Financial Aid & Scholarships

Financial Aid

Applications for all MacPhail Center for Music metro sites and online as well as for Austin, MN for the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school year are now being accepted.

Financial aid is available to qualifying students in the form of reduced tuition. Awards are determined on a sliding scale. View the financial aid grid.

For questions regarding our financial aid program please feel free to contact Student Services at 612.321.0100.

2023-2024 School Year & Summer Camp Application

Applications are processed on an ongoing basis and will be considered while funds are available.

Financial aid is available to qualifying students at MacPhail’s Twin Cities metro sites and online in the form of reduced tuition. Awards are determined on a sliding scale that considers family financial resources and the number of dependents.

  • Aid is limited to one activity per semester for new students
  • Aid is granted for the year from fall through summer semesters
  • Reapplication is required for each new academic year

For questions regarding the financial aid program in the Twin Cities metro area or online, please contact student services at 612-321-0100 or via email.

For questions regarding the financial aid program in Austin, please contact Cheryl Berglund at 507.396.6730 or via email.

Minnesota Afterschool Advance (MAA) helps Minnesota families who meet income requirements pay for educational afterschool programs including music lessons at MacPhail. MAA pays 75%* of the eligible education expenses for activities, up to $1,000 per child in grades K-12. This will help pay for approximately 30 half-hour lessons per year ($43 per half-hour lesson), which is the equivalent of an academic year.

How to get started:

1. Fill out this online application to determine eligibility. Please fill out a separate application for each participating student. ​

2. The application will be reviewed. You will receive an email with eligibility results.

3. If eligibility is determined, choose MacPhail Center for Music in your acceptance email’s list of current offerings. You will then fill out a questionnaire for music lesson placement.

4. Pay the required family contribution of 25%*. Then, MAA will add its 75% to the child’s account.

*Funds may be available to assist with the family’s 25% as well.

More information about After School Advance

Minnesota Afterschool Advance logo: State of Minnesota filled in with neon green with a blue arrow pointing to the right.

Scholarships

MacPhail offers scholarships for instrumental and voice study. Awards are given to students of all ages and varying amounts.

Scholarship auditions and applications will be submitted online using the Get Acceptd portal. The portal will open on April 15, 2023. Applications are due by June 19, 2023 at 11:59 PM. 

Prelude and Jazz Scholarship Auditions will take place at the same time as the auditions for the Prelude Program (August) and the Jazz Combos (September). 

The 2023-24 Scholarships Brochure (PDF) details the scholarships, amounts and application requirements.

Additional Scholarships: The Elizabeth Dreuding Voice Scholarship; The Peter Jackson Guitar Scholarship

For additional information about the scholarships and donors please scroll down to the Scholarships and Named Funds link.

Questions: Check our Scholarship FAQ document

Need an accompanist? Complete the MacPhail Staff Accompanist Request Form

Interested in applying for a scholarship go to https://app.getacceptd.com/signup . You’ll be asked to create an account. Once you create an account you can search for MacPhail and apply online.

This scholarship is open to students of all religious faiths who intend to use their music in religious practice and/or worship.

Application requirements:

  • A video recording of two performances featuring two contrasting styles of music
    This must be a recent performance, either public or private
    The combined length of the video must not exceed eight (8) minutes of music
  • A scanned PDF of the music/score for each piece performed in the audition video
  • A Letter of Recommendation. Teachers will need to complete an online form on behalf of the student. Once the student applies, the recommendation form will be e-mailed to the teacher’s e-mail address listed in the application.
  • A written essay by the student discussing the importance of music, and how that music will be used in the student’s religious practice/worship.

For composers of all ages, this scholarship is for composition study based on the quality of original music submitted, potential as a composer, recommendation, and personal interest in music.

Application requirements:

  • A composition dossier consisting of at least two separate compositions featuring different instrumentation/ensembles
  • Audio recordings. While not required, students can submit audio recordings of their compositions
  • A Letter of Recommendation. Teachers will need to complete an online form on behalf of the student. Once the student applies, the recommendation form will be e-mailed to the teacher’s e-mail address listed in the application.
  • A written essay by the student describing their interest in the composition scholarship and what the student hopes to accomplish from composition study.

Awarded to students with financial need, as demonstrated by review of the student or parent’s most recent Federal Income Tax forms. Awards are granted to students who demonstrate a commitment to their music studies and financial need. Awards vary in amount and all are applied to one full academic year (fall and spring) for individual instruction. Some scholarships specify an age range and are awarded to individual instruments.

Application requirements:

  • A video recording of two performances featuring two contrasting styles of music
    This must be a recent performance, either public or private
    The combined length of the video must not exceed eight (8) minutes of music
    Please note: two of MacPhail’s need-based scholarship do NOT require a performance audition: Roy and Virginia Genaw Memorial Piano Scholarship and Shin Tanaka Memorial Piano Scholarship. All other need-based scholarships require an audition video. Please see the 2023-24 MacPhail Scholarships & Named Funds Brochure for complete information for each scholarship’s requirements.
  • A scanned PDF of the music/score for each piece performed in the audition video
  • A Letter of Recommendation. Teachers will need to complete an online form on behalf of the student. Once the student applies, the recommendation form will be e-mailed to the teacher’s e-mail address listed in the application.

The online application process through GetAcceptd accepts most commonly used file formats as well as video and audio formats, including MIDI files.

Any questions about scholarships can be directed to SooJin Lee, Student Performance Coordinator.

Instrument Lessons Scholarships are awarded to students who demonstrate a high level of artistic and musical merit in their audition. Students should have significant performance experience and the desire to be an engaged MacPhail student.  
 
Application requirements: 

  • A video recording of two performances featuring two contrasting styles of music  
  • This must be a recent performance, either public or private 
  • The combined length of the video must not exceed eight (8) minutes of music 
  • A scanned PDF of the music/score for each piece performed in the audition video 
  • A Letter of Recommendation. Teachers will need to complete an online form behalf of the student. Once the student applies, the recommendation form will be e-mailed to the teacher’s e-mail address listed in the application. 

The online application process through GetAcceptd accepts most commonly used file formats as well as video and audio formats, including MIDI files. 

Any questions about scholarships can be directed to SooJin Lee, Student Performance Coordinator. 

Voice Lessons Scholarships are awarded to students who demonstrate a high level of artistic and musical merit in their audition. Students should have significant performance experience and the desire to be an engaged MacPhail student.  
 
Application requirements: 

  • A video recording of two performances featuring two contrasting styles of music  
  • This must be a recent performance, either public or private 
  • The combined length of the video must not exceed eight (8) minutes of music 
  • A scanned PDF of the music/score for each piece performed in the audition video 
  • A Letter of Recommendation. Teachers will need to complete an online form behalf of the student. Once the student applies, the recommendation form will be e-mailed to the teacher’s e-mail address listed in the application. 

The online application process through GetAcceptd accepts most commonly used file formats as well as video and audio formats, including MIDI files. 

Any questions about scholarships can be directed to SooJin Lee, Student Performance Coordinator. 

Jazz Scholarships are available by audition only and are awarded to students demonstrating exceptional performance ability and considerable performance experience. 

Application requirements 

  • Student must complete the Jazz Application. Please check the box on the Jazz Application if you are interested in auditioning for a Jazz Scholarship. The application can be found on the Jazz webpage. 
  • Complete an in-person audition. See the Jazz webpage for audition requirements. 

Prelude Scholarships are available by audition only and are awarded to students demonstrating exceptional performance ability and commitment to music study. 

Application Requirements 

  • Student must complete the Prelude Application. Please check the box on the Prelude Application if you are interested in auditioning for a Prelude Scholarship. The application can be found on the Prelude page.
  • Complete an in-person audition. See the Prelude webpage for audition requirements. 

Scholarships and Named Funds

Creating and naming gift funds provides a meaningful way for donors to pay tribute to loved ones, friends and mentors, and is a source of vital support for MacPhail.

  • A minimum initial gift of $5,000 is required to create and name a current expendable fund.
  • A minimum initial gift of $25,000 is required to create and name a permanent endowed fund.

MacPhail is grateful to donors for enabling scholarships and programming now and in the years ahead. If you’re interested in exploring scholarships and named funds, please contact Christine Vander Hook or call 612.767.5309

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