GMBS Music Scholarship
Scholarship Sponsored by Glenn Miller Birthplace Society
Introduction In tribute to Glenn Miller’s musical heritage, the Glenn Miller Birthplace Society (GMBS) welcomes applications for its annual Scholarship Competition. The program is open to high school seniors and college freshmen nationwide who plan to pursue music as a career. Applicants compete in two divisions—vocal and instrumental. From the pool of entries, ten vocal and ten instrumental semi-finalists will be invited to perform in person during our festival for the chance to be named the top three in each category.
2026 Prize Package For 2026 we are offering an updated award structure with $36,000 in total scholarship money available. The three winners in each category will receive:
- First Place: $10,000
- Second Place: $5,000
- Third Place: $3,000
Benefits for Finalists All finalists will receive a welcome package upon arrival in Clarinda and will be invited to a group scholarship dinner to meet judges and fellow contestants. Finalists are encouraged to attend the entire festival; each will receive passes to all musical events across the weekend in recognition of their participation and musical promise. These perks are intended to support and inspire the next generation of artists who carry forward Glenn Miller’s legacy in American popular music and jazz.
Repertoire Guidelines Contestants may choose material that suits them—popular music, jazz, or classical selections are all acceptable. We especially recommend pieces from the Great American Songbook, jazz standards, and works from the Glenn Miller library.
Eligibility and Categories
- Who may apply: High school seniors and college freshmen who intend to pursue music.
- Categories: Vocal and Instrumental
- Semi-finalists invited to perform in person: 10 vocal and 10 instrumental
Application, Rules, and Questions For the full application, contest rules, performance requirements, and to submit materials, please contact: [email protected].
2026 Online Scholarship Application Form Deadline for all documents: April 20th, 5:00 pm
Festival Schedule (Clarinda)
- Meeting: Wednesday, June 10th — 7:00 pm at the Glenn Miller Birthplace Museum
- Competition: Thursday, June 11th — Instrumental at 8:15 am; Vocal at 1:00 pm
- Awards / Stage Show: Friday, June 12th — 8:00 am
We look forward to hearing from talented young musicians and celebrating their contributions to the continuing tradition of Glenn Miller and American music.
Go to Scholarship Application