Visual and Performing Arts Talent Awards recognize high school seniors with exceptional talents in the arts including instrumental or vocal music, visual arts, theatre performance, technical theatre, sound design/audio production, and/or music composition.
Incoming first-year students pursuing any major at Michigan Tech who plan to actively participate in musical ensembles, stage productions, take coursework in visual arts, or work toward a degree, second degree, or minor offered through the Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) Department are welcome to apply.
You must submit your application for the Visual and Performing Arts Scholarship by March 24, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. (eastern time).
Award Value
Multiple students will be awarded annual scholarships valued up to $2,000 per year. The awards are in addition to other financial aid and scholarships awarded by Michigan Tech and are renewable for four years (eight semesters) of study based on active participation in the VPA Department.
High school seniors who have been accepted to Michigan Tech may present work in music (instrumental and vocal), theatrical dance, acting, sound, visual art, music composition, and technical theatre. If selected for a Talent Award, students must actively participate in musical ensembles, stage productions, take coursework in visual arts, or work toward a degree, second degree, or minor offered through the Visual and Performing Arts Department to retain the award.
Prepare the following elements for your audition(s).
- Visual Art: submit a 4-6 minute video of you addressing the following points
- Show one or two of your works of art and discuss your art, your creative process, and your interests
- Explain if your projects were assignments or self-directed works of art, how you make creative decisions, and what areas of your work you feel are strong or need improvement.
- Show one other work of art by a different artist (not your own work) and tell us why you respond to this artist and this work of art.
- Theatre Performance: Submit a video of you performing a short monologue from a play or film (1-2 minutes).
- Technical Theatre: Submit photos or other materials showing your experience working in technical theatre (sets, lighting, costumes, sound, backstage management).
- Sound Design: Share audio recordings or files detailing experience you have in working with sound (live or recorded).
- Vocal Performance: Submit a video of you performing a vocal solo (art song, aria, or musical theater) that highlights your voice.
- Instrumental Performance (classical or Jazz): Submit a video of you performing a solo and scales of your choice on your selected
instrument.
-
- Woodwinds: 3-5 minute solo; one major scale, two octaves; one chromatic scale, two octaves
- Brass: 3-5 minute solo; one major scale, two octaves; one chromatic scale, two octaves
- Strings: 3-5 minute song/etude/concerto movement; one major scale, three octaves; one chromatic scale, three octaves
- Piano: 3-5 minute solo; one major scale of your choice, four octaves, hands together; one chromatic scale, four octaves, hands together
- Percussion: Play a solo or etude on your selected instrument, a demonstration of time is important
-
- Snare: Rudimentary awareness and dynamic control
- Timpani: Tuning, dynamics, and ability to move around the drums
- Mallets: Facility (scales may be used in addition to the solo) and multiple mallet technique
-
- Jazz: Note these additional guidelines if you are interested in submitting a Jazz audition.
-
- Using a backing track or live band demonstrate: Melody, Improvise, Melody
- Drummers: Variety of grooves (swing, latin, backbeat, brushes)
- Bass: Walk bass line through changes with play along
- Guitar: Demonstrate melody, improvisation, and "comping" with a play along
-
-
- Music Composition Review: Upload a digital copy of an original composition for review.
- Complete the online application for admission.
- Prepare your audition materials—additional details are provided on the file upload portion of the application and in the How to Prepare section above.
- Submit your Talent Award application and electronic audition materials no later than 11:59 p.m. (eastern time) on March 24, 2025.
- March 24: Submit your audition by 11:59 p.m. (eastern time).
- End of April: Award recipients are notified; applicants not selected for an award will be notified on the Application Portal.
The faculty of the Visual and Performing Arts Department is interested in hearing and seeing artistic work by students who have been accepted into any major on campus. Students are evaluated on artistic quality and proficiency of presented work. Faculty will consider needs in programs and ensembles and the ways in which student abilities can be utilized in the department.
See our Financial Aid VPA Talent Award page for additional details.
