Scholarship Opportunities

Annually more than $19,000 in scholarship funding is awarded to deserving World and Open Class corps members. Qualifying students can apply for the following scholarships which will be presented as part of the 2018 Drum Corps International Tour.

 

Michelle Owens Memorial Scholarship

The late Michelle Owens loved the marching arts and was involved in it since she was a young child. As a color guard member of the Crossmen from 1990 through 1994 and an instructor with numerous drum corps, Owens loved this activity. Whether she was performing or teaching, she knew how to do it with a positive attitude, encouraging spirit and genuine heart. With her infectious smile, her sweet disposition and high-spirited personality, Owens instantly brought a light and warmth to all she interacted with.

With the intent of keeping Michelle’s spirit alive in the form of giving back to the next
generation—as she loved to do in her teachings—this $1,000 scholarship will be awarded annually to a color guard member of a World or Open Class drum corps. It will help pay either current/future tour fees or help pay for college tuition and will be sent directly to the chosen establishment.

Submission deadline: Sunday, July 1, 2018

Download application form (PDF)

Donate to this scholarship fund.

Friends of DCI Scholarship

Since 2007, the Friends of DCI program which is made up of some of DCI's most dedicated supporters has awarded educational funding to Open and World Class corps members. The scholarships are given out each year to students of any major to put toward university tuition and fees.

Up to two $2,000 scholarships will be awarded in 2018 to high school seniors or college students enrolled for courses in the fall of 2018, and who are current members in good standing of an Open or World Class corps competing in the 2018 Drum Corps International Tour.

Submission deadline: Friday, May 25, 2018

Apply online

Rodney Goodhart Memorial Scholarship

As a drum corps judge for more than three decades, the late Rodney Goodhart contributed greatly toward representing percussion during the early beginnings of Drum Corps International. In his memory, the Rodney Goodhart Memorial Scholarship is awarded each summer to a current DCI member corps participant.

This scholarship award of $1,000 may be used by the selected World or Open Class corps member to pay current or next season's drum corps tour fees, university tuition, books or other activity fees.

Submission deadline: Friday, June 1, 2018 

Download application form (PDF)

Donate to this scholarship fund

Fred J. Miller Memorial Music Education Scholarship

The late Fred J. Miller was a man of insight and action. In predicting the new and innovative, he always said that his legacy would be "creating the future." Today, the Fred J. Miller Music Education Fund salutes his vision with tomorrow's finest young minds preparing to carry the torch forward.

This scholarship award of $2,000 is available to Open and World Class corps members participating in the DCI Tour. Students must be enrolled in college pursuing music education as their primary degree path, and must submit their applications with their respective corps director's endorsement.

Submission deadline: Friday, June 1, 2018 

Download application form (PDF)

George and Patsy Bonfiglio Scholarship

The 27th Lancers Foundation is a non-profit organization founded by the Bonfiglio Family honoring their parents, George and Patsy Bonfiglio. One of DCI's founding fathers, George Bonfiglio's love and dedication to the drum corps activity still lives on through the 27th Lancers Foundation.

The 27th Lancers Foundation awards two $1,000 scholarships each year, one to a person involved in performance arts (e.g. drum corps, winter guard, high school or college band, percussion, piano, dance, theatre, etc.) and one to a person who aspires to become an educator.

Submission deadline: Friday, June 1, 2018

Learn more about the George and Patsy Bonfiglio Scholarship

Donate to this scholarship fund

Double Beat Percussion Scholarship

Participation in a drum corps requires advanced physical, mental and emotional abilities, and the financial strain can affect all of these, hindering the success of an individual. The Double Beat Percussion Scholarship was started to make the financial commitment easier for the performer. 

This $2,500 scholarship is awarded annually to a percussionist of a World or Open Class corps member who has at least one additional year of age eligibility left in their junior drum corps career. 

Submission deadline: Friday, June 15, 2018

Learn more about the Double Beat Scholarship

Drums Along the Mohawk Tour Award

Presented by organizers of the annual DCI Tour event in Rome, New York, the $1,000 Drums Along the Mohawk Tour Award is open to any World or Open Class corps member who is a resident of New York State.

Applicants, who must be between 14 and 22 years of age, are required to respond to an essay prompt and provide a letter of professional recommendation.

Submission deadline: Friday, June 15, 2018

Download application form (PDF)

Jim Ott Scholarship

Named after the late DCI Hall of Fame member who was a nationally known brass arranger for several different drum corps including the Stockton Commodores, Blue Devils and Spirit of Atlanta, the Jim Ott Scholarship is administered by the San Joaquin Valley, California nonprofit Sponsors of Musical Enrichment (SOME).

This $3,000 scholarship is awarded annually to a World or Open Class drum corps member who is a graduating high school senior or college student majoring in music.

Submission deadline: Sunday, July 15, 2018 

Learn more about the Jim Ott Scholarship

George Zingali Memorial Scholarship

George Zingali, inducted into the DCI Hall of Fame in 1991, is frequently hailed as a creative genius instrumental in the development of visual design. The George Zingali Memorial Fund was formed soon after Zingali's passing in 1992.

The George Zingali Scholarship, sponsored by the George Zingali Scholarship Committee, is presented to the highest-scoring individual competitor in an individual color guard caption (flag, auxiliary or dance) at the DCI Performer’s Showcase during World Championships Week in Indianapolis. The award of $1,000 will be presented on behalf of the winner to a school or corps to use toward the winner's university tuition or drum corps tour fees.

Performer's Showcase entry deadline: Friday, August 3, 2018 

Donate to this scholarship fund

Al Moffatt Memorial Scholarship

The late Al Moffatt was passionate about drum corps and was a performer, instructor, judge, and consultant throughout his five-decade career. As the marching representative for the Zildjian Cymbal Company, he loved marching music for instilling core values in students, and this scholarship aims to help students fulfill their dreams of marching in a drum corps.

The $1,000 scholarship is available to any active member of the percussion section of a drum corps participating in the 2018 DCI Summer Tour. It can be used to pay the current season or next season’s tour fees and will be paid by check directly to the corps.

Submission deadline: Friday, June 29, 2018 

Download application form (PDF)

Donate to this scholarship fund

PAISOC Scholarship

The Performing Arts Initiative for Students of Color (PAISOC) is a nonprofit organization aiming to provide scholarships, leadership training and educational opportunities to students of color currently participating in performing arts activities.

PAISOC will award a $1,000 scholarship to a participating drum corps member during the summer of 2018. All positions (brass, percussion, color guard, and conductors) are encouraged to apply.

Submission deadline: Tuesday, May 1, 2018 

Apply online

Learn more about PAISOC