Scholarship General Information

For several decades, the Santa Barbara Music Club Scholarships have provided support to deserving instrumental and vocal music students from Santa Barbara County. The scholarships are made possible by the generosity of our donors who wish to provide aid and encouragement to outstanding music students from local schools and teaching studios that show promise of becoming our future soloists, orchestral musicians, opera singers, and other music professionals. Success stories from past scholarship winners testify to the importance of this support and vote of confidence in these formative stages of their careers.

NOTE: This year, applicants will be able to email their applications. Please see instructions below.

Download the application here.

1. APPLICATION DEADLINE: Application packages must be postmarked OR EMAILED toscholarships@sbmusicclub.org no later than SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2026. There will be no exceptions, in fairness to all. If you are mailing close to the deadline, we strongly recommend getting your package postmarked in person at the Post Office, OR EMAILING at least 1 day in advance of the deadline; otherwise there is no guarantee your package will be postmarked/received the same day you mail it.
2. AUDITION DATE and LOCATION: Auditions will be held Saturday, April 11, 2026 between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM, and Sunday, April 12, 2026 between 12:00 PM and 4:00 PM at the First Congregational Church of Santa Barbara (2101 State Street at Padre). All applicants must audition in person.
3. AGE LIMITS (at time of application due date): Instrumental: 23 years; Vocal: 26 years.
4. RESIDENCE ELIGIBILITY: Scholarship eligibility is limited to those whose permanent address is in Santa Barbara County. Applicants coming from outside the county to attend college in Santa Barbara County are not eligible. Applicants must currently be studying in, or have graduated from, pre-college schools within the Santa Barbara County, including homeschooling. P.O. Box addresses on the application form are not acceptable.

5. PROFICIENCY ELIGIBILITY: Applicants must have completed a minimum of 3 years of private study and have achieved at least an intermediate level of proficiency. Although the Santa Barbara Music Club (SBMC) wishes to foster and encourage a love for music in all ages and levels of advancement, we ask that for scholarship consideration and auditions, teachers use discretion and avoid submitting students who have not yet become secure with fundamental facility in pitch, tone production, and technique on their instruments, regardless of their age.

   Applicants most deserving of a scholarship award are those who perform above the expected level for their age and demonstrate a consistent rate of progress when reapplying in successive years.

6. LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION: A letter of recommendation from the applicant’s current primary teacher is required. The letter must be signed and placed in a sealed envelope and mailed, and must either be included with the application package or mailed separately by the applicant’s teacher by the application deadline. Emailed recommendations will not be accepted.
7. DETERMINATIONS: Scholarships are awarded based primarily on merit and secondarily on financial need. Eligibility and award amount will be determined solely by the SBMC Scholarship Committee.
8. EDUCATION and USE OF FUNDS: Applicants should be in the process of pursuing their musical education and currently taking private lessons. Scholarship funds are primarily for tuition and should be used to further musical education. Travel, instruments and related expenses will also be considered at the discretion of the Scholarship Committee.

9. REPERTOIRE: If an applicant has previously auditioned for the SBMC, new repertoire must be presented each year. Each musical selection must be at least 2 minutes in length. Audition time slot durations will be 8 minutes maximum; therefore, plan repertoire accordingly.

   NOTE: Selections longer than 8 minutes are acceptable with the following options: applicant may use planned cuts to reduce performance time, or; applicant may allow the judges to decide when to stop and possibly restart the piece in a different place. Most importantly, applicant must be prepared to play the entire selection.

   Requirements are:

   • Instrumental: Two contrasting works from different historical periods.
     Please Note: for pianists only, concertos are not accepted as audition repertoire.
   • Vocal: Two contrasting works, in different languages and different historical periods.
10. ACCOMPANIST: Applicants are responsible for securing and paying their own accompanist.If one needs referrals for accompanists, please contact the SBMC Scholarship Committee.
11. ONE AUDITION PER APPLICANT: Each applicant is allowed one audition slot, on one instrument or voice. Applicants cannot audition on more than one instrument.

Questions? Contact the SBMC Scholarship Committee at: scholarships@sbmusicclub.org

Download the application here.

You can view past scholarship recipients here.