Cello Scholarships
Eastern's most prestigious award for incoming first-year students.
Award: Full tuition and Room & Board
Eligibility: Application Required. Minimum 3.5 cumulative high school GPA and 1200+ SAT (critical reading and math)/25+ ACT (highest composite) required for application.
Deadline and Application: December 1. For more information and to apply, Presidential Scholarship page.
Please note: Scholarship criteria may be changed/adapted from year-to-year. Criteria listed above applies for Fall 2022.
The School of Music & Dance is proud to award a number of scholarships to promising students in our programs. The following list applies to any cellist that is officially enrolled in the Music Education, Music Therapy, Music Performance or Bachelor of Arts in Music program.
Any Year/Degree
Elisabeth J. Morgan & David O. Woike Endowed Scholarship
- Awarded in alternate years with the World Languages Department
- Open to all music and dance majors, music and dance minors, and graduate music students in the School of Music & Dance. International students are encouraged to apply
- Awarded to a student in good standing and who has demonstrated experience or knowledge of international history and culture
- Visit the School of Music & Dance Scholarships Page for the most current application.
First Year Students
Alexander Performance Awards
- Music majors
- Qualified freshmen students
- Talent-based
- Recommended at the time of entrance audition
Olmstead, Marian and Fred Scholarship
- First-time freshmen
- Minimum 3.0 high-school GPA
- Enrolled in music
Zhiwen Situ Cello Scholarship
- Music majors
- Qualified first-year undergraduate cellist of exceptional abilities
- Recommended at the time of entrance audition
- Recipient must be enrolled full-time during the year of award
- Recipient must perform in a public School of Music & Dance event. The repertoire chosen must include a work by a composer of Chinese heritage
Sophomores through Seniors
Brundage, Barbara Elizabeth Scott Scholarship
- Music majors
- Minimum 3.0 GPA
- Minimum first semester sophomore status
- Show outstanding achievement and ability in the field of music
Dillman, Jessie Scholarship
- Must apply no later than March 20
- Upperclassmen
- Completed one semester as music major
- Enrolled full-time
- Minimum 3.0 GPA
- Show high level of ability in performance or creativity (i.e., composition, research, teaching potential, etc.)
- Visit the School of Music & Dance Scholarships Page for the most current application.
Drummond Scholarship
- Student studying theatre, music or fine arts
- Minimum junior class standing
James, Dorothy Scholarships
- Music majors
- Minimum sophomore status enrolled for at least two semesters at EMU
- Minimum 3.0 GPA in music theory-literature
- Active in Mu Phi Epsilon
Weddige, Juanita Scholarship
- Awarded once a year
- Minimum 3.0 GPA (one subject may be excluded)
- Minimum junior class level
- Demonstrate excellence in major interest of music
- Selected by the Weddige Scholarship Committee
- May receive award more than once if eligible
- All undergraduates
Laing, Dr. Harlow E. and Leela Linder Scholarship
- Studying music
- Minimum 3.0 GPA
- Graduate of Ypsilanti Lincoln High School
- If no music student qualifies, award goes to a major in Earth Science or Biology
Lindegren, Carl Scholarship
- Completed one semester in music
- Provides tuition for private music instruction in the major field (voice or instrument)
McGuire, Michael Music Therapy Scholarship
The scholarship is to be distributed to a music therapy student who has completed at least four music therapy classes, including one academic year of pre-internship clinical training; has a grade point average of at least 3.00; and who can demonstrate musical skills sufficient to lead a music therapy group on at least two of these three: guitar, piano and voice.
Music and Dance Service Awards
- Service in band, orchestra, vocal, keyboard, or dance
- Recommended solely at the discretion of program faculty
- Primarily upper-class students
Newell, Lisa and Mary Scholarship
- College of Arts and Sciences majors
- Demonstrate financial need
- Minimum 2.5 GPA
- Preference given to students majoring in this priority order: vocal music, drama, instrumental music
Phipps, Mary F. Scholarship
- Undergraduate or second bachelors student
- Enrolled full-time (student teaching or in music therapy internship shall constitute full-time)
- Minimum 3.0 GPA
- Music majors in one of the following curricula: music education (vocal), music education (instrumental or music therapy); completed Music 330, 332 or 303
- Recommended by members of Music Education and Music Therapy faculty
Remington, Joseph Scholarship
- Award based on scholarship, character, musicianship of student
- Music majors in the general area of music rather than performance
- Demonstrate financial need
Janet L. Pounds Music Education Scholarship
- Student must be a Music Education Major
- Minimum 2.75 GPA
- Recipient should demonstrate financial need.
Graduate Students
Morgan, Haydn Scholarship
- Graduate student in music
- Minimum 3.0 GPA
- Demonstrate outstanding composition ability
Zhiwen Situ Cello Scholarship
- Music major
- Qualified first-year graduate cellist of exceptional abilities
- Recommended at the time of entrance audition
- Recipient must be enrolled full-time during the year of award
- Recipient must perform in a public School of Music & Dance event. The repertoire chosen must include a work by a composer of Chinese heritage
Graduate Assistantship in Orchestral Studies (Available starting 2021-2023!)
- The GA applicant must be fully or conditionally (conditions 1, 2 or 3) admitted to a graduate program of study.
- Maintain a 3.0 graduate grade-point average
- International students must have an F-1 or J-1 visa or official work permit to be a GA.
To keep a Graduate Assistantship position, the student must:
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Be enrolled in a minimum of six credit hours if appointed Fall and Winter semesters, and one credit for the Summer semester
- Make progress toward completing a graduate program of study filed with the Office of Records and
- Registration, without an excessive number of incompletes or course withdrawals.
Full details, please visit Graduate Assistantships.
Competitions
The following performance competitions are open to music students:
Barry Manilow Competition
- Financial award given to an outstanding performer who will be a full-time student during both the Fall and Winter semesters in which they will hold the award.
- Applicants must be admitted to an undergraduate degree program in the School of Music and Dance or CTA.
- Previous winners and students on Conditional Admission, Alternative Admission or Special Student status are ineligible to apply.
For full application dates and information, please visit the Competitions Page.
Graduate Performance Competition
- Sponsored by the Graduate Studies and Research and the School of Music and Dance
- Financial award presented to an outstanding graduate student in Music Performance
- The recipient will be selected by a competition/performance held in the Winter semester
- Applicants must be admitted to a Master of Arts degree program in the School of Music and Dance and must be enrolled during both semesters of the academic year the competition is held.
For full application dates and information, please visit the Competitions Page.
Concerto and Aria Competition
- Open to full-time graduate (6 credit hours) students in music, and full-time undergraduate (12 credit hours) music majors and music minors during the Fall semester, and who are enrolled in applied music. Exceptions will be made for students who are student teaching or interning during the Fall semester or are in their last year of study.
- Auditions are adjudicated by judges from outside Eastern Michigan University
- One or two winners will be selected. The winner(s) will perform as soloists with the EMU Symphony Orchestra during the Winter semester orchestra concerts.
For full application dates and information, please visit the Competitions Page.
Strings
Baker, Dr. Earl L. and Charlotte S. Scholarship
- Music majors
- Stringed instrument primary area of interest
- Demonstrate outstanding ability in string family of instruments
- Minimum 2.5 GPA
Riley, Daisy V., Clara Perry Lockie Scholarship
- Violin, viola, cello, or double bass major
- Deserving student
- Department shall determine selection criteria and administer funds
Shing Cheng Seetoo Endowed Scholarship for Orchestral Strings
- Violin, viola, cello, or double bass string major
- Enrolled full-time in during year of award (i.e. Fall and Winter semesters)
- Audition for award occurs during Winter Semester Juries
- Recipient must perform in a public School of Music & Dance event. The repertoire chosen must include a work by a composer of Taiwanese heritage.
- Visit the School of Music & Dance Scholarships Page for the most current application.
Shure, Fred and Robert Farrell Collegium Musicum String Endowed Scholarship
- Full-time string major at EMU
- Performs in Collegium Musicum and the University Orchestra during semester(s) of award
- Can receive more than once
Weiss, Barbara Scholarship
- Music major
- Must play viola or violin with a preference for viola
- Minimum 3.0 GPA
- Full-time student (12 credit hours)
Zhiwen Situ Cello Scholarship
- Music majors
- Qualified first-year undergraduate or graduate cellist of exceptional abilities
- Recommended at the time of entrance audition
- Recipient must be enrolled full-time during the year of award
- Recipient must perform in a public School of Music & Dance event. The repertoire chosen must include a work by a composer of Chinese heritage.
New Scholarships in 2021-2022!
Starting in academic year 2021-2022, two new scholarships will be available to students of exceptional abilities!
Shing Cheng Seetoo Endowed Scholarship in Orchestral Strings
- Open to all violin, viola, cello, or double bass string majors
- Enrolled full-time in during year of award (i.e. Fall and Winter semesters)
- Audition for award occurs during Winter Semester Juries (i.e. April)
- During the year of the award, the recipient must perform in a public School of Music & Dance event. The repertoire chosen must include a work by a composer of Taiwanese heritage.*
Visit the School of Music & Dance Scholarships Page for the most current application.
*Recipients of the scholarship in academic years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 will be featured performers in a special fundraising event in Pease Auditorium on November 10, 2022.
Zhiwen Situ Cello Scholarship (two recipients will be identified in AY 2022!)
- Music majors
- Qualified first-year undergraduate or graduate cellist of exceptional abilities
- Recommended at the time of entrance audition
- Recipient must be enrolled full-time during the year of award
- Recipient must perform in a public School of Music & Dance event. The repertoire chosen must include a work by a composer of Chinese heritage.*
- If the recipient of the scholarship does not attend EMU during the year of the award, the string faculty will designate another deserving recipient.
*Recipients of the scholarship in academic years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 will be featured performers in a special fundraising event in Pease Auditorium on November 10, 2022.
The Dillman Scholarship, Manilow Competition, Graduate Performance Competition, Concerto and Aria Competition, Shing Cheng Seetoo Endowed Scholarship for Orchestral Strings, and the Graduate Assistantship are awarded by application process. All other awards are designated by the Elections & Awards Committee through the recommendation of a faculty member at EMU's School of Music & Dance. If you are interested and qualified for any of the scholarships listed, please speak to your applied professor who can submit a recommendation on your behalf.
From the University: Customized scholarships & affordability for new students
First Year Scholarship Opportunities
It's time for your hard work to pay off.
Eastern is one of the most affordable and best-valued institutions in the country. EMU's Global Tuition Rate eliminates out-of-state fees for undergraduate students, allowing all undergraduate students from the US - and around the world - to pay in-state rates. Combined with our generous scholarship offerings, an EMU education can put your success truly within reach.
EMU awards millions of dollars in academic scholarships each year and 97% of students receive some form of financial aid aid. Scholarships are customized based on a mixture of criteria and considerations:
Emerald Scholarship
- Award: $1,000–$7,500 per year
- Eligibility: Based on cumulative high school GPA. (In some cases, test scores may be required.)
- Consideration: Automatic. Awarded at the time of admission
- Renewable? Yes
- Text your graduation year (i.e. 2022) to 734.480.3811 and follow the prompts to receive a personalized scholarship estimate!
Education First Opportunity Scholarship (EFOS)
- Award: Full tuition minus the Pell Grant
- Eligibility: 3.0 cumulative high school GPA or higher. Pell Grant Eligibility via FAFSA.
- Consideration: Automatic. Awarded at time of financial aid awarding
- Renewable? Yes
- Deadline: February 15 for Fall 2022 consideration
4WARD Graduation Scholarship
Award: Full-tuition years 3 and 4, with a locked-in rate for years 1 and 2
Eligibility: 3.0 cumulative high school GPA. Recipients must live in an on-campus community for all four years.
Learn more on the 4WARD website.
Presidential Scholarship
Award: Full tuition and room & board
Eligibility: Application Required. Minimum 3.5 cumulative high school GPA and 1200+ SAT (critical reading and math)/25+ ACT (highest composite) required for application.
Deadline and Application: For more information and to apply, Presidential Scholarship page.
Please note: Scholarship criteria may be changed/adapted from year-to-year. Criteria listed above applies for Fall 2022.