Scholarship Descriptions

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Music Merit-based Scholarship

This scholarship seeks to provide financial assistance to gifted musicians who desire to advance their musical craft, whether instrumentally or vocally, through the continued rigorous study here at Liberty University.

Number of scholarships awarded annually: 9
$1,000 scholarship awarded to nine undergraduate music majors. ($1,000 awarded to each student)

The Mathena Family Music and Worship Scholarship

This scholarship is in honor of Dr. Harold and Mrs. Patricia Mathena Family for their faithful example and enduring walk with the Lord.

Number of scholarships awarded annually: 4
$2,500 scholarship awarded to two rising junior and two rising senior worship students. ($2,500 awarded to each student)

The Phil Barfoot Songwriter Scholarship

This scholarship is in honor of Dr. Phil Barfoot, a respected Nashville producer, songwriter and music business entrepreneur.

Number of scholarships awarded annually: 1
$5,000 scholarship awarded to one rising junior or senior songwriting major.

The Gary Mathena Songwriter Scholarship

This scholarship is given by the longtime minister of music and songwriter, Dr. Gary Mathena, to honor and encourage young songwriters to devote their talent and skill in writing congregational songs for the local church.

Number of scholarships awarded annually: 2
$2,500 scholarship awarded to two students at the beginning of their second semester sophomore year. ($2,500 awarded to each student)
Scholarships will only be awarded to students upon their acceptance into the Songwriting program.

The Gary Mathena Artist Development Scholarship

This scholarship is given by the longtime minister of music and songwriter, Dr. Gary Mathena, to honor and encourage young artists in their quest for musical excellence, spiritual devotion, artistic skill, and professional achievement.

Number of scholarships awarded annually: 2
$2,500 scholarship awarded to two students at the beginning of their second semester sophomore year. ($2,500 awarded to each student)
Scholarships will only be awarded to students upon their acceptance into the Artist Development program.

The Phil Martin Music in World Cultures (Ethnomusicology) Scholarship

This scholarship is in honor of longtime and keenly respected music missionary, Dr. Phil Martin.

Number of scholarships awarded annually: 1
$5,000 scholarship awarded to a rising junior Music in World Cultures major.

The Marty Hamby Arranging Scholarship

This scholarship is in honor of Composer/Arranger, Marty Hamby for his contribution to the body of songs performed by the evangelical church.

Number of scholarships awarded annually: 1
$5,000 scholarship awarded to a rising junior student with unique skills in music arranging and/or orchestration.

The Gary Mathena Music and Worship Scholarship

This scholarship is given by the longtime minister of music and songwriter, Dr. Gary Mathena, to honor and encourage young musicians as they prepare themselves to pursue the call as worship leaders.

Number of scholarships awarded annually: 1
$5,000 scholarship awarded to a student transferring into the Music and Worship major from another school and declaring the B.M. in Artist Development, Songwriting, Music in World Culture, Leadership Communication, Worship Studies, or B.S. in Music and Worship.

The Mathena Graduate Scholarship in Music and Worship

This scholarship is in honor of Dr. Harold and Mrs. Patricia Mathena to encourage young graduates students to continue their pursuit for excellence as music professionals.

Number of scholarships awarded annually: 5
$2,000 scholarship awarded to five students pursuing the Master of Arts in Music and Worship, the Master of Arts in Ethnomusicology, or the Master of Arts in Music Education. ($2,000 awarded to each student)

The John G. Gage Instrumental Music Scholarship

This scholarship is in honor of John G. Gage, longtime director, arranger and conductor of instruments and orchestras.

Number of scholarships awarded annually: 8
$5,000 scholarship awarded to eight rising sophomore music or music and worship majors. ($5,000 awarded to each student)
The student(s) will be required to participate in an active and approved praise team (House Band, E41, etc.) or music chamber group (Woodwind Quintet, String Quartet, Brass Quintet, etc.).

The Gary and Donnita Mathena International Music Student Scholarship

This scholarship is given by Dr. Gary and Mrs. Donnita Mathena to honor encourage international students in the study of music and worship.

Number of scholarships awarded annually: 2
$5,000 scholarship awarded to two music or music and worship majors. ($5,000 awarded to each student)
The students must be international students studying at Liberty University on American student visas.

The Jack Price Music Scholarship

This scholarship is to honor Jack Price, long time itinerate music evangelist, song leader, artist, and publisher.

Number of scholarships awarded annually: 8
$5,000 scholarship awarded to eight rising sophomore music or music and worship majors. ($5,000 awarded to each student)
The student(s) will be required to participate in an active and approved praise team (House Band, E41, etc.) or music chamber group (Woodwind Quintet, String Quartet, Brass Quintet, etc.)

The Mathena Family New Student Music Scholarship

This scholarship is given by Dr. Harold and Mrs. Patricia Mathena Family to encourage students entering college for the first time to prepare themselves as skilled musicians for the glory of God and testimony of Jesus Christ.

Number of scholarships awarded annually: 20
$2,500 scholarship awarded to 20 new School of Music students. ($2,500 awarded to each student)

The Mathena Family Ethnomusicology Research Grant

This scholarship is given by Dr. Harold and Mrs. Patricia Mathena Family to honor students that feel called by God to use music as a means of communicating the gospel with cultural and ethnic sensitivity.

Number of scholarships awarded annually: 1-5
Grant awarded to assist graduate students who are working on an M.A. in Ethnomusicology and needing to complete research/internship overseas as part of degree requirements.

WaterStone Warren and Catherine Bridges Scholarship

This scholarship is given in honor of Warren and Catherine Bridges for the purpose of encouraging the scholastic and musical advancement of instrumental musicians.

Number of scholarships awarded for the 2014-2015 academic year: 5
$5,000 scholarship awarded to five students studying in one of the following majors: Woodwind, Brass, or Percussion Performance, String Performance, Guitar Performance, or Instrumental Music Education. ($5,000 awarded to each student)
Students who are continuing in equivalent instrumental performance or instrumental music education degrees under previous titles are eligible for this award.
The student must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
The student must participate in an instrumental ensemble each semester.

Marching Band and Spirit Band Scholarships

Please contact the Department of University Bands for more information about auditioning for and joining these ensembles.

Liberty University Marching Band Scholarship

The scholarship availability for students participating in this ensemble is as follows:

Number of scholarships awarded for the 2017-2018 academic year: 265

2017-2018 Academic Year

Year in Band and Scholarship Amount:

First Year: $1,500
Second Year: $2,000
Third Year: $2,500
Fourth Year and Beyond: $3,000

Liberty University Spirit Band Scholarship

Number of scholarships awarded annually: 30
$1,200 scholarship awarded 30 members of the Spirit Band. ($1,200 awarded to each student)

*”Rising Sophomore” denotes that a student will hold sophomore classification at the beginning of the academic award year.

*”Rising Junior” denotes that a student will hold junior classification at the beginning of the academic award year.

*”Rising Senior” denotes that a student will hold senior classification at the beginning of the academic award year.