Colburn-Pledge Music Scholarship
Scholarship Sponsored by Musical bridges Around the World
Introduction
The Colburn‑Pledge Music Scholarship offers tuition support to young musicians who play bowed string instruments and are preparing for careers in classical performance.
Scholarship details
Awards cover up to the annual tuition charged by the recipient’s chosen school, college, university, or private teacher, with a maximum grant of $3,000 per student. Through 2021 the program had distributed 133 scholarships, totaling more than $99,000, to 72 different students.
History and current management
From its founding in 1985 until 2021 the program operated as The Colburn‑Pledge Music Scholarship Foundation. It was established by John Pledge using funds from the estates of his sister Genevieve Pledge and Lois Colburn, both former members of the San Antonio Symphony, to provide tuition assistance to Texas‑based string players pursuing classical careers. The first annual Colburn‑Pledge auditions took place in San Antonio on June 2, 1986. The initial officers of the foundation were Shirley Frederic (president); Robert Danielson, William Moore, and Barbara Faught (vice presidents); Joycelyn Rudeloff (secretary); and John Pledge (treasurer). Management of the scholarship now resides with Musical Bridges Around the World.
Eligibility
- Instrumentation and study: Applicants must be studying a bowed string instrument—violin, viola, cello, or double bass—in the classical tradition, either at a nationally recognized music school, college, or university, or with a nationally recognized private teacher. Applicants should intend to pursue a career as a professional performing musician.
- Residency: Applicants must be bona fide residents of Greater San Antonio (counties: Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Guadalupe, Kendall, Medina, Wilson) at the time of application and have lived there for at least six (6) months immediately prior to applying. If the applicant is attending an out‑of‑state music school or college at the time of application, they must have been a resident of one of the listed counties for at least six months prior to enrolling.
Application & audition timeline
Key dates
- Application and audition window: May 15 – June 30, 2024
- Scholarship recipients selected: Late June / July 2024
(Instructions for submitting applications and audition requirements should be obtained from the administering organization.)