Fine and Performing Arts Scholarships

Southwestern Michigan College has generous scholarship programs for Fine and Performing Arts. Performance scholarships are available for for students in the most recent high school graduating class, based on students’ performance in the area(s) of band, choir, dance, fine arts, and theatre. Half tuition scholarships are available to students focusing on career in performing arts.

Fine and Performing Arts Scholarships are renewable for up to four semesters. They are available for Fall and Winter Semesters only. Follow the Related Link to a printer friendly PDF formatted scholarship application on the left.

Returning students may also apply for SMC Restricted Endowed Scholarships reserved specifically for students in the Fine and Performing Arts.

To be eligible for Performing Arts Scholarships, an audition is required. Performing Arts Scholarships are awarded to majors and non-majors. Music auditions may be scheduled either at Southwestern or at the student’s high school.

A portfolio review is required to be eligible for Fine Arts (Visual Arts) scholarships. These are offered to Art majors only. The deadline to audition for Performing Arts Scholarships is March 31. See below for portfolio review deadlines. Contact the appropriate instructor to schedule an audition or portfolio review.

Contact SMC’s Financial Aid Office for information on additional scholarship opportunities or visit the Financial Aid area of the SMC Web site. To contact the Financial Aid, call (269) 782-1313.

For further information about attending Southwestern Michigan College, visit the Enrollment Management Web site linked on this page.

Audition Requirements

Bands
A prepared solo or etude is preferred. It is also acceptable to perform an excerpt from a selection for band performed with the student's high school band. Any student who performed a solo at the current year's District Solo & Ensemble Festival and received a Division I rating does not need to audition, but a scholarship application must still be submitted. Confirmation of the Division I rating by the student's high school band director is required.

Choirs
Audition will include a prepared song (to be selected by the student), a short vocal assessment and sight-reading excerpt.

Dance
Each student receives an individual audition involving a technical assessment of alignment, flexibility and basic skills. Students should bring music and short movement sample to demonstrate. For the audition wear leotard and tights, have hair up and all jewelry removed. Bring ballet slippers (no pointe shoes) or a pair of socks. Students with previous tap experience should also bring tap shoes. Students should plan to arrive 15 minutes prior to the scheduled audition time in order to warm-up and prepare.

Theatre
Two, one minute monologues (non-musicals), 1940 to present, and the pieces must be contrasting) for example, one dramatic and one comedic). Also, prepare 16 bars from a Broadway musical with sheet music clearly marked for accompanist and dress appropriately.

Visual Arts Portfolio Review

Visual arts scholarships are based on and interview with the applicant. At that interview we look at a portfolio of 12-15 pieces of the student’s art and ask them to provide a grade transcript. Applicants should apply by Nov. 1 for enrollment the following Fall semester. We also have a late application period in March.