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Scholarships & Financial Aid

Blair Academy at Vanderbilt is committed to making the study of music possible for all qualified students. The scholarship program was established by the founders of the school in 1965. Auditions take place each spring; awards are made for the coming academic year. Financial assistance is not available for adults (over the age of 19 or has graduated from high school) enrolled in the Academy. Need-based scholarships may be awarded to new students at other times of the year. See the Blair Academy Handbook or contact Elm Stephenson, the Academy registrar, for more information.

If you are not a current Blair Academy student and are looking for scholarship information, please contact the Academy registrar, Elm Stephenson.

Departmental Audition Requirements

All auditions for 2027-2028 scholarships will be held live in the spring semester. Scholarship application information will be available in early Spring 2027.

Please note: Vanderbilt Youth Choirs and Vanderbilt Youth Orchestras scholarship applications are separate. Please talk to your ensemble instructor for further information.

  • Brass

    Please prepare two contrasting etudes or passages of solo pieces (5-7 minutes).

  • Guitar

    Please prepare two contrasting works. Together, these two pieces should be a minimum of five minutes in length. Please bring a copy of your repertoire to your audition.

  • Harp

    Please prepare two contrasting pieces (5-7 minutes).

  • Jazz

    Please prepare two pieces of contrasting style. Selections must include multiple choruses of improvisation.

  • Organ

    Organ: Please prepare to play 7-10 minutes of music. Students are recommended to have 4-5 years of piano instruction.

  • Percussion

    Please prepare a two-mallet or four-mallet marimba solo or etude (4-7 minutes), and a concert snare drum solo or etude (2-5 minutes).

  • Piano (Current Grade 6 and Below)

    Please prepare two contrasting pieces from two contrasting eras. Music must be memorized.

  • Piano (Current Grade 7-11)

    Please prepare two contrasting pieces from two contrasting eras. Music must be memorized.

  • Strings

    Please prepare one piece or two contrasting pieces, at the student's discretion.

  • Suzuki Strings

    Pre-twinkle students: please perform one activity determined with the teacher
    Book 1 students: please perform one piece
    Book 2 and above: please perform two contrasting pieces

  • Voice

    Please perform two pieces that demonstrate current vocal ability. At least one piece must either be an art song or a folk song arrangement, the second piece can be chosen from the following styles: art song, folk song arrangement, solo portion of a choral piece, hymn arrangement, classical musical theater (no belt), or American song book jazz standard. Selections may be performed with an accompaniment track, or a live accompaniment.  Students must provide their own pianists if they intend to audition with live accompaniment. Applicants must be at least 16 years old by September 1, 2025, and either a junior or senior in high school. Students must be able to read music well enough to learn music on their own.

  • Woodwinds

    Please prepare two contrasting pieces, no more than 8 minutes in length.

If you have questions regarding your scholarship application, contact registrar Elm Stephenson at 615-322-7655 or via email. If you are not a current Blair Academy student and are looking for scholarship information, please contact the Academy registrar, Elm Stephenson.

MJB-4

Myra Jackson Blair and Gilbert Memorial Senior Scholarship

  • Private Study and Class Responsibilities
    • Private lesson requirements
      • A grade of ‘B’ or higher
      • Active participation in lessons
      • Regular practice as assigned
      • Punctuality and excellent attendance
    • Class requirements
      • Music Theory (2 years) with a grade of ‘B’ of higher
      • Music History (2 years, beginning in grade 9) with a grade of ‘B’ of higher
      • Active class participation and completion of homework assignments
      • Punctuality and excellent attendance
    • Required Attendance
      • MJB Fall Orientation
      • One scheduled MJB event per semester as scheduled by Dr Ebin, Director of the MJB Program
      • Demonstrate attendance at two concerts a semester
    • Ensemble Requirements
      • Instrumental students are required to participate in the Vanderbilt Youth Orchestras program as appropriate
      • Voice students are required to participate in Vanderbilt Youth Choirs program
      • Piano students are required to enroll in Collaborative Piano or Chamber Music for at least two
        semesters.
    • Musicianship Studio and Chamber Music
      • These courses are optional and highly valuable (the scholarship covers full tuition for both courses).
  • Scholarship Recital Performance Requirements
    • All Myra Jackson Blair scholarship students are required to perform a solo on one scholarship recital in the fall semester. The recital serves as the student’s jury.
    • In the spring semester, all graduating seniors will perform on the Senior Graduation Recital. All MJBs are required to attend this recital.
  • Faculty Recitals/Concerts
    • All scholarship students are required to attend at least two ticketed concerts at the Blair School of Music per semester. Please send a picture of your ticket to Dr. Ebin at zachary.ebin@vanderbilt.edu.
    • Attendance must be in person at the Blair School of Music. Livestream concerts are
      encouraged, however, they do not count toward mandatory concert attendance.
    • This also counts toward the Certificate Program. Certificate Program requirements can be found in the Blair Academy Student Handbook.
  • Grades

    Each student will receive a grade for private lessons and classes at the end of the semester. Students must maintain a grade average of "B" or better in private lessons and each class in which the student is enrolled. A student will be put on probation at mid-semester if their grade in lessons or any classes is B-minus or below. At the end of the term, if the student's grade or grades are not up to the required level, the scholarship may be rescinded.

  • Scholarship Renewal

    Scholarships are not guaranteed, nor are they renewed automatically. Students must audition
    each year. The Faculty Audition Committee will base its decision on the student's progress
    throughout the year, scholarship audition, participation in classes, recital attendance, and MJB event participation.

  • Additional Opportunities

    Myra Jackson Blair Scholars are afforded the opportunity to study Chamber Music and
    Musicianship Studio as indicated on their scholarship award letter. These are optional for all students, except pianists who are required to take 2 semesters of Chamber Music OR
    Collaborative Piano.

If you interested in learning more about the Blair School of Music collegiate program, click here.