Concordia College, a Lutheran liberal arts college in Moorhead, Minnesota, gives music scholarships each year to talented incoming first-year and transfer students in voice, piano, strings, woodwind, brass, percussion, guitar, organ and composition.
Students of any major can apply. Finalists, chosen from a recording or an honor-ensemble record, then audition live, and every applicant is also considered for the larger Christiansen Award.
Benefits & funding
- $1,000–$5,000 a year for four years, stackable with academic scholarships.
- Christiansen Award: $27,000 for a select few with exceptional musical ability; it replaces all other scholarships.
- Some awards require private lessons and membership in a major Concordia ensemble in the scholarship area.
Eligibility
- Must be admitted to Concordia as an incoming first-year or transfer student.
- Any major; the application form lists every country and no nationality rule is stated.
- Must show excellence in music and perform a live finalist audition or interview (composers: interview).
- Cannot be held with another talent scholarship (visual arts, speech and debate, theatre); students offered several choose one.
Application process
- 1Apply and be admitted to Concordia.
- 2Qualify for the final round by ONE route: a video or audio recording; an honor-ensemble record earning the Conductor’s/Faculty’s Choice Award; or that award after a lesson with Concordia faculty. Composers submit one to three scores or recordings.
- 3Prepare a music resume and submit the online Music Scholarship Application (up to three performance areas).
- 4Audition or interview live if invited as a finalist.
Program timeline
15 Nov 2026
early-bird deadline (December auditions)
live auditions, Moorhead
4 Dec 2026
live auditions, Twin Cities
11 Dec 2026
final deadline
1 Feb 2027
live auditions, Moorhead
14–15 Feb 2027