Pursuing Your Musical Dreams: A Guide to the Glenn Miller Scholarship

Since 1977, the Glenn Miller Birthplace Society (GMBS) has been dedicated to honoring the music and memory of Glenn Miller. One of the key ways they achieve this goal is through an annual scholarship competition designed to support aspiring young musicians. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the Glenn Miller Scholarship, its requirements, and related opportunities for music students.

The Glenn Miller Scholarship: An Overview

The Glenn Miller Birthplace Society invites high school seniors and college freshmen who intend to make music a central part of their future to participate in their annual Scholarship competition. The event is open to high school seniors and college freshmen who intend to make music their future focus. Students from across the nation apply in two categories: vocal and instrumental. The Glenn Miller Society awards a total of $12,000 in scholarships each year. Clarinda’s Glenn Miller Birthplace Society is offering scholarships of $3,000, $2,000 & $1,000 to instrumentalists. The vocal scholarships will also be $3,000, $2,000 & $1,000. These scholarships, which are awarded without regard to any other award, may be used for any education-related expense. Those who have entered as high school seniors are eligible to compete again as college freshmen; but first place winners from previous years are not eligible to compete again.

Eligibility and Categories

The competition is open to both vocal and instrumental students. The event is specifically for:

High school seniors
College freshmen

Application Requirements

To apply for the Glenn Miller Scholarship, applicants must submit the following:

Completed Application Form.
Audition Tracks: Applicants must upload two music choices to YouTube. The selections must be of contest level material in contrasting styles.
Statement of Musical Intentions.
Competition Checklist.
Appearance Fee: An appearance fee of $25 is required of each applicant, and must accompany the application. This fee will be returned to those who (a) are not selected to be finalists; (b) those who accept finalist selection and complete the required audition. All other material submitted becomes the property of the Society and will not be returned.

Performance and Repertoire

Participants are encouraged to select whatever they feel comfortable with for their performances - popular music, jazz or classics. We recommend the great American songbook, jazz, and certainly the Glenn Miller music library. It is not the purpose of this competition to select Glenn Miller look-alikes or sound-alikes, nor is it limited to pop music performance.

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The Judging Process

Three winners are selected from each category and perform at the Stage Show the next day during the festival.

Scholarship Awards

Clarinda’s Glenn Miller Birthplace Society is offering scholarships of $3,000, $2,000 & $1,000 to instrumentalists. The vocal scholarships will also be $3,000, $2,000 & $1,000. These scholarships, which are awarded without regard to any other award, may be used for any education-related expense.

Additional Benefits for Finalists

All scholarship finalists will receive a special welcome package loaded with goodies upon arrival in Clarinda. Everyone will gather for a special scholarship group dinner to meet and greet. And most importantly, we invite and encourage all scholarship contestants to join us for the entire festival. Scholarship finalists will all receive passes to every musical event during the weekend as our appreciation for their participation, talent and musical interest. It’s our way of encouraging the next generation of musicians to continue the important legacy of Glenn Miller, American popular music and jazz.

Additional Scholarship Opportunities for Musicians

While the Glenn Miller Scholarship is a notable opportunity, several other scholarships and grants are available to support musicians. Here are a few examples:

The Alpha Corinne Mayfield Award

The Alpha Corinne Mayfield Award is open to any student of a certified school of music, private teacher or coach, associated with a certified school, college, or university between the ages of 20 and 35 (as of January 15). The student must be a member of National Federation of Music Clubs, as a member of a senior or student federated club, or have an individual senior membership.

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The Rislov Foundation

Since 1998, The Rislov Foundation has awarded more than one million dollars to dozens of deserving and exceptional classical musicians, vocalists and organizations. The foundation awards exceptional classical musicians who demonstrate promise, including classical vocalists.

Sigma Alpha Iota Grants and Scholarships

An annual grant of $5,000 will be awarded to a member of Sigma Alpha Iota for the purpose of advancing her career in performance. Grant funds must be used for advanced study, coaching, or other purposes directly related to the development of a professional performing career. Each application must be accompanied by a 30-minute DVD or a YouTube video. The winner will be selected by a professional judging panel from among all the applications submitted by the deadline date of March 15, Eastern Time. The repertoire selected should demonstrate musicianship, technique and interpretative skills. Repeats should be omitted on the recording. Each chapter may nominate a member for the Undergraduate Scholarship. Winners are based on the exemplification of ideals of Sigma Alpha Iota. We see the "total" SAI member. Scholarships will be applied directly to recipient's tuition for program/school. Three $2,000 scholarships will be awarded.

Additional Scholarships

Preference will be given to applicants from Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas and who are accepted for enrollment or enrolled at an accredited college, university or technical school. The student must demonstrate financial need and be pursuing a degree in the arts and sciences, human services, music or ministry. Amount of Award: $2,000 annually for up to four years. The Lee A. Lyman Memorial Music Scholarship was established by VSAC in 1995 in memory of Lee A. Lyman.

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