The Music Department maintains a variety of scholarships that are tailored to the needs of music students. All music scholarships are awarded through an audition process held twice each year. Scholarship recipients must be full time music majors, studying applied music and enrolled in the appropriate major ensemble. For more information please contact the music department program director, Professor Kevin Dobreff: kdobreff@grcc.edu.
The Grand Rapids Community College Foundation
The Grand Rapids Community College Foundation provides scholarships, loans and grants to students and staff at Grand Rapids Community college. The funds listed below are for the music department only. The Grand Rapids Community College Foundation offers many other scholarships outside the area of music. Scholarship funds provide tuition assistance directly to students. These awards may be used for tuition, books or private lessons.
The College's Financial Aid Office staff will help students apply for specific grants, loans and scholarships administered through the Foundation. The Music Department should be contacted concerning any music scholarship. The Foundation also administers Discretionary Scholarships, which are awarded to both freshman, and sophomores based on high school or college academic averages.
The Franklin O. Asper Trumpet Scholarship
This scholarship is made in the memory of Franklin O. Asper and will be awarded to GRCC music majors concentrating their studies in trumpet. All recipients must perform in both the Wind Ensemble and the College Orchestra, and demonstrate improved academic performance that will lead to achieving a 3.0 GPA.
Closson-Jones String Scholarship
One annual scholarship will be awarded to an outstanding full-time freshman or sophomore string major who is enrolled in the college orchestra and demonstrates improved academic performance that will lead to achieving a 3.0 GPA.
Crescendo Scholarship
This award will be presented to selected instrumentalists who have demonstrated significant proficiency on their band and/or orchestral instrument and who are currently enrolled in campus band, wind ensemble, or the orchestra. The award amount will be equal to the tuition for a three contact hour class or as determined by the music faculty. Music Department Faculty will determine additional selection criteria.
The Duane Shields Davis Vocal/Choral Scholarship
This scholarship, named for the former director of GRCC choirs, will be awarded to a full time music major who is studying voice and is a member of Shades of Blue. The recipient of this scholarship must also be a member of the College Choir or Concert Choir and demonstrate improved academic performance that will lead to achieving a 3.0 GPA.
The Deleon D. Dobreff Violin Scholarship
This scholarship is made in the memory of Deleon D. Dobreff and will be awarded to a full time music major studying violin or viola. All recipients must be a member of the College Orchestra and demonstrate improved academic performance that will lead to achieving a 3.0 GPA.
The Grand Rapids Community College Music Trust
Scholarships from this fund are awarded to full time music majors who perform in the requisite major ensemble and demonstrate improved academic performance that will lead to achieving a 3.0 GPA.
The Grand Rapids Piano Forum Scholarship
Applicants for the Piano Forum Scholarship must be full time piano majors that demonstrate improved academic performance leading to achieving a 3.0 GPA. This scholarship is not renewable for a second year.
The Ray Gill Memorial Jazz Scholarship
This scholarship will be awarded to a full time music major who is currently enrolled in The Jazz Ensemble and demonstrates improved academic performance that will lead to achieving a 3.0 GPA.
The Kent Philharmonic Orchestra Scholarship
The KPO Music Director will award the Kent Philharmonia Orchestra scholarship to an instrumental music major who is enrolled as a full-time student and can demonstrate academic improvement if the student's GPA is less than 3.0. Students will audition with the KPO music director upon application for this scholarship. At the discretion of the music director, if no instrumental music major applicant is found qualified to perform with KPO, the scholarship can be awarded to a non-music major upon majority approval of the KPO board. Students must attend and participate in all KPO rehearsals and concerts.
The Albert P. Smith Scholarship in Voice
This scholarship is named for the former chairman of the GRCC Fine and Performing Arts Division and will be awarded to music majors who are studying voice. Recipients of this scholarship must enroll in either College Choir or Concert Choir and demonstrate improved academic performance that will lead to achieving a 3.0 GPA.
The Kenneth R. Morris Memorial Guitar Scholarship
This scholarship is made in the memory of Kenneth R. Morris and is awarded to outstanding GRCC music majors who choose guitar as their major instrument. Recipients may be majoring in any music discipline including Recording Technology. Students who are awarded this scholarship must have and maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA and also must participate in the GRCC Guitar Ensemble.
The Mary Scanlan Piano Scholarship
This scholarship will be awarded to a GRCC Piano Major based on criteria set by the music department faculty. A grade point of 3.0 or better is mandatory.
The Alan and Linda Doering Schubert Male Chorus Vocal Scholarship
This scholarship will be awarded to an outstanding voice or piano major who maintains a GPA of 3.0 or above. Students must meet specific criteria set by the Schubert Male Chorus.
The Corey-VanRandwyk Memorial Homeschool Scholarship
This Scholarship will be awarded to one or two freshman or sophomore music majors per year who were homeschooled, and are enrolled full-time as determined by need, demonstrated talent and work ethic.