Apply for the Rick Lang Music Songwriter Scholarship

Apply for the Rick Lang Music Songwriter Scholarship

Application deadline: for: June 1, 2025.
Scholarship will be awarded for the spring 2024 school semester. Amount $2,000

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I wish to apply for the following scholarship*

Rick Lang Music Songwriter Scholarship

Note: Applicants must either be citizens of the United States or international students planning to go to college in the United States. Applicants for the Rick Lang Music Songwriter Scholarship must be current members of IBMA (www.ibma.org). You may apply for and/or receive scholarship support for more than one year, but you must reapply each year by June 1 for the following school year.

Please complete the following information:

Name*

Address*

Street Address City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country

Phone*

Email*

I hereby state that all information submitted in this application is accurate and truthful, that I am currently in good academic standing (as defined by my educational institution), and that I will remain in good academic standing during the period of any scholarship grant I may receive.

Signature*

Date*

Note: ONE original song file (not co-written), audio or video, must be submitted to be considered for this scholarship. A copy of the lyrics must be included.

1. Age*

Are you currently enrolled?*

Yes

Please provide the name and address of the college you plan to attend:*

2. Are you currently in good academic standing, as defined by the educational institution you attend?*

Yes

3. In the upcoming spring semester I will be a (select one):*

Freshman

Sophomore

Junior

Senior

4. What is your major (or planned major)? If your major is not bluegrass music, please explain how your college studies relate to bluegrass.*

5. Should you be awarded a scholarship, how do you plan to use it?*

College tuition

Instructional materials/supplies

Room/board

Other

6. How much does it cost, before financial aid and scholarships, to attend one semester at the college or university you plan to attend?*

If "Other" please explain.*

7. Have you applied for other scholarships?*

Yes

8. Have you received other scholarships? If so, please list from whom and in what amount.*

9. In 200-400 words, outline your academic goals. How will your educational plans lead to your chosen career? How did you choose this career, and who or what influenced your decision?*

10. In 200-400 words, please describe your current ability, involvement, and aspirations with regard to songwriting and bluegrass music. What instruments do you play, if any? What impact has bluegrass music had on your life? What are your goals related to writing bluegrass music?*

11. Share a link to a bluegrass-related song you have written (not co-written). Audio or video is fine. You may perform the song yourself or ask someone else to.*

Submit a link

Upload an mp3.

Submit a Video link*

Upload an mp3 file.*

Max. file size: 32 MB.

11a. Attach a copy of your original song lyrics (Word or pdf file).*

Max. file size: 32 MB.

12. Attach one letter of recommendation from an adult of your choice (not related to you). This should be a one-page letter from a person who knows you well enough to evaluate your level of songwriting or other relevant skills, your personal responsibility, and your likely financial need. Be sure to have the person writing your recommendation letter mention that you are applying for the Rick Lang Music Songwriter Scholarship.*

Max. file size: 32 MB.

The amount of the 2024-25 Rick Lang Music Songwriter Scholarship is $2,000. All scholarship checks will be written to the college or training institution.

Each recipient will be required to submit a brief written report of his or her 2024-25 school year and evidence of completion in good standing, within 30 days after the end of the semester in which the scholarship is used. The report may be shared in a press release, on the IBMA Foundation website, and/or in the monthly e-newsletter, The Cornerstone. The scholarship recipient will be asked to submit a photograph for use by the IBMA Foundation for articles and the press release.

Submit this completed application form by June 1, 2024. Thank you for applying. We wish you best of luck with your studies. If you have questions, contact Nancy Cardwell at 615.260.4807 or info@bluegrassfoundation.org.

The Rick Lang Music Songwriter Scholarship will be awarded to an IBMA member planning to study songwriting at the college level for the 2024-25 school year, in the amount of $2,000. Applicants are not required to have a declared major in songwriting, but they must already have demonstrated skills as a songwriter and plan to further their study of the art at a higher education level.

Funds for the scholarship have been donated by Rick Lang, a Grammy-nominated writer who also serves as the chair of the IBMA Songwriter Committee and volunteers with the IBMA Songwriter Mentor Program..

Applicants for the Rick Lang Music scholarship must be current IBMA members to be considered. (See www.ibma.org.) Any type of membership is fine: professional, Grassroots Club (fan), youth, or college student.