APPLICATION ELIGIBILITY

Any music student who resides in Wisconsin in 6th through 12th grade who plays in an orchestral setting or string program in Wisconsin is eligible to apply. Applicants will be considered in two grade levels, 6th through 8th and 9th through 12th.

APPLICATION PROCESS

The application is via Google Forms and is active January 1st through March 30th. There is no cost to apply. Only complete applications will be considered,including supplying complete contact information. Please note we are using Google Forms for the application process. If you have a Google account, you may sign in and thereby be able to save your work if you don't plan to complete the application in one session. A Google account and sign in is not required if you complete the application in one session. An incomplete application can be saved for completion later only if you sign into your Google account.

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Applications must be received no later than midnight March 30th. Applications will be reviewed by committee during the month of April. Applicants will be notified via email no later than the first week ofMay. Scholarship checks will be mailed approximately mid-May. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

APPLICATION COMMUNICATIONS

Email scholarship@wisconsinorchestras.org if questions.

PROJECTS THAT QUALIFY FOR ASSISTANCE (common examples, not limited to this list)

Instrument repair, private lessons, music supplies/books, miscellaneous music equipment, support for new instrument purchase or rental, youth orchestra tuition or music camp tuition.

SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

In application, please be as specific as possible about what you need the funds for, keeping in mind that most scholarships range from $50 to $250. All scholarships will be awarded in a check format. Scholarships will be based on funds available.

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

Click here for the scholarship application

Applications must be received by midnight March 30.

HISTORY

The W. Stuart Parsons Scholarship is named as a tribute to a man who lived his life with great joy and generosity, giving freely of his time, talent and leadership to many organizations including serving on the boards of directors of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and the Association of Wisconsin Symphony Orchestras.

Helping Wisconsin music students is the primary goal of the W. Stuart Parsons Scholarship. The Association of Wisconsin Symphony Orchestras (AWSO) initiated this scholarship in 2013. During the first ten years, 100 scholarships totalling $18,650 have been awarded to music students in Wisconsin.Ten years later, Originally, the focus was high school students but was later expanded to include middle schoolers. Typical requests are for help upgrading instruments or for supplies such as books, cases or strings. More often, requests were for for private lessons, summer music camp or youth orchestra membership. Scholarships typically range from $50 to $500 depending on the nature of the request. For example, an applicant asked for help getting a case that latched properly and another, a harp student, asked for help for the purchase of a harp cart that navigated stairs. “Harps are not easy to move, especially up or down the stairs!” 

Every student that applies shares their need and love of music. Since funds are limited, the committee has to make the difficult decision to narrow down a list of 100 or more applicants down to ten to 15 students in the two different age groups to assist.

CREATIVE COLLABORATIONS

Initially, funding the scholarship relied solely on AWSO membership fees and donations from board members. Beginning in 2024, via partnerships with Heid Music Company and Ward-Brodt Music, both  of these Wisconsin-based music stores will offer gift certificates to expand our scholarship program for instrument support, to help us serve the larger percentage of applicants seeking newer or higher quality instruments, music books, instrument repairs or miscellaneous music-related supplies.

With the support of our board of directors, our music store partners, and future collaborations, the W. Stuart Parsons AWSO Scholarship will continue to expand its support of Wisconsin music students.