Conerto High School Musicians Scholarship
Scholarship Sponsored by United States Marine Band
Overview
The United States Marine Band, “The President’s Own,” together with the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, is accepting applications for its Concerto Competition for High School Musicians. The competition selects a student to appear as a guest soloist with the Marine Band during the 2027 Spring concert season and offers scholarship awards to the top finishers. Applications are due in November at 11:59 p.m. EST; late submissions will not be accepted. This opportunity highlights pre-college performers in a national-level ensemble setting.
Description: An annual concerto competition for high school musicians that culminates in a guest soloist appearance with the U.S. Marine Band and scholarship awards.
- Hosted by the U.S. Marine Band and the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation
- Winner performs with the Marine Band in Spring 2027
- Applications close in November at 11:59 p.m. EST; no late entries
Eligibility
The competition is open to high school students (grades 9–12) enrolled for the 2026–2027 academic year. For this cycle, applicants who play woodwind, brass, or percussion are eligible to apply. Previous competition winners and immediate family members of current or former U.S. Marine Band members are ineligible. All applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent U.S. residents.
Eligibility: High school students (grades 9–12) in the 2026–2027 academic year; woodwind, brass, and percussion are eligible; exclusions apply for past winners and immediate family of band members.
- Grades 9–12 enrolled during 2026–2027 only
- Woodwind, brass, and percussion eligible for this cycle
- Past winners and immediate family of band members are not eligible
- U.S. citizens or permanent residents required
Application
The application has two required components: an unedited performance recording and a completed online application form. Applicants must submit a YouTube link to their performance; the video may be set to “unlisted” and the performer may choose not to appear on camera. The recording must feature one work selected from the provided repertoire list and include accompaniment by piano, band, or orchestra. The online form will request the YouTube link and other required applicant information.
Performance Recording: Submit one unedited performance of a repertoire-listed work with piano, band, or orchestra accompaniment as a YouTube video link.
Online Application Form: Complete and submit the online form with all required information, including the YouTube link to the performance.
- Two components: performance recording and online form
- Recordings must be unedited and match the repertoire list
- YouTube links are required; videos may be unlisted
- The application cannot be completed without the video link
Awards
The first-place winner will perform as a guest soloist with the U.S. Marine Band during the 2027 Spring concert season and will receive a scholarship from the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation. Second and third-place finishers will receive additional scholarship awards. These awards recognize outstanding pre-college performance and provide financial support for further musical development.
Award Value: First place: $2,500 and a guest soloist appearance; second place: $1,000; third place: $500.
- First place: $2,500 scholarship plus guest soloist engagement
- Second place: $1,000 scholarship
- Third place: $500 scholarship
Application Timeline
Applications are due by the November deadline at 11:59 p.m. EST; late submissions will not be accepted. After the 2027 cycle, eligibility rotates: strings, piano, and harp players will be eligible for the 2028 competition, and woodwind, brass, and percussion applicants will next be able to apply for the 2029 competition (applications due November 2028). Plan submissions accordingly and ensure the YouTube performance link is included when completing the online form.
Application Timeline: Submit all materials by the November deadline at 11:59 p.m. EST; note the instrument-eligibility rotation in subsequent years.
- All materials due by November at 11:59 p.m. EST; no late entries
- Strings, piano, and harp eligible in 2028
- Woodwind, brass, and percussion next eligible in 2029 (applications due Nov. 2028)