School of Music Scholarships

Music scholarships are available through audition and are talent-based scholarships.

School of Music Scholarships

These scholarships are given to full-time undergraduate students in music who maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better. Students will be given consideration if they have been accepted into the School of Music, have completed a Scholarship Application Form, and have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. The School of Music Scholarships are merit-based, rather than need-based. The number of scholarships and their amount varies from year to year. Students are selects selected based on the current needs of the School of Music. Students who receive this scholarship are required to maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better, serve the School of Music in several music service capacities, and be available for fundraising and public relations activities of the School of Music.

Institutional Scholarships

These scholarships are provided to the School of Music by Florida International University and given to full-time undergraduates who maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better. Students will be given consideration if they have been accepted into the School of Music, have completed a Scholarship Application Form, and have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. The current total per year is $100,000. Awards are allocated based on the needs to our various curricular areas, and students who receive this scholarship are required to maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better, serve the School of Music in several music service capacities, and be available for fundraising and public relations activities of the School of Music.

Undergraduate Presser Scholar Award

The Presser Undergraduate Scholar Award is considered one of the most prestigious awards in music at FIU and is provided by the Presser Foundation that awards annual scholarships, grants, and funds for the furthering of music education and music in America. The award is presented to a student entering his/her senior year who has shown extraordinary musical and academic accomplishments who has been nominated by Herbert and Nicole Wertheim School of Music & Performing Arts faculty. The award winner receives a one-time monetary stipend and is designated as a Presser Scholar.

Mike Orta Jazz Piano Scholarships

The Mike Orta Jazz Piano Scholarship is awarded to any undergraduate or graduate music student that is a jazz piano performance major or principal. The scholarship is a merit based award rather than need base, however financial considerations are also reviewed for determination of award amount based on audition and scoring of audition results. Recipients provide service to the School of Music each semester the scholarship is offered. This may involve performing in an extra ensemble, performing for a special FIU event, or performing a music-oriented community service in the public schools. The requirements for the scholarship are as follows:

  • Be registered as a jazz piano performance major or principal
  • Student must be a full-time music major
  • Complete a scholarship interest request form
  • Maintain a 3.0 GPA
  • The scholarship will be provided for no more than four (4) years for entering freshman and. no more than two (2) years for a transfer student.
  • Student must show progress towards graduation.

Kenneth G.& Adele Neumann Music Scholarships

These scholarships are given to full-time undergraduate and graduate students in music who maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better. The number of scholarships and their amount varies from year to year. Recipients provide service to the School of Music each semester the scholarship is offered. This may involve performing in an extra ensemble, performing for special FIU or School of Music events as requested, or performing a music-oriented community service in the public schools.

Wertheim Scholarships

Dr. Wertheim has been active in service to the Miami community since 1967 and has made substantial contributions to many charitable organizations and to Florida International University.

He has been a member of the FlU Board of Trustees since its establishment in 2000 and served as Chairman of the Board of Directors and Board member of the FlU Foundation from 1988 through 2001. He also served as chairman and vice chair of The Campaign for FlU, which raised more than $200 million. Dr. Wertheim and his wife Nicole have made gifts of more than $1 million to the University’s music, theatre, and dance programs. The gifts helped construct, equip, furnish and fund scholarships at the Herbert and Nicole Wertheim Performing Arts Center at FlU. The Wertheim Concert Hall also received an additional gift of almost $1 million for the concert organ donated in remembrance of his mother Sydell Ida Wertheim. The Wertheim Foundation also donated funds to construct and landscape FlU’s magnificent Wertheim Plant Research and Teaching Conservatory and adjacent case study lecture hall. Read more.

Kenneth G.& Adele Neumann Music Scholarships

These scholarships are given to full-time undergraduate and graduate students in music who maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better. The number of scholarships and their amount varies from year to year. Recipients provide service to the School of Music each semester the scholarship is offered. This may involve performing in an extra ensemble, performing for special FIU or School of Music events as requested, or performing a music-oriented community service in the public schools.

Felix Memorial Music School Endowment

These scholarships are given to full-time graduate students in music who maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better. All graduate students who are accepted into the School of Music are automatically considered. There is no application. These are merit-based, rather than need-based. The number of scholarships and their amount varies from year to year. Students are selects based on the current needs of the School of Music. Recipients provide service to the School of Music each semester the scholarship is offered. This may involve performing in an extra ensemble, performing for a special FIU event, or performing a music-oriented community service in the public schools.

Spector-Lieff Music School Endowment

These scholarships are given to full-time graduate students in music who maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better. The number of scholarships and their amount varies from year to year. Students are selects based on the current needs of the School of Music. Recipients provide service to the School of Music each semester the scholarship is offered. This may involve performing in an extra ensemble, performing for a special FIU event, or performing a music-oriented community service in the public schools.

Institutional Scholarships

These are given by the College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts Dean’s office. The current total per year is $100,000. These are given to full-time undergraduates who maintain a 3.0 GPA or better. Awards are allocated based on the needs to our various curricular areas, and recipients are expected to provide music service.

Herbert Wertheim Performing Arts School Endowment

These scholarships are given to full-time graduate students in music who maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better. All graduate students who are accepted into the School of Music are automatically considered. These are merit-based, rather than need-based. The number of scholarships and their amount varies from year to year. Students are selects based on the current needs of the School of Music. Recipients provide service to the School of Music each semester the scholarship is offered. This may involve performing in an extra ensemble, performing for a special FIU event, or performing a music-oriented community service in the public schools.

FIU Arts Council Music School Endowment

These scholarships are given to full-time graduate students in music who maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better. All graduate students who are accepted into the School of Music are automatically considered. There is no application. These are merit-based, rather than need-based. The number of scholarships and their amount varies from year to year. Students are selects based on the current needs of the School of Music. Recipients provide service to the School of Music each semester the scholarship is offered. This may involve performing in an extra ensemble, performing for a special FIU event, or performing a music-oriented community service in the public schools.

School of Music Faculty Scholarship

These scholarships are given to full-time graduate students in music who maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better. These are merit-based, rather than need-based. The number of scholarships and their amount varies from year to year. Students are selects based on the current needs of the School of Music. Recipients provide service to the School of Music each semester the scholarship is offered. This may involve performing in an extra ensemble, performing for a special FIU event, or performing a music-oriented community service in the public schools.

Joel Glaser String Scholarship

These scholarships are given to full-time graduate students in music who maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better. These are merit-based, rather than need-based. The number of scholarships and their amount varies from year to year. Students are selects based on the current needs of the School of Music. Recipients provide service to the School of Music each semester the scholarship is offered. This may involve performing in an extra ensemble, performing for a special FIU event, or performing a music-oriented community service in the public schools.

Jazz Studies Program

These scholarships are given to full-time graduate students in music who maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better. These are merit-based, rather than need-based. The number of scholarships and their amount varies from year to year. Students are selects based on the current needs of the School of Music. Recipients provide service to the School of Music each semester the scholarship is offered. This may involve performing in an extra ensemble, performing for a special FIU event, or performing a music-oriented community service in the public schools.

Nancy and David Uber Music Scholarship

The amount of $1000 will be awarded to a full-time student in the School of Music (minimum of 9 credits). Applicants must submit a 90- 120 second video demonstrating musical talent (recorded to CD/DVD). Scholarship guidelines: All recipients must have a minimum 2.0 GPA, be a US citizen, and write an essay of 150 words or less on their aspirations.

Johnny Mercer Foundation Fellowships in Music Education

The fellowship is offered by the Herbert and Nicole Wertheim School of Music & Performing Arts in partnership with the Johnny Mercer Foundation, awarding two to four graduate students in the Music Education program with tuition waiver and stipend. Graduate fellows design curriculum units focusing on American popular music 1900-1950.

FIU Financial Aid

Through the Office of Scholarships, FIU students can browse and apply for more than 100 scholarships made possible by the generosity of FIU alumni and friends who want to provide you with the funds you need to be WorldsAhead.

Features also include:

  • Profiles to keep track of your scholarship applications.
  • Scholarship recommendations based on your profile details.
  • Ability to request recommendation letters and track letter status.

So start your scholarship application today. It’s as simple as one, two, three!

  1. Login at fiu.academicworks.com with your My Accounts username and password. (You must be currently enrolled.)
  1. Fill out the general scholarship application. AcademicWorks will search our database of awards and recommend scholarships you may be eligible to apply for. Some will automatically enter you into the applicant pool; others may need you to answer additional questions.
  1. Bookmark and check back frequently, as new scholarships are continually added. Also, browse our “external” scholarships list that provides direct links to outside scholarship websites.

Need other forms of financial aid?

Contact FIU’s Financial Aid Office. Here, you will be able to contact a financial aid administrator who will be well equipped to answer your questions. It maintains a list of invaluable resources that will help you better understand what type of aid is available to you and how to apply. These opportunities include loans, grants, scholarships, federal work study programs and more.

As a graduate student at FIU, you have access to a number of tools and resources that enable you to pursue both internal and external options for funding your graduate studies. The list of resources included below while not exhaustive, provides you with a snapshot of our fellowship programs. We encourage you to review these options and to avail yourself of additional funding resources, such as financial aid and graduate assistantships, which are listed below. Click here for their Funding Brochure. 

Fellowships
The University Graduate School is committed to excellence in graduate education and is proud to offer fellowship opportunities for new and continuing students. It is important to note that funding for the fellowships is limited and very competitive. To be considered for specific awards, it is critical that you submit a complete application prior to the stated deadline.

Graduate Assistantships
Colleges and Departments at Florida International University provide Graduate Assistantships to qualified students on a competitive basis. Assistantships may vary in assignment, from teaching to conducting research to obtaining practical experience in your field of study. The assistantships typically provide a stipend and tuition waiver benefits to students. Should you be interested in pursuing a graduate assistantship, please contact the graduate program into which you are enrolling to inquire about available opportunities.

Financial Aid
Students interested in applying for loans or externally funded need-based awards should visit the Office of Financial Aid websiteand complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is available January 1 each year.

Office of Scholarships and Fellowships: The FIU Office of Scholarships and Fellowships is also a great resource for graduate students who are seeking funding opportunities through the University-wide Scholarship program and other internal and external resources. To learn more about those opportunities, click here.

Cost of Attendance
For updated information on tuition and fees and cost of attendance, please visit the OneStop office website.