1. Merit scholarships are awarded for outstanding effort, talent, and proficiency.  Only partial scholarships are available.
2. Auditions for merit scholarships are held annually on a Saturday in April.
3. A new student who auditions for a merit scholarship must first have a MANC teacher recommendation.  There is a non-refundable $26 fee for teacher assessment.
4. All candidates for a merit scholarship must perform two compositions.  Candidates auditioning in piano and voice must perform by memory.  Each student must provide the original and a photocopy of audition music.  MANC students must play one piece learned during the trimester just prior to the auditions.  The other composition should be of a contrasting nature.  Auditions will be limited to 10 minutes.
5. Taped auditions are acceptable, but with the following conditions:  auditions must be taped at MANC on the designated taping date and must conform to all requirements of live auditions.  There will be a $10.00 taping fee.  Designated faculty must be present for the taping on the taping day, to assure high quality taping as well as consistency and fairness in the competition.  Each student must bring an original copy of his/her audition music and submit a photocopy with the tape.  Tapes will be provided by MANC at the audition.  No tapes will be accepted after the designated taping date.
6. Faculty representatives of each department serve as judges for the merit scholarship auditions.  Following the auditions, each department will present its recommendations to the Scholarship Committee for final approval.
7. Dollar amounts of merit scholarships will not be made public.  Names of scholarship winners will be posted on MANC's front door on the Saturday following auditions.  No information concerning results will be provided prior to this date.
8. Specific information concerning monetary awards will be mailed to the recipients the week following posting of awards.
9. Merit scholarships must apply to the instrument on which the student auditioned.
10. ALL SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS MUST REGISTER AND PAY ACCORDING TO NORMAL MANC POLICIES.  Since The Music Academy requires registration and initial payment by the first week of lessons, the same requirement applies to all scholarship recipients.  Failure to do so will nullify scholarship offers.
11. No scholarship is paid in cash; rather, it is credited to MANC for lessons at MANC.  Scholarships awarded in April are for the upcoming year; 20% applied to the summer, 40% applied to fall, and 40% applied to spring trimester’s final payments.  Further, scholarships apply to 8 or more weeks of summer lessons, and full fall and spring (18 week) trimesters; that is, scholarships applied to partial trimesters will be pro-rated.
12. If the summer 20% portion is not accepted, the remaining fall 40% and spring 40% are available.  However, if the fall 40% is not accepted, the remaining spring 40% is no longer available.
13. Continuation of fall and spring trimester scholarships is not automatic throughout the year, but based on teacher recommendation of continued good work and 75% attendance at lessons.  (Please be aware of MANC’s no make-up policy.)  Any changes in scholarship status during the year will be noted in writing from the Scholarship Committee.
14. Merit scholarship recipients will be expected to participate in or attend a recipients' recital in May.  Merit scholarship students are expected to perform, by request, in the community as a representative of the MANC student body, up to twice a trimester, in addition to MANC student recitals and masterclasses.
15. Merit scholarships are awarded one time for each academic year.  Applicants must reapply annually.
16. Any unclaimed merit funds will be available for additional awards.

1. Financial aid scholarships are awarded to students who have demonstrated need by completing an application, which includes the most recent tax forms. Applicants who are dependents must submit individual tax forms for both parents and/or guardians.
2. Only partial scholarships are available.
3. Priority will be given to students who are continuing their study at MANC, as to not interrupt a student’s progress.
4. A student may receive a scholarship for only one area of study per term, and for only the area of study for which the application was submitted.
5. A new student who applies for a financial aid scholarship for private lessons must first have a MANC teacher recommendation.  There is a non-refundable $26 fee for teacher assessment.
6. Application forms for annual financial aid must be submitted by the last week of April.  The Scholarship Director and the Director of Finance will carefully and confidentially review the application form.  Recipients will be notified by mail prior to the beginning of the summer trimester.
7. ALL SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS MUST REGISTER AND PAY ACCORDING TO NORMAL MANC POLICIES.  Since The Music Academy requires registration and initial payment by the first week of lessons, the same requirement applies to all scholarship recipients.  Failure to do so will nullify scholarship offers.
8. No scholarship is paid in cash; rather, it is credited to MANC for lessons at MANC.  Scholarships are for the upcoming year; 20% applied to the summer, 40% applied to fall, and 40% applied to spring trimester’s final payments.  Further, scholarships apply to 8 or more weeks of summer lessons, and full fall and spring (18 week) trimesters; that is, scholarships applied to partial trimesters will be pro-rated.
9. If the summer 20% portion is not accepted, the remaining fall 40% and spring 40% are available.  However, if the fall 40% is not accepted, the remaining spring 40% is no longer available.
10. Continuation of fall and spring trimester scholarships is not automatic throughout the year, but based on teacher recommendation of continued good work and 75% attendance at lessons.  (Please be aware of MANC’s no make-up policy.)  Any changes in scholarship status during the year will be noted in writing from the Scholarship Committee.
11. Applications received after the May deadline will be put on a waiting list.  Should additional funds become available, applicants will be notified if they are selected to receive an award.

The Music Academy of North Carolina is committed to equality of educational opportunity and does not discriminate against applicants based on age, race, color, national origin, religion, sex, or handicap.