UND Music Students Can Win $10K Symphony Scholarship

Music students at the University of North Dakota have a new reason to celebrate. The Greater Grand Forks Symphony Orchestra is offering up to $10,000 in annual scholarships to help aspiring musicians pursue their passion.

The College Support Scholarship opens doors for both undergraduate and graduate students who play violin or viola. The program launches this spring, with applications due by April 12 at 11:59 p.m.

Jessica Schumacher, the symphony's executive director, says the scholarship exists to support students through their college careers while nurturing their love of music. It's designed to help talented musicians hone their skills and build a foundation for lifelong success.

Both domestic and international students can apply, as long as they're enrolled full-time during the 2026-27 school year with music as their major. The scholarship will support students who plan to keep music in their lives after graduation, whether professionally or as dedicated volunteers.

The symphony plans to award the scholarship to at least one student, with the possibility of supporting up to four musicians depending on the applicant pool. Undergraduate students may receive preference in the selection process.

Why This Inspires

This scholarship represents more than financial support. It's a community investing in the future of classical music and the artists who bring it to life. By removing financial barriers, the Greater Grand Forks Symphony Orchestra helps ensure that talented students can focus on perfecting their craft instead of worrying about tuition bills.

The program also strengthens the connection between professional musicians and the next generation. Students who receive this support often become the teachers, performers, and cultural leaders who keep music thriving in communities like Grand Forks.

Interested students can find the full application packet, required musical excerpts, and scholarship requirements at www.ggfso.org/learning/scholarship. The process includes demonstrating musical aptitude and a genuine passion for performance.

This investment in young musicians today creates the symphony orchestras, music educators, and passionate performers of tomorrow.