Scholarships & Financial Aid

Blair Academy at Vanderbilt is committed to making the study of music possible for all qualified students. Due to the generosity of donors and trusts, Blair Academy awards nearly $400,000 in merit- and need-based scholarships annually. Read below for a full listing of scholarships. Auditions take place each spring; awards are made for the coming academic year. Limited funds may be available for new students at other times of the year. Contact registrar Rachel Hobbs for more information.

Youth scholarships

Potter Precollege Scholarships

Established in 1994 by the Potter Foundation, these scholarships are based on demonstrated financial need and significant talent and accomplishment. They provide partial tuition for private instruction and may be awarded on the basis of an audition with Blair faculty or, in some cases, upon the recommendation of an outside teacher. Some Potter awards are made to members of the Blair Children's Chorus, the Suzuki Program, and the Nashville Youth Orchestra Program, at the recommendation of the faculty.

Blair Guild Scholarships

These scholarships are awarded annually to precollege students who show a strong interest and ability in music, who have been recommended by their teachers, and who need financial assistance. Scholarships cover partial tuition for private instruction.

Myra Jackson Blair Senior Scholarships

These merit-based scholarships are awarded annually by Blair School of Music to outstanding high school students and middle school students who have been recommended by their teachers and who aspire to careers in music.

Auditions, held each spring, are adjudicated by faculty committees. Scholarships cover academic-year tuition for private instruction, classes in music theory and music history, chamber music, musicianship, and collaborative piano for pianists.

Myra Jackson Blair senior scholars must maintain at least a B average in each subject, perform in Honor Scholar recitals each semester, attend two professional, faculty or collegiate large ensemble concerts each semester, and perform in one outreach concert per semester. These scholarship students are encouraged to participate in the Certificate Program. Eligible instrumentalists are expected to audition for the Nashville Youth Orchestra Program, and pianists are expected to take Collaborative Piano or participate in chamber music for at least two semesters.

Please see the requirements page for additional details about how to qualify for and retain a senior scholarship.

Myra Jackson Blair Junior Scholarships

These honor scholarships are awarded annually by Blair School of Music to outstanding students in grades 5-7 who have been recommended by their teachers and are serious about their music and musical study.

Auditions, held each spring, are adjudicated by faculty committees. Scholarships cover academic-year tuition for private instruction.

Myra Jackson Blair junior scholars must maintain at least a B average in their lessons, attend one MJB Honor Scholar recital each semester, perform in an outreach recital each semester, and attend at least two professional or collegiate large ensemble concerts each semester. Students in grade 8 and older are not eligible for this award.

Please see the requirements page for additional details about how to qualify for and retain a junior scholarship.

Folk Instrument Scholarships

Awarded following auditions in the spring to students of fiddle, mandolin, dulcimer of banjo, these need-based scholarships provide financial assistance for private instruction tuition charges.

Jerome "Butch" Baldassari Scholarship

Established by Lelia Sinclair Baldassari in 2010 in honor of her husband, Jerome "Butch" Baldassari, a Blair School adjunct professor of mandolin from 1996 until his death in 2009, thich scholarship provides partial tuition for youth and adult students studying mandolin, fiddle or dulcimer.

Woodwind Scholarships

Awarded to woodwind students who demonstrate interest and ability, these need-based scholarships provide assistance for private instruction tuition charges.

Lois and Peter Fyfe Scholarship Fund

Established in 2016 from the estate of Lois and Peter Fyfe, this fund supports youth scholarships at the Blair School of Music.

Gilbert Memorial Scholarship

Established in 1998 in memory of Douglas A. Gilbert, a former Blair clarinet student, and his father, Robert J. Gilbert, a lifetime clarinet player and Blair supporter, this scholarship provides partial tuition for a clarinet student with at least one year of study at the Blair School.

Mary McClure Hotchkiss Scholarship

Established in 1987 by the will of Coleman A. Harwell in memory of his aunt, a distinguished pianist and teacher and a native of Lewisburg, Tenn., this scholarship provides a partial tuition award each semester. Preference is given to a piano student.

David Mazanec Memorial Scholarship

Established in memory of David Mazanec, a former Suzuki student, this need-based scholarship provides partial tuition for Suzuki violin and cello students in Book 4 or beyond. Students are eligible to apply after one year of participation in the Suzuki program at Blair.

William H. Moennig Memorial Scholarship

Established in 1986 by the family and friends of Willian H. Moennig, this scholarship provides partial tuition for private instruction to talented youth string students.

Samuel E. Stumpf Sr. Trumpet Scholarship

Established in 1998 in memory of Dr. Samuel E. Stumpf Sr. by his family and friends, this endowed scholarship provides tuition for students who are serious about their musical endeavors.

Amelie Throne Scholarship

Established in 1989 through a bequest from Elizabeth Binford Bergner, this scholarship provides partial tuition each semester for a piano student.

Jacqueline and Morris Wachs Scholarship for Piano and Strings

Established in 2001 by Morris Wachs and family, this scholarship is awarded annually to deserving piano and string students for study at Blair. Scholarships cover partial tuition for private instruction during the academic year.