Monmouth College provides one of the most competitive scholarship opportunities in the United States for pipers or Highland drummers.
To be eligible for a scholarship, candidates must be academically admissible to the college and participate in an on-campus audition. Candidates for pipe band scholarships should have at a minimum solo and/or band competition experience at the Grade 3 level. Candidates with experience at the Grade 3 level may be awarded scholarships up to 1/4 tuition. Candidates with experience at the Grade 2 level may be awarded scholarships up to 1/2 tuition. Candidates with experience at the Grade 1 or professional open level may be awarded scholarships up to full tuition. Auditions must be completed before matriculation to the college. Students can not audition for pipe band scholarships once they matriculate at Monmouth College, and scholarship amounts cannot be increased once a student has matriculated.
Scholarship auditions normally correspond with the college's Fine Arts Weekends which occur are scheduled for February 13 and February 27, 2010. If these dates are not practical because of travel arrangements, etc., an alternative date can be made. However, it is preferred that all auditions be completed no later than the end of March. It is strongly encouraged that candidates apply for admission and are admitted to Monmouth College before auditioning.
Criteria for the audition include:
- March (2/4 of at least 4 parts)
- Strathspey (of at least 2 parts)
- Reel (of at least 2 parts)
- 6/8 March (of 4 parts)
*If you have anything special you would like to play to "show off" your talents, additional time will be allotted.
Now known as the Monmouth College Pipe Band, the organization currently has a membership of 16 students, a number of whom compete in major competitions. In addition, the college offers talent scholarships for pipers. For more information, contact the band's adviser, Dr. Tim Tibbetts, at
tibbetts@monm.edu.