Tips for Music Scholarship Auditions

If you’re passionate about music and planning on auditioning for one of PLU’s music scholarships (which range from $1,000-$7,500 per year), we’ve got some tips for you to apply and best prepare!

You don’t have to major in music to audition for or receive a music scholarship!

• At PLU, all music scholarships require successful participation—each semester—in private lessons and, by audition and placement, in a scholarship ensemble in the area of your award.

Get your applications/forms squared away (and tell us you’re interested in music)

• To even get access to the audition form (aka the Artistic Achievement Award application), you have to apply to PLU first.
• Make sure that you’ve listed Music or Music Education as either your first or second academic interest or a co-curricular interest.

Complete the audition form (AKA the Artistic Achievement Award application) by the deadline

• You’ll find the Artistic Achievement Awards application on your PLU student applicant portal, under the ‘Application Checklist’ section.
• Not seeing the form? Connect with your PLU Admission Counselor, who can add it to your portal.
• In addition to getting info about your specific interests, the form will also require a current resume detailing your musical participation and achievements.
• The deadline to complete this form is February 11, 2025.

Prepare for your audition

• The Music Department has this Music Audition Repertoire webpage, so you know exactly what to prepare based on your medium.
• Prepare 5 minutes of music (one or two selections) demonstrating both musicality and technique. Music faculty want to hear you at your best and most confident!
• The time limit for your performance is 5 minutes.

In-Person Auditions are strongly encouraged

• Scholarship auditions will be held on campus February 21-23. You’ll be asked which of those days you’re available, and starting in January (if you applied early), the Music Department will start scheduling and emailing you your audition day and time.
• You can audition for more than one music medium, but you’ll be asked to choose your primary first.
• The whole audition process takes about 15 minutes: 5 minutes for your performance, and 5-10 minutes for conversation with Music Department faculty.
  • You will be required to fill out a Scholarship Audition Repertoire Form ahead of time, which we’ll include in your audition schedule confirmation email.
• A professional piano accompanist is provided. There is no opportunity for rehearsal with this accompanist due to the number of auditionees and the tight schedule, but you will have a chance to talk through tempo, cuts, etc., before your audition. If you choose to do so, you may certainly bring your own accompanist.

If you’re doing a Virtual Audition

• Prepare 5 minutes of music (one or two selections) demonstrating both musicality and technique. Music faculty want to hear you at your best and most confident!
• Take video(s) of your performance(s) and upload to an online video platform that has a weblink (e.g. a private YouTube video). If you’re performing more than one piece, you can create more than one video.

How we award Music Scholarships

• Scholarship auditions are competitive. Your audition, evaluated by the music faculty, will be ranked by accomplishment, talent and potential, and need within each discipline.
• Once faculty have made their decisions, your scholarship decision letter will be posted to your PLU student applicant portal.

Last Tips

• Check your email regularly! Anytime a decision (scholarship, application, etc.) is posted to your portal, you’ll be sent an email from PLU Office of Admission (admission@plu.edu), and the subject line starts with “An important status update has been made to your applicant portal”, and the “important” actually is…important.
• The Music Department’s scholarship webpage has really helpful info, including an FAQs section.