choral Music Education
  • No GPA Requirement
  • Undergraduate or Graduate Student

Inez Schubert Fellowship

  • 3.0 GPA
  • Preference given to music teacher or credential candidate in music

FRIENDS OF MUSIC- Timmerman/Fruchter Endowed Scholarship

  • 3.0 GPA
  • Major in Music Education

FRIENDS OF MUSIC- Ellen Rainer Endowed Scholarship

  • 3.0 GPA Music Education students
  • Preference for students planning to teach in secondary school or at a university

FRIENDS OF MUSIC – George & Ira Gershwin Fellowship

  • 3.0 GPA
  • Music Major
  • Working on Credential with emphasis on Performance

Mary Levin Cutler Endowment

  • Full-time Music major
  • Violin or voice major

FRIENDS OF MUSIC – Berniece Jane De Long Music & Theatre Endowed Scholarship

  • Awarded to students studying Music or Theatre

FRIENDS OF MUSIC- Esther Williams Scholarship

  • Available to Music students.
  • FRIENDS OF MUSIC- Patti S. Wiggins Scholarship
  • 3.0 GPA
  • Any music major

FRIENDS OF MUSIC-Rick Martel Musical Theatre Scholarship

  • 3.0 GPA
  • Interest and talent in music, theatre, opera Feinstein Competition
  • To support the Feinstein competition

Earl H. and Audrey G. Phillips Music Scholarship

  • 3.0 GPA
  • Music major specializing in string instrument

FRIENDS OF MUSIC- Friends of Susann McDonald

  • 3.0 GPA or better
  • For Harpist (if harpist not available, then string player maybe selected)
  • Minimum academic program of 12 units per quarter for undergraduates
  • Minimum academic program of 6 units per quarter for graduates

FRIENDS OF MUSIC- John Swain Endowed Scholarship

  • GPA 3.0
  • Major in Instrumental Music Education

String Ensemble Leadership Award

  • 3.0 GPA
  • Music – string performance major
  • Contributes as a leader in a string ensemble

James Newton Endowed Scholarship in Music

The Newton Scholarship will be awarded annually, beginning in the school year ending in June 2023, to one or more students to be selected by the faculty of the Cal State LA Music Department who meet the following criteria.

  • Be enrolled as a full-time student and be in good academic standing at Cal State LA, either as a junior or senior working towards a Bachelor of Music degree or as a graduate student working towards a Master of Music degree
  • Is concentrating their studies in the Jazz Program and/or the Music Composition Programs
  • Demonstrates a strong interest and ability to pursue a career in jazz performance and/or in jazz or classical music composition
  • Submits a personal essay to the faculty of the Music Department (i) expressing an interest in the Newton Scholarship, (ii) describing the student’s background, interest in jazz performance and/or jazz or classical music composition, and career dreams and ambitions and (iii) discussing the steps they think they might take to pursue their career in music

FRIENDS OF MUSIC- Harry Warren Memorial Scholarship

  • 3.0 GPA
  • Minimum academic program of 12 units per semester for undergraduates, and 6 units for graduate students
  • Major in Composition

Hugh Englis Mullins Scholarship/Grant

  • 3.0 GPA, 2.5 GPA/Grant
  • Demonstrated financial need
  • Music major
  • Priority to Music student majoring in composition or theory and performers who will assist in composition major’s junior, senior or honors recitals

FRIENDS OF MUSIC –Byong-Kon Kim/Sol & Ethel Levenson Endowed Scholarship

  • 3.0 GPA
  • Music Major with Preference in Musical Theatre, Composition and Performance

FRIENDS OF MUSIC – Michael Feinstein Endowed Scholarship

  • 3.0 GPA; full time status
  • Undergraduate Student in at least 12 units
  • Graduate Student at least 6 units
  • Majoring in Piano and/or voice
  • Interested in American popular song

Larry Harlow Scholarship

  • Priority for students majoring in Afro-Latin Music.
  • Secondary preference for music majors with an interest in Afro-Latin Music, participating in the Afro-Latin ensemble(s).

James Newton Endowed Scholarship in Music

The Newton Scholarship will be awarded annually, beginning in the school year ending in June 2023, to one or more students to be selected by the faculty of the Cal State LA Music Department who meet the following criteria.

  • Be enrolled as a full-time student and be in good academic standing at Cal State LA, either as a junior or senior working towards a Bachelor of Music degree or as a graduate student working towards a Master of Music degree
  • Is concentrating their studies in the Jazz Program and/or the Music Composition Programs
  • Demonstrates a strong interest and ability to pursue a career in jazz performance and/or in jazz or classical music composition
  • Submits a personal essay to the faculty of the Music Department (i) expressing an interest in the Newton Scholarship, (ii) describing the student’s background, interest in jazz performance and/or jazz or classical music composition, and career dreams and ambitions and (iii) discussing the steps they think they might take to pursue their career in music

FRIENDS OF MUSIC- Enor Watson Memorial Jazz Scholarship

  • 3.0 GPA
  • Jazz student

FRIENDS OF MUSIC- Woody Herman/Stan Kenton

  • 3.0 GPA
  • Major in Commercial Music (Jazz)
  • Undergraduate Student in at least 12 units
  • Graduate Student at least 6 units

FRIENDS OF MUSIC-Leonard Pennario Scholarship

  • 3.0 GPA
  • Student in piano
  • Minimum academic program of 12 units per semester to undergraduates
  • Minimum academic program of 6 units per semester for graduates

Roger Wagner Center Choral Scholarship

  • Graduate student pursuing Master’s degree in choral conducting

FRIENDS OF MUSIC –Charles E. Hubbard Fellowship

  • 3.2 GPA
  • Music Major
  • Graduate Student
  • Performance and talent shall be a primary consideration

FRIENDS OF MUSIC – Dan Howell Commercial Music

  • 3.0 GPA
  • Major in Commercial Music
  • Graduate Student at least 6 units
  • Candidate for the Master of Music Degree

Ella Fitzgerald Scholarship

The scholarship will support 1(one) undergraduate student pursuing a degree in Music and/or Music Education. The scholarship will stay with the student until graduation, or 4 (four) years, whichever comes first, as long as student abides by the scholarship guidelines.

  • Must maintain full time status
  • Must be a California resident or Dreamer, qualify for in-state tuition, and be eligible to attend a public university
  • The Scholar must maintain a 2.5 GPA.
  • After the EF Scholar has been selected, the Foundation would like the Scholar to submit a short essay telling The EllaFitzgerald Charitable Foundation why he/she wants to attend this program, the challenges faced, and an explanation of future goals and aspirations.

Helen E. Culver Musicology

  • 3.0 GPA
  • Undergraduate or graduate student in Musicology in the Department of Music

Zack Memorial

  • Demonstrated talent and financial need
  • Excellence in musicianship as determined by a private teacher, large performance organization director/conductor

FRIENDS OF MUSIC- East Meets West Scholarship

  • Music majors with an interest in Eastern and Western music

FRIENDS OF MUSIC- Florence LaRue Gordon

  • 3.0 GPA
  • Must have completed 24 units at CSULA
  • Must be currently enrolled in 12 units
  • For supporting students with physical disabilities

Margaret Carsola Scholarship in Music

  • No GPA requirement
  • Music Major enrolled full-time or part-time

The James Newton Endowed Scholarship in Music

  • Full time student (junior/senior or graduate student)
  • Good academic standing
  • Student studying jazz performance or composition

FRIENDS OF MUSIC- Dr. Robert Strassburg Fellowship

  • Music: Composition and/or Piano

FRIENDS OF MUSIC- Founders (Ellen King Kravitz)

  • 3.0 GPA
  • First preference to graduate student in Musicology enrolled in a minimum of 6 units
  • Second preference to graduate or undergraduate student in Voice (graduate enrolled in minimum 6 units, undergraduate enrolled in a minimum of 12 units)

FRIENDS OF MUSIC- Roy Main/Olga Termini Endowed Scholarship

  • 3.0 GPA
  • Must be majoring in Brass Performance (especially Trombone), Musicology, or Vocal Performance

University Scholarships

University scholarships, both need- and merit-based, are also available to students across the Cal State LA Community.

Students complete the General Scholarship Application to be considered for these scholarships, which is separate from the Music Department scholarship application. We encourage students to apply for funding from both sources.

More information about applying for University need and merit-based scholarships can be found on the University Financial Aid page by clicking here.