Funding Opportunities

This merit and need based prize is awarded to students who wish to study an instrument not offered at Columbia University, or to continue lessons with a teacher who is not a member of the Columbia Music Associate roster. Auditions are required to be considered. Interested students should sign up for a regular audition slot (auditions are offered during the first week of classes each Fall) and indicate their interest in the Dolan Prize. 

  1. The application for the Dolan Prize must be accompanied by a letter of recommendation from your instructor that includes details of their lesson fee. The letter should be emailed by the instructor directly to [email protected] by the end of the change-of-program-period.

  2. You should have studied with this teacher for at least six months prior to auditioning for the Dolan Prize.  

  3. Participants of the Music Performance Program (lessons, ensembles, CUO) receive priority.

  4. The prize will be paid directly to the instructor to subsidize the cost of the lessons. The instructor must be eligible to work in the U.S.

The Richard and Brooke Kamin Rapaport Summer Music Performance Fellowship provides funding for students to pursue studies at a summer music festival of their choosing, courtesy of the generosity of Columbia College alumnus Richard Rapaport.

Auditions are exclusively available to instrumentalists, vocalists, composers, and conductors enrolled at Columbia College (Barnard, GS, and SEAS students are not eligible) in their first, second, or third year of study (graduating seniors are not eligible). Preference is given to individuals who have actively participated in the Music Performance Program. Additionally, students enrolled in the Undergraduate Composition class during the Fall or Spring semester of the current academic year are eligible. Both jazz and classical musicians are strongly encouraged to audition.

Audition Requirements:

  • Performers: prepare two contrasting works or movements.
  • Composers: prepare two original scores and audio/MIDI recordings of the pieces.
  • Any festival brochures or materials with pertinent tuition information.
  • A letter of recommendation from your teacher. 
  • A letter of acceptance from the festival, as available, stating the funds needed. If you do not yet have a letter of acceptance, we ask that you send it as soon as you hear. Your fellowship is contingent upon acceptance. 
  • The festival should have a strong international reputation and competitive criteria for acceptance.