Capitol Pops Student Scholarship Program

The Capitol Pops is excited to announce the resumption of their Scholarship Program for high school and college students in the  Greater Sacramento area that play a symphonic band instrument.

The Scholarship Program will provide two area students with a scholarship of $1000 for the 2024 Spring Term to assist with the cost of musical instruction and help them reach their musical aspirations.

The winners will be encouraged to play with the Capitol Pops for the Spring 2024 Season, but not required to play with the band full time. The students will be from Sacramento and the surrounding areas, to the extent that they can participate in and perform with the Capitol Pops in at least one spring concert and at least two rehearsals prior to the concert.  Rehearsals are on Wednesday nights from 7:00 PM to 9:15 PM at Tim’s Music in Carmichael, CA. 

The timeline for awarding the scholarships will be as follows:

• October 13, 2023

  • Students interested in the scholarship should provide their name and email address by email to scholarships@capitolpops.org no later than 11:59 PM on October 13, 2023.

• October 20, 2023

  • The Capitol Pops will provide instructions via email on how and where to apply and submit their video audition.

• October 27, 2023

  • Last day to submit a video audition and letter. Submit no later than 11:59 PM on October 27, 2023.

• November 3, 2023

  • The Capitol Pops Scholarship Committee will announce the finalists for the scholarship via email.

• November 12, 2023

  • Finalists will perform their audition live for the Capitol Pops Scholarship Committee at a location to be determined in the Sacramento area.

• November 14, 2023

  • The Capitol Pops Scholarship Committee will announce the winners.

To apply for the scholarship, the students will need to submit:

• Student’s Name

• Student’s Address

• Student’s Phone Number and Email Address

• Student’s High School or University Name

• Student’s High School or University Musical Instructor with Phone Number and Email Address.

• Student’s Private Instructor Name with Phone Number and Email Address.

• A written letter on why they believe the scholarship will benefit them and how they intend to use the scholarship

• Student’s video recording of a solo piece (Grade 3.5 or above) for evaluation which demonstrates their unique style and abilities.

A selection of the top students will be asked to audition in person and can bring accompaniment, recorded accompaniment or can have accompaniment provided to them during the audition, except for percussionists who can perform without accompaniment.

The scholarship will be awarded at the sole discretion of the members of the Capitol Pops Student Scholarship Committee.

The scholarship winners will:

• Work with the Capitol Pops Director Susan Hamre and Assistant Director John Lillie to determine when they should sit in with the band.

• Receive mentoring from the Director and Assistant Director during their time with the band.

• Be awarded a $1000 scholarship to be used to pay for their musical instruction and aspirations.

• Be presented with the opportunity to perform a concert piece featuring themselves as the soloist.

• Be presented with the opportunity to solo, as appropriate, with the band as selected music and instrumentation allows.