The Performing Arts Department awards several Music, Theatre, and Dance scholarships to incoming students each year. Auditions, interviews, or portfolios are required. Auditions are also required for all students planning to major in music.
The awarding of a Performing Arts merit scholarship is contingent upon an audition (see details below), an interview with Performing Arts faculty, and admission with subsequent enrollment at Ohio Wesleyan University.
The Financial Aid Office, in consultation with the Performing Arts Department, will administer the merit scholarship. The scholarship will be credited as a tuition waiver if you are not receiving need-based aid. In the event that you qualify for need-based financial assistance in excess of the scholarship, the Financial Aid Office will determine your total financial aid package, incorporating the merit scholarship, grants (if applicable), loans and work/study. Fifty percent of the scholarship will be given in each of the two semesters.
It is expected that you will accept or reject the scholarship offer as soon as possible, but no later than May 1.
To get more information about the audition process, please contact the Performing Arts academic assistant, Lisa Hill, at lahill@owu.edu or call (740) 368-3700.
Music Scholarships and Auditions
All students have the opportunity to audition for a music scholarship to become either a music major or a performance minor. Music awards range up to $7,500 for music majors and up to $1,500 for performance minors, and are added to any scholarships you receive with your admission decision from OWU. The award will be renewed each year for no more than four years provided the student:
- Maintains a major or performance minor in music.
- Achieves a minimum GPA in music courses of 2.75 at the end of their first year and 3.00 at the end of succeeding years.
Audition dates will close as soon as the schedule is filled, so please complete your application as soon as possible to hold a spot on one of our audition dates. If you apply within the final week of February, we cannot guarantee an accompanist. All auditions must be completed by March 2, 2025. We strongly encourage in-person auditions when possible.
2024–2025 Audition Dates
- Saturday, November 16, 2024 – CLOSED
- Sunday, February 2, 2025 – CLOSED
- Monday, February 17, 2025 (President's Day) – CLOSED
- Sunday, February 23, 2025 – CLOSED
- Saturday, March 1, 2025 – OPEN
- Saturday, March 2, 2025 – OPEN
After the March 2 deadline, scholarship awards are no longer available, but students interested in a music major at OWU may still audition before May 1. Students may also pursue a music major without a spring audition by choosing fall courses typical of a first-semester music major and auditioning for the music faculty by the end of the fall semester. (The first-semester jury often serves as the audition.)
Audition Requirements
Only students who have applied and been admitted to OWU are permitted to audition for merit awards.
In-person auditions are 10 minutes in length, followed by an interview with Performing Arts faculty. If your performance exceeds 10 minutes, please be advised that pieces may not be heard in their entirety. If submitting a video recording, all works should be performed in full. However, in either case, appropriate cuts should be made to the piano accompaniment part so that the soloist is not idle for more than about 20 seconds.
Applicants for the performance minor scholarship may prepare either one or two pieces from the requirements list. For instrumentalists, if only one piece is offered, it should be a non-etude work.
For more information, here is a tip sheet (PDF) for making recordings.
Theatre Scholarships
Scholarships of up to $7,500 are available for incoming theatre majors. The scholarship will be renewed each year for no more than four years provided the student:
- Maintains a major in theatre by enrolling in at least 2 courses in the department each year.
- Achieves a minimum GPA of 2.50
- Participates regularly in theatre productions
Scholarships are not available for Theatre minors.
Audition Requirements
Only students who have applied and been admitted to OWU are permitted to audition for merit awards.
The theatre audition will consist of a 1- to 2-minute monologue and/or presentation of a portfolio of original tech/design work, playwriting, or theatre research, followed by an interview with Performing Arts faculty. Auditions may be in-person or virtual, though we highly encourage the in-person experience. You will be contacted about scheduling after your scholarship application has been received.
Audition dates will close as soon as the schedule is filled, so please complete your application as soon as possible to hold a spot on one of our audition dates. All auditions must be completed by March 2, 2025. We strongly encourage in-person auditions when possible.
2024–2025 Audition Dates
- Saturday, November 16, 2024 – CLOSED
- Sunday, February 2, 2025 – CLOSED
- Monday, February 17, 2025 (President's Day) – CLOSED
- Sunday, February 23, 2025 – CLOSED
- Saturday, March 1, 2025 – OPEN
- Saturday, March 2, 2025 – OPEN
Dance Scholarships
Scholarships of up to $1,500 are available for incoming dance minors. The scholarship will be renewed each year for no more than four years provided the student:
- Maintains a minor in dance by enrolling in at least 1 course in the department each year
- Achieves a minimum GPA of 2.50
- Participates in the yearly dance concert
Audition Requirements
Only students who have applied and been admitted to OWU are permitted to audition for merit awards.
The audition consists of a 1- to 2-minute solo, followed by an interview with Performing Arts faculty. Auditions may be in-person or virtual, though we highly encourage the in-person experience. You will be contacted about scheduling after your scholarship application has been received.
Audition dates will close as soon as the schedule is filled, so please complete your application as soon as possible to hold a spot on one of our audition dates. All auditions must be completed by March 2, 2025. We strongly encourage in-person auditions when possible.
2024–2025 Audition Dates
- Saturday, November 16, 2024 – CLOSED
- Sunday, February 2, 2025 – CLOSED
- Monday, February 17, 2025 (President's Day) – CLOSED
- Sunday, February 23, 2025 – CLOSED
- Saturday, March 1, 2025 – OPEN
- Saturday, March 2, 2025 – OPEN
