Fine Arts Scholarship Opportunities

With unique opportunities in each of the Fine Arts areas, it is no wonder that nearly half of all Cornell College students are involved in the Fine Arts each year.  Incoming students who wish to continue their interests in Art, Music, or Theatre at Cornell College will find a breadth of opportunities available in and out of the classroom.

Scholarship opportunities are available in Art, Music, and Theatre with awards ranging from $1,000 to $16,000.  We encourage students who have a strong interest in any of these areas to apply for a Fine Arts Scholarship through the application process described below.  Students do not need to major or minor in an area to receive an award, although it is required for some higher level scholarships.  Students may apply for more than one area of Fine Arts scholarship but can only be granted one.  In this case, the Admission Office will give applicants an opportunity to decide which scholarship they prefer.

STEP 1:  Apply to Cornell College using the Cornell Application or the Common Application.

STEP 2:  Complete the Fine Arts Scholarship Application for your area of interest (below in Adobe Acrobat format) no later than March 1.  Please note that the most recent updates to scholarship amounts and requirements are listed on this webpage.  Please contact the Office of Admission if you have questions.

• Art Scholarship Application
• Music Scholarship Application
• Theatre Scholarship Application

STEP 3:  Art scholarship applicants must send a copy of their portfolio with application materials.  Music and Theatre applicants should call the Office of Admission at 1-800-747-1112 to arrange for an audition or interview.  Auditions and interviews must also be completed by the March 1 deadline.

Additional criteria and repertoire guidelines can be found below in each of the following areas.

Art | Music | Theatre

Art Awards

The Department of Art and Art History provides an energetic environment in which intellectual ideas are fostered and creative impulses are valued.

Art portfolios should include 5 - 15 pieces of original work and be submitted in slide or CD/DVD format with an emphasis on quality.  You may also submit a sketchbook (optional).  Portfolios are reviewed on a monthly basis, October through March.

Buzza Art Awards and Cornell College Art Awards are renewable for three years as long as the student maintains good academic standing with the college.  Students are not required to participate in the department's courses or activities, although many recipients take courses or remain involved through other Art Department activities.

Music Scholarships and Awards

The Music Department offers a wide range of performance and curricular opportunities to majors and non-majors alike.  The serious musician will find opportunities to develop as a soloist, a leader, a researcher, and a well-rounded student of the art.  Others will find outlets to continue their passion for music performance in vibrant and challenging ensembles.

Scholarship opportunities in music are available to all qualified students, whether or not they decide to major in music.  On-campus Scholarship auditions are scheduled on a rolling basis throughout the year as long as a student has submitted their application for admission to the College.  Auditions must be completed by March 1, and copies of audition music must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the audition.  Although we encourage students to audition live, students may also submit a recorded audition.

For more information and suggestions for your audition repertoire, please review the Music Department's Audition Repertoire Guidelines, or contact your personal music instructor for guidance.

The Trustee Music Scholarship is renewable for three years as long as the student majors or minors in Music and maintains good academic standing.

The Dean's Music Scholarship,  Horace Alden Miller Music Scholarship, and Eva Ellsworth Dungan Music Award are each renewable for three years as long as the student maintains good academic standing.

All Music Scholarships and Awards require students to enroll in music lessons, participate in at least one major ensemble on the student's primary instrument, and enroll in a FAA 701 Music Performance Seminar. Scholarship and award recipients are awarded free music lessons at a value of $325 per semester.

Theatre Scholarships and Awards

The Theatre Department is a community or professional artists, scholars, and students who believe that making theatre - and studying theatre - enables us to travel to other worlds.  Visiting those worlds cultivates imagination and creativity, stimulates curiosity and searching analysis, encourages empathy, and provides some of the insight necessary to make our own world just a little bit better.  It's both hard work - and serious fun.

On-campus Scholarship auditions are scheduled on a rolling basis throughout the year.  Although we encourage students to audition live, students may also submit a recorded audition.  For more information and suggestions for your audition or portfolio repertoire, please refer to the Theatre Department's Audition/Portfolio Repertoire Guidelines.

The Trustee Theatre Scholarship and Dean's Theatre Scholarship are renewable for three years as long as the student maintains good academic standing. The student must also major in Theatre while at Cornell and complete participation requirements.

The Theatre Scholarship is renewable for three years as long as the student maintains good academic standing at the College. The student must major or minor in Theatre while at Cornell and complete participation requirements.

The Cornell College Theatre Award is renewable for three years as long as the student maintains good academic standing at the College and completes participation requirements within the department.

* Additional performance criteria are required. Please contact the Theatre department for more information regarding renewal criteria.