Filene Music Program Scholarships
APPLY FOR A FILENE SCHOLARSHIP
Thanks to the generosity of the Lincoln and Therese Filene Foundation and the Ladd Charitable Corporation, the Filene Music Program has been a signature part of Skidmore College for more than 35 years. The program supports exceptional student scholar-musicians who are free to pursue any course of study at Skidmore.
Four to six Filene Scholarship winners are selected annually at the Filene Music Competition, each of whom receives $80,000 over four years, in addition to free private lessons.
The scholarship package—$20,000 per year toward tuition, plus lesson fees—is awarded independent of any additional need-based aid. Financial aid applicants who demonstrate financial need will receive Skidmore grant aid in addition to their scholarships.
You can get some idea of how your musical interests might develop at Skidmore, along with information about the Filene competition, in the this PDF of the Filene Scholarship Brochure.
Filene scholars can major in any discipline, and we make no assumptions about their future careers. They are expected only to continue to develop their music skills through private instruction and participation in department ensembles.
Past Filene scholars—nearly 100 in all—have become doctors and lawyers, writers and teachers, actors and academics, a fundraiser and a filmmaker, a research biologist and a radio producer, and of course, musicians. For more, see Skidmore Scope winter 2007 article.
Important dates for 2023-2024:
- Monday, January 15, 2024 - Skidmore application deadline
- Monday, February 19, 2024 - Announcement of Finalists
- Saturday, March 23, 2024 - On-campus Competition Day
Freeman Lesson Fee Scholarships
Skidmore students with financial need may apply each semester for full or partial scholarship support for private lessons.