Fine Arts Scholarships are awarded to those prospective admitted students who show outstanding talent and/or achievements in visual art (all mediums), music (all types) or theatre (acting or tech/design). Recipients receive a $5,000 tuition-specific scholarship (renewable for up to four years). Recipients do not need to major or minor in the arts to be eligible for this scholarship.
Scholarship Requirements
- Recipients must maintain satisfactory academic progress while enrolled at Kalamazoo College.
- Recipients must actively participate in their craft each year
Art: Recipients must take at least one studio art class while at K. Further participation in the art and art history department activities is also highly encouraged.
Music: Participation in one of the College’s ensembles related to your audition, for at least two terms per year.
Theatre: Participation might include, but is not limited to, taking theatre classes, auditioning for productions, or working on technical crews. Participation is required for at least two of the three terms each year.
- Recipients must meet with the respective department (art and art history, music or theatre) within their first term to discuss how they intend to satisfy their participation requirements.
- Students who are receiving a full tuition scholarship through programs such as Kalamazoo Promise, Bearcat Advantage, Heyl, or Posse may apply and their submission will be evaluated but winners will not receive a financial award.
Scholarship Application Timeline
| Scholarship Submission Deadline | January 31 |
| Scholarship Decisions Release Date | Late February |
How to Apply
Students may only apply for one Fine Arts Scholarship. Identify your passion and wow us with your application! Details on how to apply for each program are below:
Visual Arts Scholarships
- Complete your application for admission to K through the Common Application.
- Login to your Application Status Page after your application for admission is complete.
- Click on the fine arts scholarships link on the lower right by scrolling down the status page.
- Submit a current resume featuring your study of art, teachers, productions, competitions, awards and/or artistic leadership.
- Submit a portfolio containing 10 images of your previous works and a list featuring your art study, visual art activities, competitions, awards and artistic leadership experiences.
Portfolio: In the same PDF document as your list of art activities, include 10 images of your previous works.
Images should be jpegs of 1500 pixels on the longest side, and each piece should be labeled with title, medium and size. Email Tom Rice Tom.Rice@kzoo.edu with any questions.
The easiest way to assemble your portfolio is to create a Microsoft Word document with embedded images and then save as a single PDF.
Music Scholarships
- Complete your application for admission to K through the Common Application.
- Login to your Application Status Page after your application for admission is complete.
- Click on the fine arts scholarships link on the lower right by scrolling down the status page.
- Submit a current resume featuring your music study, e.g. teachers, ensembles, competitions, awards and artistic leadership.
- Audition using two or more contrasting works (e.g., aria and art song; a lyrical movement and a more technical one; a jazz standard and an original tune, etc.) illustrating the breadth and quality of applicant’s technical and artistic achievements.
Applicant audition can be submitted in one of two ways:
Live auditions (conducted in-person or remotely): To arrange an audition, contact the appropriate person in the music department, listed below.
- Strings, Woodwinds, Brass, and Percussion: Andrew Koehler, Andrew.Koehler@kzoo.edu
- Piano: Susan Lawrence, Susan.Lawrence@kzoo.edu
- Vocals and Musicians not otherwise fitting into the categories above: Christopher Ludwa, Christopher.Ludwa@kzoo.edu
Unedited audio or video file uploaded online: Ten minute selection featuring you alone. A recording of you as part of an ensemble is highly discouraged. When recording files, please use the highest quality video and audio devices available to you. The submission should be recorded as if you are at a live audition. We discourage providing links to videos posted to YouTube or other similar platforms.
Note: Although all submissions for music scholarships will receive equal consideration, live auditions are strongly preferred.
Theatre Scholarships
- Complete your application for admission to K through the Common Application.
- Login to your Application Status Page after your application for admission is complete.
- Click on the fine arts scholarships link on the lower right by scrolling down the status page.
- Submit a current resume featuring your theatre study, teachers, productions, competitions, awards and/or artistic leadership.
- Then submit either a portfolio (for design and technical applicants) or an audition (for acting applicants).
Portfolio: Attach proof and final designs of the previous sets, productions, or independent projects you have worked on in your application; email Lanny Potts Lanny.Potts@kzoo.edu with any questions.
Audition: There are no live auditions. Please record and submit in your application two memorized, contrasting monologues.
Selecting your Monologues:
- Choose single-character monologues.
- Refrain from impersonating several characters talking with each other.
- Try to find a character within your range (age, personality, type, etc.).
- It is best to do a character from a play rather than a screenplay for film or television.
- Make sure you read the whole play if your piece is from a book of monologues. Select monologues you find exciting.
- Have an acting teacher or drama coach evaluate your pieces before you submit your work.
- Also, do not choose a piece that requires a dialect.
Recording Guidelines:
- The total time of both monologues must not exceed four minutes.
- Introduce each piece only by giving the name of the character, play and author (E.g., “Hello, my name is Jane Doe. Today I will perform Betty from Venegar Tom by Caryl Churchill, and Viola from Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare.”
- Please do not give any other information about the character or the plot of the play.
