In addition to other forms of Financial Aid available to students, each year, the Indian Hills Community College Performing Arts Department awards over $100,000 in tuition scholarships, with over half awarded to first-year students.
Incoming students compete for scholarships at the annual Performing Arts Scholarship Day. Held in the spring, Scholarship Day provides incoming students with an opportunity to meet and interview with music and theatre faculty. In addition, students are encouraged to showcase their talents for faculty through performance auditions and portfolio presentations. To be eligible for scholarship consideration, a first year student must:
- We award the first wave of Performance Arts Scholarships through May of each academic
year and if there is funding available, we continue to award scholarships through
the summer months.
- Be admitted to Indian Hills Community College by August 28, 2023..
(Contact the Admissions Office for application procedures.) - Audition and interview for a scholarship by appointment before August 28, 2023.
- Agree to participate in assigned Indian Hills musical ensembles or theatrical productions
during the 2023-2024 academic year.
- Maintain good academic standing while participating in the Indian Hills performing
arts program.
- Complete the Online Registration Form (see below) to schedule an audition and interview
by appointment, before August 28, 2023, for a Performing Arts Scholarship.
- If you miss the August 28, 2023 deadline, please still apply for a scholarship!
Acting Audition: Prepare two contrasting monologues. You may use a piece from the IHSSA contest, Thespian Festival, or a high school play. You will also be interviewed by the faculty after your audition.
Designers/Technicians: Students interested in theatrical design and production should plan to interview with Indian Hills faculty in those areas. If you have a portfolio or examples of your work, please bring them to the interview.
Piano Audition: Prepare two or three selections of contrasting styles. Standard repertoire pieces by Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Debussy, etc., as well as 20th Century composers, are acceptable. You may use a contest piece. You may be asked to sight read and play a selection following your audition. You will also be interviewed by the faculty after your audition.
Voice Audition: Prepare two songs of contrasting style. Art songs, arias, and Broadway selections are acceptable. Songs may be sung in the original foreign language, but English translations are acceptable. You may use a contest piece. You will also be interviewed by the faculty after your audition.
Jazz Band Audition: Prepare two selections in the jazz style. You may use a contest piece. You may be asked to sight read and play a selection following your audition. You will also be interviewed by the faculty after your audition.
Auditioning in more than one area: A student may audition in more than one area. Total time for the entire audition and interview in all areas should be 10 minutes or less.
Letters of Recommendation
Each applicant should submit at least one letter of recommendation from a high school
theatre or music director, counselor, or community organization music/theatre director.
Letters should be addressed to:
Performing Arts Scholarship
Attn: Jennifer Boyenga
Indian Hills Community College
525 Grandview Avenue
Ottumwa, IA 52501
Online Scholarship Audition and Interview Registration Form
Please complete and submit the Scholarship Application Form below: