Overview
Description
Music scholarships are based exclusively on musical ability, irrespective of a major. All music scholarships, including departmental awards, are offered in addition to the University's academic and financial aid awards to provide overall support for a Trinity education.
Eligibility
Who is eligible:
All prospective incoming first-year students are eligible, regardless of intended major or minor. Students are encouraged to apply and audition for a music scholarship as soon as they are prepared and have established interest in Trinity, and they may audition at any point during the application process before receiving an admission decision.
Note for International Students:
International students must complete an application for admission before applying and auditioning for music scholarships. Scholarships for international applicants are extremely limited in order to adhere to funding policies. Review Trinity's guide for international applicants for information about eligibility, application requirements, deadlines, and financial aid, and direct any additional questions to the Office of Admissions.
How to Apply
Step 1
Complete the Music Scholarship Application:
Complete the Music Scholarship Application. If at all possible, students should complete the form at least two weeks prior to the desired audition date.
Deadline: February 19, 2027
Step 2
Complete Your Audition
Students are encouraged to audition in person whenever possible. To audition in-person, you may select an audition time during one of the Admissions program visit dates or separately establish a day and time.
Audition Process
- Complete the Music Scholarship Application Form
- Schedule an audition by indicating your proposed date on the application form
- You will receive confirmation (or a request for an alternate date if needed) from the music department.
- Student should then contact the faculty member in your performance area to finalize all pertinent details [see Audition Information for details]
Deadline: February 27, 2027
In-Person Auditions
Step 1
Confirm your audition timeslot
Stay in contact with your music faculty member and confirm your visit at least two days prior to your visit, so the department can document your visit for contact tracing purposes.
Step 2
Day of Visit
Parking
Park in the assigned visitor spots located on Trinity Place (entrance near Northrup Hall) or the overflow parking in Alamo Stadium as indicated on the map.
Connect with your faculty member
Contact your faculty member informing them you have arrived.
Practice Rooms
Practice Rooms will be made available for warm-up and each faculty member will arrange when and how to meet on your audition day.
Electronic Auditions
How to Submit
In lieu of in-person auditions, students may send their audition electronically (video preferred, but audio-only accepted) as an email attachment or YouTube channel link. Electronic submissions can be sent until 11:59 p.m. on Saturday February 27, 2027. The electronic submission should be sent directly to the faculty representative for a specific area (piano, organ, composition, winds/percussion, strings, or voice) via email.
Alternatively, a DVD or CD recording may be mailed directly to the Music Department. The deadline for receipt of audition recordings in the mail is Friday, February 26, 2027.
Mailed recordings should be sent to:
Trinity University Music Department
1 Trinity Place
San Antonio, Texas 78212-7200
Requirements by Performance Area
Piano (Dr. Carolyn True )
- Two contrasting pieces, preferably memorized.
- Technique (scales, arpeggios, etc.) and sight reading (two independent voices; chorale style) may be incorporated into the audition.
Note: Each student should email a repertoire list of works studied in lessons and a brief narrative describing piano studies to ctrue@trinity.edu prior to your audition.
For students planning on participating in the jazz area of the department, it is strongly recommended to include examples of jazz playing. This can be any of the following:
- jazz etudes
- jazz standards with improvisation (using play-along rhythm section is acceptable) or
- a live jazz performance featuring the student from a school concert.
Voice (Dr. Gary Seighman)
- Two contrasting songs (It is strongly preferred that the selections be memorized and at least one song be in a foreign language belonging to the classical art song repertoire. One selection may also be an opera/oratorio aria or musical theatre piece.)
- Two to three short sight-reading selections sung a cappella (choice of neutral syllable or solfege).
Note: An accompanist will be provided. Please arrive no later than 10 minutes prior to the scheduled audition time to rehearse with the accompanist.
Organ (Dr. David Heller)
- Perform a work by J.S. Bach or one of his contemporaries.
- Perform a composition by a composer from the 19th or 20th centuries in a contrasting style.
- Perform a hymn of your choice.
- Sight reading may be incorporated as a part of the audition.
Note: Each student auditioning in organ should bring with him or her a list of the repertoire covered in lessons with his or her teacher.
Woodwind, Brass, and Percussion (Dr. James Worman)
- Students will prepare two contrasting selections, and while the all-state audition etudes are acceptable, it is preferred that students prepare excerpts from repertoire pieces (more along the lines of solo/ensemble type selections. Students may provide their own accompanist if they wish, but performing with accompaniment is not required (unfortunately, we cannot supply an accompanist). Selections do not need to be memorized.
- Sight reading and major scales.
For students planning on participating in the jazz area of the department, it is strongly recommended to include examples of jazz playing. This can be any of the following:
- jazz etudes
- jazz standards with improvisation (using play-along rhythm section is acceptable) or
- a live jazz performance featuring the student from a school concert.
Strings (includes Harp and Guitar) (Dr. Joseph Kneer )
- Two contrasting selections without accompaniment. (Selections need not be memorized.)
- Sight reading
For students planning on participating in the jazz area of the department, it is strongly recommended to include examples of jazz playing. This can be any of the following:
- jazz etudes
- jazz standards with improvisation (using play-along rhythm section is acceptable) or
- a live jazz performance featuring the student from a school concert.
Composition (Dr. Brian Bondari)
Contact Dr. Brian Bondari for audition requirements.
Deadline
Complete the Music Scholarship Application by February 19 and complete your audition by February 27, 2027
Important Details
Selection Criteria
No scholarship award decisions are made until the entire process ends on the audition deadline listed above. The Music Department mails Letters of Notification in mid-March.
Additional Details
- Students are not required to major or minor in music to be eligible for music scholarships
Renewal Information
- Awards are renewable for a total of eight semesters contingent upon continued full-time enrollment and participation in one or more of the performing ensembles.
- Piano, Organ, and Guitar scholarships are renewable with continued private study.
How Trinity Determines Eligibility
Simple math!
Cost of Attendance - Student Aid Index = Financial Need
Note: If a student is provided an initial Financial Aid package prior to the mid-March award notification and receives a music scholarship, the Office of Student Financial Services will revise the University package and send the amended package directly following departmental notification.
Contact
Application and audition process:
Department of Music
Andrew Tucker, Academic Office Manager
210-999-8212
@email
All other financial aid inquiries:
Student Financial Services
Northrup Hall, Room 340
210-999-8898
@email