Music Scholarships

Scholarships

Scholarships for music majors are available on the basis of need, academic achievement, musicianship, and service to the music department.

Please note these scholarships are intended for music majors.

The Robert & Sheila Challey Music Scholarships

Established in 2006, the NDSU Challey Scholarship Fund is committed to attracting and sustaining the finest music students in the region.

The Bill Euren Fellowships are named for the uncle of Robert Challey and Director of Bands at NDSU from 1948-1968. The Euren (U reen') Fellowship will be awarded to an incoming music major each year and will be equivalent to full tuition costs for four years.

The Myrtle Euren Challey Scholarships are named for the mother of Robert Challey. The amount of these awards will be at least one-quarter the amount of full tuition for four years.

The Patricia Yvonne Bizicki Scholarships are named for the mother of Sheila Challey. The amount of these awards will be at least one-quarter the amount of full tuition for four years.

The Robert & Sheila Challey Scholarships are additional awards of significant support, presented to both incoming and continuing majors in music. Through these awards, the Challey family is committed to an ever increasing standard of high quality for music at NDSU.

Download the Robert & Sheila Challey Scholarship brochure

About Robert & Sheila Challey

Music Scholarships

A native Fargoan, Robert is the son of the late Clyde and Myrtle Challey, both NDSU graduates. Myrtle Challey taught Food and Nutrition at NDSU during the 1960s. Robert's uncle was Bill Euren, director of the NDSU Gold Star Band from 1948-1968. Robert, Sheila, and their three children live in Danville and Lake Tahoe, California. He is chairman of the board of The Park Place Group, a real estate development and investment company in Walnut Creek, California.

Robert graduated from NDSU in 1967, where he participated in the Gold Star Band as a drum major and trombonist. He was vice president of the student body, a student senator, a member of Blue Key Honor Society, and a producer of the musical Oklahoma.

In 1981 Robert was elected to the NDSU Development Foundation Board of Trustees and in that capacity has served on numerous committees and advisory boards. He also serves as a director and treasurer for the Smuin Ballet of San Francisco and was instrumental in two Smuin Ballet performances in Fargo. NDSU named Robert an Alumni Achievement Award recipient in 1986 and in 2002 he was honored with the Development Foundation's Service Award.


How to Apply for a Music Scholarship

In addition to the Challey Scholarship Fund, a number of other scholarships are available to music students. One completed application form is sufficient for consideration for all departmental and Challey scholarships.


Scholarship Auditions

  1. Complete the online scholarship form prior to your audition date.
  2. Contact Dr. Michael Weber at 701.231.8497 or m.weber@ndsu.edu to arrange an audition time.
    NDSU Reineke Fine Arts Center
    12th Ave North and Bolley Drive
    Piano: TBD (please contact Dr. Tyler Wottrich at 701.231.7884 or tyler.wottrich@ndsu.edu to arrange an audition time)
    Voice: Jan. 26 and Feb. 5, 2024
    Instrumental: Jan. 26 and Feb. 5, 2024
  3. Review the audition requirements here.
  4. Review the Scholarship Audition Frequently Asked Questions.

NDSU Music Scholarship Forms


Guaranteed Scholarships


Other NDSU Scholarships Opportunities

NDSU is proud of the number of academically talented students who enter the university each year. In addition to any music scholarships and other forms of financial aid, each year NDSU awards nearly $3.5 million in scholarships to new first-year students. In fact, nearly half of this year’s first-year students received an award.

First-year students can apply for scholarships online

Transfer students can apply for scholarships online


Scholarship applications for current and incoming students received by February 1, 2023 will receive priority when distributing scholarships.

To complete the online scholarship application please use the following link: https://ndsu.academicworks.com. You will then be asked to log in using the same credentials that you use for blackboard.

We hope you find the system easy to use. For general information, you can also refer to the scholarship information page.

All external scholarships will also be listed on the same site so log in often to see if new opportunities have been added for you.

REMEMBER: Be sure to observe the criteria and deadline for each scholarship. It is the student's responsibility to submit the scholarship application and respond to all additional questions posted.

If you have questions, please contact: m.weber@ndsu.edu

Scholarships FAQ