Kick-off event features a welcome address by President Laurie Carter followed by Dr. Greta Raaen Dzieciaszek ‘05, CVS Health. Translating a liberal arts education into a corporate career, leading into a CVS recruiting conversation about open internships and early career opportunities. Keynote: The Networking Quadrant, Ted Fleming, Head of Talent Development, CVS Health, and author of Develop.
Author: Grace Kutney
Advancing in the Arts: Interviews with Alumni
When Abbey Atwater ’19 was a Career Peer Educator, she conducted several alumni interviews with Lawrence alumni who have gone on to pursue their Masters degree in an area of the arts. See what they have to say about their experience in graduate school so far, the application/ audition process, and what they hope to do following the completion of their degree!
- Clio Briggs ’18 – San Francisco Conservatory of Music, MM Vocal Performance
- Sammi Lapid ’18 – Michigan State University, MM Clarinet Performance
- Lauren Vanderlinden ’17 – University of California Santa Barbara, MA/PhD Ethnomusicology
- Kate Kilgus ’18 – University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, MM Clarinet Performance
- Evan Newman ’17 – University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MM Piano Performance
- Martha Hellermann ’18 – Boston Conservatory, MM Vocal Performance
- Anne Marie Carden ’18 – Boston Conservatory, MM Vocal Performance
- Rosa Lemos ’18 – University of Miami, Frost School of Music, MM Music Education with Certification
- Mingfei Li ’17 – Mingfei Li, Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, MM Piano Performance
- Dominic Ellis ’17 – University of Maryland, College Park, MM Composition
- Amanda Milne ’18 – University of Hartford, Hartt School of Music, Violin Performance w/ Suzuki Pedagogy emph.
- Channing Tucker ’18 – School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies, University of Maryland, MFA Costume Design
Professional Music Organizations
Americana Music Association (AMA)
American Bandmasters Association
American Choral Directors Association (ACDA)
American Composers Alliance (ACA)
American Guild of Musical Arts (AGMA)
American Musicological Society
American Recorder Society (ARS)
Associated Chamber Music Players (ACMP)
College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA)
College Orchestra Directors Association (CODA)
International Alliance for Women in Music
International Clarinet Association (ICA)
International Double Reed Society (IDRS)
International Society of Bassists (ISB)
International Society for Contemporary Music (ISCM)
International Society for the Performing Arts (ISPA)
International Trombone Association (ITA)
International Trumpet Guild (ITG)
International Tuba and Euphonium Association (ITEA)
Music Teachers national Association (MTNA)
National Association of Church Musicians
National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors
National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS)
National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)
National Federation of Music Clubs
National Flute Association (NFA)
North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA)
Violin Society of America (VSA)
Music Competitions
**Note about fees: Most competitions listed below require an application fee to be paid in order to compete. Other costs may be involved with transportation, accompanists, recordings, etc.
American Protégé
Approximate Application Deadline: mid-February
Approximate Competition Date: mid-May to late-June (winners recital)
Application Fee: $200 (solo performers), $150 (per member in chamber ensemble)
Bassoon Chamber Music Composition Competition
Approximate Application Deadline: NA
Approximate Competition Date: NA
Application Fee: NA
Berliner International Music Competition
Approximate Application Deadline: mid-July
Approximate Competition Date: late-September (winners recital)
Application Fee: $125
Carl Nielsen International Competition
Approximate Application Deadline: mid-October
Approximate Competition Date: late-March (finals)
Application Fee: $115
Central International Music Competition
Approximate Application Deadline: early-June
Approximate Competition Date: early to mid-August
Application Fee: $105
Chesapeake Chamber Music Competition
Approximate Application Deadline: late-November
Approximate Competition Date: early-April
Application Fee: $40
Concord Chamber Orchestra
Approximate Application Deadline: late-November to early-December
Approximate Competition Date: early-December
Application Fee: $30
Concours de Geneve
Approximate Application Deadline: early-May
Approximate Competition Date: early to late-November (finals)
Application Fee: NA
Crescendo International Competition
Approximate Application Deadline: early-November
Approximate Competition Date: early to mid-December
Application Fee: $85 (solo), $130 (duet), $175 (trio), $50 (per player, quartet and larger)
Feurich Competition
Approximate Application Deadline: mid-May
Approximate Competition Date: late-June to early-July
Application Fee: $150 (solo), $105 (per player, duet), $70 (per player, trio and larger)
Fischoff
Approximate Application Deadline: late-February
Approximate Competition Date: early to mid-May
Application Fee: $125 (trio), $165 (quartet), $205 (quintet), $245 (sextet)
Forte International Music Competition and Festivals
Approximate Application Deadline: early-November
Approximate Competition Date: early-December (prelim and semi-final), early-February (final)
Application Fee: $150 (solo by October 15th), $180 (duo or more by October 15th) **application fee increases $10 for solos and ensembles on November 5th and another $10 on November 10th
George Gershwin International Music Competition
Approximate Application Deadline: mid-October
Approximate Competition Date: late-October to mid-November
Application Fee: $150
Grand Prize Virtuoso International Concerto Competition
Approximate Application Deadline: early to mid-May
Approximate Competition Date: mid-July (winners recital)
Application Fee: $205 (solo), $145 (per member, duo and larger)
Granquist Competition
Approximate Application Deadline: late-May
Approximate Competition Date: mid to late-June
Application Fee: $35 (solo and duet by April 30th), $45 (trio + $10 each additional player by April 30th) **additional $10 added when submitted after April 30th
Great Composers Competition
Approximate Application Deadline: competitions held monthly
Approximate Competition Date: NA
Application Fee: Free (prelims), $32.50 (approved applicants)
Green Bay Civic Symphony (every-other year)
Approximate Application Deadline: late-October
Approximate Competition Date: early to mid-November
Application Fee: NA
International Clarinet Association Competitions
Approximate Application Deadline: early-April
Approximate Competition Date: late-July (final)
Application Fee: $75
International Music Competition
Approximate Application Deadline: mid-March
Approximate Competition Date: NA
Application Fee: NA
Karol Szymanowski International Music Competition
Approximate Application Deadline: late-May (piano, violin, voice, string quartet), mid-August (composition),
Approximate Competition Date: mid to late-September
Application Fee: NA
Lakeshore Wind Ensemble
Approximate Application Deadline: late-October
Approximate Competition Date: mid-November
Application Fee: $20
Lawrence Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition
Approximate Application Deadline: mid to late-October
Approximate Competition Date: late-October
Application Fee: Free
Lawrence Wind Ensemble Concerto Competition
Approximate Application Deadline: mid to late-January
Approximate Competition Date: late-January
Application Fee: Free
Manhattan Music Competition
Approximate Application Deadline: late-March
Approximate Competition Date: early-July (winners concert)
Application Fee: $105
Marquette Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition
Approximate Application Deadline: early-May
Approximate Competition Date: NA
Application Fee: $30
Music Teachers National Association
Approximate Application Deadline: early to mid-September
Approximate Competition Date: mid-March (winners concert)
Application Fee: $120
National Association of Teachers of Singing
Approximate Application Deadline: early-September
Approximate Competition Date: mid-October
Application Fee: $75
National Federation of Music Clubs Competitions
Approximate Application Deadline: early-March or early-April (depending on competition)
Approximate Competition Date: NA
Application Fee: $10
National Flute Association
Approximate Application Deadline: mid to late-February
Approximate Competition Date: NA
Application Fee: $55
Plowman
Approximate Application Deadline: mid-February
Approximate Competition Date: late-March
Application Fee: $40 (per player)
Queen Sonja International Music Competition
Approximate Application Deadline: early-April
Approximate Competition Date: mid-August
Application Fee: $105 + $230 (second round)
Rising Stars Grand Prix
Approximate Application Deadline: early to mid-April
Approximate Competition Date: late-June (winners concert)
Application Fee: $200 (solo), $130 (per player, duo), $90 (per player, trios to octets)
Ronald Sachs International Music Competition
Approximate Application Deadline: mid-March
Approximate Competition Date: mid to late-May
Application Fee: $50
Schubert Club
Approximate Application Deadline: late-January
Approximate Competition Date: mid-March
Application Fee: $45
Skokie Valley
Approximate Application Deadline: mid-May
Approximate Competition Date: late-May
Application Fee: $50
Tchaikovsky Competition
Approximate Application Deadline: mid-March
Approximate Competition Date: mid to late-June
Application Fee:
Unsigned Only Music Competition
Approximate Application Deadline: early-April
Approximate Competition Date: NA
Application Fee: NA
Vandoren Emerging Artists Competition
Approximate Application Deadline: mid to late-January
Approximate Competition Date: NA
Application Fee: NA
Vienna International Music Competition
Approximate Application Deadline: NA
Approximate Competition Date: early-March (winner’s recital)
Application Fee: $110
North International Music Competition
Approximate Application Deadline: mid to late-April
Approximate Competition Date: NA
Application Fee: $65
Music Grants and Scholarships
Aaron Copland Fund
Amount: $1,000-$20,000
Qualifications: NA
Approximate Deadline: late-June
Academy of Country Music
Amount: $5,000-10,000
Qualifications: music educators or therapists
Approximate Deadline: late-October
Against the Grain
Amount: $1,000
Qualifications: at least 25% Asian and/or Pacific Islander
Approximate Deadline: early-May
Amateur Chamber Music Players
Amount: Varies
Qualifications: Varies
Approximate Deadline: Varies
Associated Male Choruses of America Scholarship
Amount: $1,000-$1,200
Qualifications: NA
Approximate Deadline: early-March
American Music Therapy Association Scholarships
Amount: Varies
Qualifications: Varies
Approximate Deadline: Varies
American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers
Amount: NA
Qualifications: students studying music composition and/or arranging
Approximate Deadline: early-October
ASCAP Foundation
Amount: Varies
Qualifications: Varies
Approximate Deadline: Varies
BMI Foundation
Amount: Varies
Qualifications: Varies
Approximate Deadline: Varies
Colburn-Pledge Music Scholarship
Amount: NA
Qualifications: Texas resident
Approximate Deadline: late-April
Dr. Robert Hawkins Memorial Scholarship
Amount: $1,000
Qualifications: instrumental music ed major
Approximate Deadline: early-November
JEN (Jazz Education Network)
Amount: Varies
Qualifications: involvement in jazz
Approximate Deadline: mid-September
Keys + Kids Grant from VH1 Save the Music
Amount: Varies
Qualifications: Varies
Approximate Deadline: VariesKllipsch Audio Engineering Scholarship
Amount: $2,000
Qualifications: anyone, but aimed at audio engineers
Approximate Deadline: mid-January
Margaret Blackburn Biennial Composition Competition
Amount: $1,000
Qualifications: female composition students
Approximate Deadline: NA
Mockingbird Foundation
Amount: $100-$1,000
Qualifications: NA
Approximate Deadline: early-August
Music Performance Trust Fund
Amount: NA
Qualifications: NA
Approximate Deadline: NA
NAMM Gard Scholarship Fund
Amount: $2,000
Qualifications: employed by NAMM member company
Approximate Deadline: late-July
National Federation of Music Clubs
Amount: Varies
Qualifications: Varies
Approximate Deadline: Varies
NewMusic USA GrantsAmount: Varies
Qualifications: Varies
Approximate Deadline: Varies
Percussive Arts Society
Amount: Varies
Qualifications: Percussionist
Approximate Deadline: Varies
Ray Charles Foundation Grants
Amount: NA
Qualifications: NA
Approximate Deadline: late-September
Ruth K. Jacobs Memorial Scholarship
Amount: $1,500
Qualifications: music major with emphasis on choral church music
Approximate Deadline: early-February
Sinfonia Educational Foundation (SEF) Scholarships
Amount: Varies
Qualifications: Varies Approximate Deadline: Varies
Top of the Rock Peggy Gram Scholarship
Amount: NA
Qualifications: women involved in Music Education or Vocal Performance Education
Approximate Deadline: mid-March
Women Band Directors International
Amount: Varies
Qualifications: women music ed majors planning to be a band director
Approximate Deadline: NA
Zildjian Concert Scholarship
Amount: $3,000
Qualifications: for percussionists
Approximate Deadline: NA
Other General Grant and Scholarship Websites (not specifically for music)
https://about.bankofamerica.com/en-us/what-guides-us/find-grants-sponsorships.html#fbid=QzsQBsLRhvj
https://www.advertisemint.com/scholarship/
https://bostitchoffice.com/classroom-grant
http://www.collegescholarships.org/grants/101-grants.htm
http://www.fastweb.com/ (United States and Canada only)
http://www.evaleeschwarztrust.org/index.html
https://fundforeducationabroad.org/eligibility/
http://www.fundsnetservices.com/
https://www.goldenkey.org/scholarships-awards/listing/
https://www.accessandequity.org/goodcall-scholarship-search-website/
https://grantspace.org/resources/knowledge-base/funding-for-musicians/
https://www.kidguard.com/nonprofits/scholarship/
https://musicbiz.org/about/scholarship-foundation/
https://www.panhellenicsf.org/scholarships/
https://www.redfin.com/resources/scholarship
http://www.scholarshipsandgrants.us/
http://www.studentscholarships.org
https://www.unigo.com/scholarships#/fromscholarshipexperts
https://www.usbank.com/community/financial-education/scholarship-application-form.html
Developing Technical Skills While at School
Aside from your CS coursework, where you’ll learn principles of programming and how to think like a developer, there are different ways to gain, expand, or deepen your technical skills while at school. Below, let’s consider three options:
- Securing a campus job with Technology Services
- Getting started with Git
- Playing with game development
Work for LU’s Technology Services
LU’s Technical Services often hires student workers to work at the Helpdesk, serve as a Computer Technician Assistant, or act as a Student Web Developer. At the Helpdesk, you’ll be using problem-solving and communication skills as you help people from around campus resolve software problems. As a Computer Technician Assistant, you’ll primarily be fixing computer and printer problems. Student Web Developers develop web applications and web scripting components using a variety of languages, technologies, and techniques. Technology Services often hires a few positions in Fall Term, but keep an eye on Handshake in case they post additional positions in the middle of the school year.
Get started with Git
As you probably know, Git is a free and open-source version control system. Git allows you to create git repositories – these repositories record the change history of your project and are local to your device in the root directory of your project. You can also synchronize your local repository with remote repositories. GitHub is a hosting site for remote repositories. If you’d like to start learning more about Git, check out Git and GitHub Crash Course. At just over half an hour, this video breaks down the basics. OpenSource’s step-by-step guide to getting started on Git is another great place to start. Want to get visual? Learn Git Branching is a visual and interactive way to learn Git on the web using demonstrations of features.
Play with Game Development
Because game development can include skills in networking, I/O, graphics, even AI and data science, it can be a fulfilling and fun way to learn software engineering principles. Starting with a game framework like the Lightweight Java Game Library (LWJGL) will give you quite a bit of control over your game. For reference, Minecraft Java Edition uses LWJGL. Prefer C#? MonoGame (think Stardew Valley and Terraria) allows you to use C# and other .NET languages. All the code is available to you so you’ll have the ability to make changes when you need to or port to new platforms.
There’s also the option to start building your game on a game engine. You’ve probably encountered Godot (Sonic Colors: Ultimate), Unity (Cuphead, Stranded Deep, Hearthstone, and Hollow Knight), or Epic Games’ Unreal Engine (Fortnite, Borderlands 3, Ark), CryEngine (Far Cry, Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2), OpenAge (Age of Empires). Engines like these are especially great if you want to actually release a game.
These are just three ideas for starting to build out your technical skills, but there are plenty of other strategies out there, like participating in Hackathons or securing summer internships.