Undergraduate and graduate students studying music can apply for the DAR Marian Anderson Legacy Scholarship starting Nov. 1. Sponsored by the National Society DAR, the scholarship provides a one-time $5,000 award to one student annually who is pursuing undergraduate or graduate study in music.
Marian Anderson (1897-1993) was a groundbreaking African American contral to and an inspiration for civil rights. “This scholarship pays tribute to Marian Anderson’s life, and the DAR seeks to honor her legacy through today’s aspiring musicians. Her legacy lives on in others who aim for excellence in musical studies, are committed to their communities, and willing to stand up for what is right,” said Pamela Wright, DAR President General.
Applicants should be accepted or currently enrolled in an accredited university or college in the United States and have a concentration in music in their course of study. Music performance, composition, theory, or education are all areas that students may be specialized in to qualify for the scholarship. They should have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or the equivalent GPA on the scale used by the institution.
Applications require references sent through the application system, so students need to request their references ahead of the Jan. 31st application deadline.
In honor of Ms. Anderson’s commitment to the community throughout her life and her willingness to share her incredible talent with the world, applicants are asked to write a personal statement describing their humanitarian or volunteer contributions on behalf of their community and/or country.
To recognize the city Marian Anderson called home, preference will be given to students from the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania metropolitan area, even if they are not pursuing music studies in the Philadelphia area. This scholarship is not automatically renewed. However, recipients may reapply for consideration each year for up to four consecutive years.
The scholarship is supported by the DAR’s Marian Anderson Legacy Fund. Learn more about the relationship between Marian Anderson and the DAR, and the organization’s on-going efforts to honor her memory at www.dar.org/MarianAnderson
