Scholarships

The question of how to pay for college is one of concern to every parent and student. The general information provided below may also be of help to you.

Departmental Scholarships (for music majors)

The Department of Music makes annual scholarship awards to music majors. These scholarships are based on performance ability and professional promise. Departmental scholarship award contracts are for up to four years and may impose specific requirements regarding continuance of the major, academic progress, and ensemble participation. 

Lois Durbin Enochs Endowed Scholarships (for freshmen and transfer students)

This scholarship fund was established by Jacquelin Emogene Enochs in memory of her mother, Lois Durbin Enochs.  If you are a freshman or transfer student entering Harding for the first time this coming fall and majoring in music, we invite and encourage you to audition for a music scholarship. 

Here's how you apply.

• Complete the scholarship audition form available at www.harding.edu/music/forms.html, save the completed form to your computer, and send a copy to music@harding.edu
• Contact an area coordinator to schedule an audition time. Contact us at least three weeks before your campus visit in order to better coordinate all of the details of the audition process. All auditions are by appointment only.

      Area coordinators are

There are two all-category audition dates.  The first is Saturday, February 6, 2010.  The second is Friday, April 2, 2010 (Spring Sing weekend).  Contact the music office to schedule an audition time.  If you are not available for either of these dates, contact one of the Area coordinators to set up a convenient date and time for your audition.

Need more information? See Frequently Asked Questions below. If you don't find the answer, call or e-mail us. We want to help you earn a music scholarship!

Other Endowed Scholarships (for upperclass students)

Through the generosity of alumni and friends, the department also awards endowed scholarships in music — the Baggett, Dell, Moore, Richardson, Sanderson, Shearin and Thomas scholarships. These are reserved for upperclassmen who have demonstrated excellence in the work of the department.

Ensemble Scholarships (for all students)

Additional scholarship monies are available to members of the Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, String Quartet, Belles and Beaux, and Good News Singers. These awards are available to non-majors as well as majors. The ensemble directors have discretion in the administration of these funds; address inquiries to them directly.

University Scholarships

Be sure to avail yourself of Harding's general scholarship information. Contact the Financial Aid Office as soon as possible in order to obtain vital information about federal, state, and university scholarships, grants and loan funds.

Music scholarships may be combined with other forms of financial aid in an amount not to exceed the cost of full tuition.

Full-tuition scholarships awarded by the university (the National Merit and Trustee awards) take precedence over music scholarships. The students receiving these awards may not also claim music department scholarships.

Frequently Asked Questions

WHO MAY AUDITION?

Freshmen and transfer students who plan to enter Harding for the first time in the fall semester and who have applied for admission to the university are eligible.  You must plan to major in music, and, once enrolled, you must make satisfactory progress toward a degree in music to keep the scholarship.

WHAT ARE THE SIZES OF THE SCHOLARSHIPS AND HOW MANY ARE THERE?

Scholarships range from $4,800 to a maximum of $20,000 and are divided equally over four years (eight semesters).  The number of recipients varies from year to year according to the pool of applicants.  We have awarded 17 to 25 of these scholarships annually over the past 20 years.  The greater your performance ability and musical preparation, the higher the award.

WHERE WILL AUDITIONS BE HELD?

Auditions will take place in the music wing of the Donald W. Reynolds Center for Music and Communication located on the south side of the university campus.

WHAT CONSTITUTES AN AUDITION?

Your audition consists of several activities designed to evaluate your training, talent and potential as a music major. These include a series of diagnostic tests (pitch memory, pitch matching, keyboard assessment, theory exam), a short performance for the music faculty, and an interview with them.  We want to get to know you!

WHAT KIND OF COMPOSITIONS SHOULD I PERFORM?

Choose your primary performance area.

• KEYBOARD (piano) - the first movement of a sonata or sonatina; one piece from the 19^th or 20^th century
• INSTRUMENTAL (winds, strings, percussion) - two works of contrasting nature, or two contrasting movements from a solo concerto or sonata, with a minimum difficulty level of that of a standard solo from the state level solo list in your home state
• VOCAL - one classical song in English; one Italian art song, one German or French art song

If you have questions or concerns as to the appropriateness of your audition material, ask your area coordinator well before of your audition.  Inappropriate audition material may result in a lower evaluation by the music faculty.  We want you to do your best.

Do you perform well in more than one area-see below!

IF I CAN PERFORM IN MORE THAN ONE AREA, WHAT SHOULD I DO?

Audition for any area in which you expect to participate in college; we appreciate musicians who are versatile and multi-talented.  If you wish to audition in more than one area, prepare for each area one composition which best demonstrates your skill.  Consult with your primary area coordinator to confirm your audition choices.

WHAT ABOUT AN ACCOMPANIST?

You may bring your own accompanist, or Harding will provide one at your request and at no charge to you.  If you wish to take advantage of this service, your music must reach the music department three weeks in advance of your audition.

WHEN WILL I KNOW THE RESULTS?

Scholarship awards will be announced and contracts mailed in the week following the last audition date, which is on Friday of Youth Forum/Spring Sing weekend (the Friday before Easter).

HOW MANY AUDITION AND WHAT ARE MY CHANCES?            

We expect 40-50 students to audition in any given year.  Approximately half of that number will receive a scholarship award.

CAN ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS BE APPLIED TO MUSIC SCHOLARSHIPS?

Academic scholarships may be combined with music scholarships.  However, university policy states that the total value of your music and academic scholarships may not exceed full tuition.

ARE THERE OTHER SCHOLARSHIPS BESIDES THE ENOCHS AWARDS?

Yes.  Departmental performance scholarships are available to members of these ensembles in varying amounts:  Belles and Beaux, Chorus, Concert Choir, Good News Singers, Marching Band, Orchestra and Wind Ensemble.  Other endowed scholarships, described in the university catalog, are awarded to upperclassmen as they demonstrate academic and musical growth.  These are added to any Enochs Scholarships they already receive as long as the total value of your music scholarships do not exceed full tuition.

Music Department Contact Information

Harding University Music Department

HU 10767

Searcy, AR  72149-0767

501-279-4343 (phone)

501-279-4086 (fax)

music@harding.edu