Visual and Performing Arts Scholarship (VAPA)

The Visual and Performing Arts have a prestigious home at Cal Lutheran. Whether staging a play in our Black Box Studio Theatre, touring the world with our CLU Choir, or pushing the boundaries of conventional art, our students pursue artistic expression without limits.

Incoming first-year and transfer applicants with superior talent in the areas of Music, Music Production, Theatre Arts, or Visual Art can apply and audition for a VAPA Scholarship prior to enrolling at Cal Lutheran. Music, Music Production, and Theatre Arts scholarships can be up to full tuition and are renewable for subsequent years.

To apply for the VAPA Scholarship you must complete the application form and audition requirements.

Please reach out to vapa@callutheran.edu if you have any questions.


VAPA Application Requirements

All students must first submit an application for admission to California Lutheran University, prior to submitting an application for VAPA. 

Music scholarships are offered to students who exhibit great musical promise. Scholarship recipients are expected to show leadership in music department ensembles, productions, and maintain a record of academic excellence.

For this scholarship, students must audition in person or submit a video audition. In some cases, the music department may request a follow-up interview via Zoom.

Scholarship Requirements

VAPA scholarships are offered individually, and requirements for maintaining the scholarship will vary among recipients. All requirements will be outlined in the scholarship offer letter.

  • VAPA scholarships in Music are available to all Cal Lutheran students, regardless of major. For the largest scholarships, students will be required to major in Music.
  • Perform in at least one major ensemble related to your audition area. Current music ensembles include CLU Choir, Cielo (treble choir), String Symphony, Wind Ensemble, Mariachi Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble.
  • Some scholarships require enrolling in a 1-credit music private lesson each semester.
  • Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress.
  • Although students are encouraged to apply in one audtion area only, it is possible to apply in multiple areas as long as the student is planning to participate in multiple music ensembles. Students must submit application materials for each audition area.

Auditions

Students are required to audition in person, or upload videos in place of a live audition. Those wishing to be considered for the largest scholarships are strongly encouraged to audition in person, especially if they live within a 100 mile radius of Cal Lutheran. We encourage all students to attend our Winter Audition Day on the Thousand Oaks campus. Accompanists will be provided as needed. Recorded backing tracks for music auditions are not allowed, with the exception of Mariachi auditions.

1. Winds & Percussion
  • Play the chromatic scale (wind and keyboard percussion students only) and a major scale of your choice in at least two octaves ascending and descending.
  • Play a solo or etude that demonstrates your lyrical and technical performance level. Any work suitable for solo and ensemble festivals would be appropriate. If you are auditioning in person, please bring music for the accompanist that will be provided for you.
2. Strings (Violin, viola, cello, double bass, guitar)
  • Prepare two (2) contrasting works of any length. Please note that the chosen repertoire should best reflect your musicianship and technical ability. 
3. Vocal
  • Sing two memorized contrasting pieces from the classical repertoire that represent your best vocal ability. Contrasting styles include mood, tempo and languages (Latin, Italian, French, German and English).
  • While it is preferable that the audition demonstrates your ability to sing in a classical style (art songs and arias), you may include one piece from the Musical Theater repertoire.
4. Piano and Organ
  • Play the chromatic scale and a major scale of your choice in at least two octaves ascending and descending (two hands).
  • A solo work from the standard classical repertoire that demonstrates your technical and lyrical ability.
5. Composition
  • Submit two written scores of original pieces. Recordings of these scores are encouraged (midi ok) but not required.
6. Mariachi
  • Mariachi VAPA applicants should perform 2 songs of contrasting style and tempo from any of the Mariachi genres, including the son jalisciense, ranchera, huapango, bolero, and polka, etc.
  • If applicants play more than one instrument, or sing and play an instrument, please submit 2 songs total, performing one song on each instrument/voice.
  • Students may perform solo or with a recording or backing ensemble. Please make sure you can be clearly seen and heard individually if submitting video auditions.

For any questions, please contact the Music Department at music@CalLutheran.edu 


Policies

  • Students may apply for scholarships within the Multimedia, Music, Music Production, Theatre Arts, and Visual Art categories; however, if offered multiple VAPA scholarships, the student can only accept a scholarship from one department and must decline all other offers.
  • Students cannot receive an admission scholarship (or Presidential Scholarship), the Public Price Promise Scholarship, and a full-tuition VAPA Scholarship at the same time.
  • If a student is offered an admission scholarship (or Presidential Scholarship), or Public Price Promise Scholarship prior to being determined eligible for a full-tuition VAPA Scholarship, they will be given the option to choose one of the three scholarships they would like to use while attending Cal Lutheran.
  • The student must retain the scholarship they choose at that time (Admission/Presidential/Public Price Promise or full-tuition VAPA Scholarship) and may not change their scholarship decision after they begin attending Cal Lutheran.
  • Students must meet annual eligibility requirements to maintain the VAPA scholarship.

Questions?

For more information about the VAPA Scholarship, please e-mail: vapa@CalLutheran.edu 

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