Holli Safley Memorial Music Scholarship

$500
1 winner$500
Open
Application Deadline
Mar 1, 2025
Winners Announced
Apr 1, 2025
Education Level
High School, Undergraduate
Eligibility Requirements
Education Level:
High school senior and undergraduate
Major:
Music performance

Performing is an art that necessitates mastery of many skills. To achieve this level of competency, tenacity, determination, and most importantly, sharing your love of music with others, in a demanding career path is essential for success. The Holli Safley Memorial Scholarship provides support to music students committed to growing, refining their gifts in music, and passing on their love of music to others, much like she did as a music educator.

High school seniors and undergraduate students are eligible to apply if they are planning or currently majoring in music, specifically performance majors. Preference will be given to students with disabilities. 

To apply, respond to the prompts below and share the impact that music and music performance has had on your life and the lives of those around you. 

Selection Criteria:
Essay, Passion, Boldest Bold.org Profile
Published October 24, 2024
Essay Topic

Share a little about yourself. Include how music has impacted and shaped who you are today, why you want to pursue a performance degree, and how do you plan on passing on your love of music to others with your gifts? If you have a disability, please include how your limitations can influence and inspire others as you build your performance career.

400–600 words

Winning Application

Kathryn Schrock
Belmont UniversityHerndon, VA
I was born with unilateral hearing loss in my left ear. I had sometimes felt this disability had put me at a disadvantage compared to my peers. I persevered, worked hard and overcame this disability, all while excelling in pursuing my passion for music. When I was five years old, I asked my parents for a piano because I wanted to learn how to play it. For my sixth birthday, my parents and grandparents bought me the piano that I still play on today. Soon after receiving it, I started taking private lessons with my teacher, Mr. John Ackley. Though I was oblivious to it then, during lessons Mr. Ackley sat on my right side instead of sitting on my left, like he did with his other students. That small accommodation from Mr. Ackley made me feel normal like the other kids. My favorite part of every lesson was ear training. Ironic, right? Although ear training was difficult at times, it is a skill I've used every day since I started taking piano lessons. I eventually stopped taking piano lessons when Mr. Ackley retired, but his knowledge of the musical language he shared with me has made a lasting impression that I will never forget. For the last few years, I have been taking one-on-one voice lessons with a professional voice coach. These lessons have strengthened my voice, which is now my primary instrument. When I played the piano for my Grandmother in her nursing home, I saw her reaction and it made her feel good. I saw her smile, which is quite uncommon for her since her Alzheimer’s has rapidly progressed over the last several years. I was overjoyed seeing her foot start tapping when I started playing. Something as simple as tapping her foot let me know that I was connecting with her in a language we both understood and loved. At that moment, my Grandmother showed me that the best part of music for me was helping others, making any given moment that much better. Last year I started volunteering to teach piano to a young girl in my neighborhood with special needs. I was overjoyed to have the opportunity to spark that same love for music in her that Mr. Ackley sparked for me several years earlier. Over time and our weekly piano lessons, I saw the same desire in her to overcome a disability that I had in myself at her age. Like me, she didn’t let her disability prevent her from learning to play the piano. She wasn’t thinking about what she couldn’t accomplish, only what she could accomplish. I was incredibly proud of her progress in learning several beginner-level songs during the first month of weekly lessons. Once the student and now the teacher, I felt a sense of pride to be passing on Mr. Ackley’s teachings to a student of my own. People like her and my Grandmother motivate me every day to keep striving to overcome any obstacles I may encounter in life, and to never give up in the pursuit of my goals. I’m inspired by the power of music and how much it can impact people of all ages. I intend to major in music therapy and learn how to help people of all ages through music. My plan is to continue my education and earn my masters degree and then my doctorate in music therapy. Mental and emotional health is so important and music therapy can help make a meaningful impact for people of all ages.

FAQ

When is the scholarship application deadline?

The application deadline is Mar 1, 2025. Winners will be announced on Apr 1, 2025.