Weston Noble Music Scholarships
Weston Noble (1922-2016)
Believing that music making benefits all people, Weston Noble, class of 1943, established a generous scholarship program that assures broad participation across the music department by students from all academic areas. Weston Noble served on the Luther College faculty for 57 years, as conductor of the Concert Band from 1948-1973, and as conductor of Nordic Choir from 1948-2005.
About the Weston Noble Music Scholarships
Incoming students eager to participate in Luther’s music department are strongly encouraged to audition for a Weston Noble Music Scholarship. Awards are given to students who display potential for participation in music at Luther. Music faculty award scholarships in several areas of interest, including vocal music, band, orchestra, keyboard and jazz.
Value:
$12,000 to $28,000 over four years ($3,000 to $7,000 per year).
Selection Criteria:
Awards are given to students who display outstanding potential for participation in music at Luther.
Application:
Complete an application for admission to Luther College, submit a music scholarship application, and schedule an audition before the annual deadline.
Renewal:
- Up to 8 semesters for full-time students.
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress.
- Participate in both a qualifying ensemble and 1-credit of applied lessons in the area of the scholarship. Note: Applied lessons incur an additional charge each semester.
Applicants do not need to major in music to be eligible. A Weston Noble Scholarship is offered in addition to other academic scholarships and awards for which students may qualify. Students may audition in up to two instrument areas. Only the highest awarded amount will be added to the financial aid offer. Participation in additional instrument areas is still possible, but will not count toward the requirement for annual renewal.
Complete a Luther admission application and a music scholarship application to arrange an audition through the Admissions Office prior to the deadline each year (Saturday, April 5, for students beginning attendance in 2025). Students applying after April 1 may be considered for an audition deadline extension by contacting the Admissions Office (admissions@luther.edu).
Additional music résumés or pre-screening recordings are not required for a Weston Noble Music Scholarship audition. In nearly all cases, music for accompaniment does not need to be sent in advance.
Official scholarship award notification is sent to accepted students within 2-4 weeks of the audition date. In the notification, the scholarship will be listed as either a Noble Vocal Scholarship or Noble Instrumental Scholarship.
Visit the music scholarship application page to learn more.
Weston Noble Scholarship Audition Requirements by Instrument
For each of the below instruments, memorization is not required, and no accompanist is necessary.
Trumpet:
- Solo or etude from recent study or All-State audition tryout material.
Horn:
- Sonata or Concerto with contrasting movements or sections which demonstrates your tone quality, technical ability, and musicianship (Two pieces with contrasting styles is also acceptable).
- Chromatic scale covering entire range.
Trombone:
- Solo or etude from recent study or All-State audition tryout material.
Euphonium:
- Solo or etude from recent study or All-State audition tryout material.
Tuba:
- Solo or etude from recent study or All-State audition tryout material.
Jazz Electric Bass or Upright Bass:
- Three different scales of your choice (for example: major, natural minor, and blues and jazz scales).
- Two pieces you are playing or have played with a Jazz Band (one swing and one straight-eighth, rock or latin).
- Improvisation on a blues form or dorian mode (for example: “So What”).
Classical Guitar:
- Works from any of the 5 periods of guitar literature. Examples include:
- Renaissance (Dowland, Mudarra, Navarez)
- Baroque (DeVisee, Sanz, J.S. Bach)
- Classical (Sor, Guiliani, Paganini, Agnado)
- Spanish Romantic (Tarrega, Barrios, Llobet, Pujol, Torroba)
- 20th Century (Brouwer, Duarte, Brindle)
- Memorization and accompaniment not required.
Jazz Guitar:
- One medium tempo swing tune and one selection in a contrasting style (e.g. ballad, Latin, straight-eighth)
- Play the melody, improvise, and comp on each tune.
- Memorization required.
- Bring a “play-along” recording, such as an Aebersold, to use as an accompaniment for your selections.
- Sight reading: melody and chord changes.
- One solo piece which demonstrates your most advanced technical and lyrical playing styles, OR 2 contrasting pieces.
- Prepare an orchestral cadenza: either the Nutcracker or Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky.
- Memorization and accompaniment not required.
- Virtual auditions: submit solo selections via video links in advance of your appointment.
Piano:
- Two pieces in contrasting styles
- Memorization highly preferred
- Virtual auditions: submit solo selections via video links in advance of your appointment.
Organ:
- Two pieces of organ literature in contrasting styles
- One hymn
- Memorization not required.
- Virtual auditions: submit solo selections via video links in advance of your appointment.
- Prospective music & music education majors should perform materials in each of the following categories: snare drum (concert or rudimental style), mallets (two or four), and timpani.
- Prospective non-music majors should prepare a mallet solo (2 or 4-mallets) and a battery percussion solo (snare drum, timpani, or multiple percussion).
- Drum kit is optional.
- Memorization and accompaniment are not required.
- Virtual auditions: submit solo selections via video links in advance of your appointment.
Violin, Viola, Cello, and Double Bass:
- Two contrasting solo pieces that show tone, articulation, and level of technical development.
- Etude may be substituted for one solo piece.
- Memorization and accompaniment are not required. Student may bring an accompanist if desired.
- Virtual auditions: submit solo selections via video links in advance of your appointment
Double Bass players:
- Arrangements can be made for Luther basses to be checked out for an audition with prior notice.
- Two selections of contrasting tempo and/or style from the classical art song repertoire
- An opera or oratorio aria may be substituted for one selection.
- If you are auditioning during the Dorian Vocal Festival, only one selection is required due to the number of auditions we hear on this weekend.
- Memorization is required.
- The student vocalist does not need to bring an accompanist to auditions taking place at Luther. There will be a pianist for the audition, though there will not be a rehearsal with the pianist prior to the audition.
- Bring a copy of the music (in the key to be performed) for auditions taking place at Luther.
- Virtual auditions: submit both solo selections via video links in advance of your appointment, performed with live accompaniment or an accompaniment track, if possible. In addition to conversation, virtual appointments may consist of vocal exercises (range), tonal memory exercises, and singing excerpts of the submitted repertoire.
For each of the below instruments, memorization is not required.
Flute:
- Two pieces or etudes of contrasting styles showing different aspects of playing ability.
- Chromatic scale in 3 octaves.
- Accompaniment not required.
- Virtual auditions: submit solo selections via video links in advance of your appointment.
Oboe:
- Two pieces in contrasting styles, such as two movements from a concerto, sonata, or concert piece; or two contrasting etudes.
- Accompaniment not required.
- Virtual auditions: submit solo selections via video links in advance of your appointment.
Clarinet (all types):
- One solo with contrasting sections (1 or more slow/lyrical sections; and 1 or more sections of rapid technical passages), appropriate for use in state solo and ensemble contests.
- Accompaniment recommended but not required; will not be provided.
- Virtual auditions: submit solo selections via video links in advance of your appointment.
Saxophones (all types):
- One solo with contrasting sections (1 or more slow/lyrical sections; and 1 or more sections of rapid technical passages), appropriate for use in state solo and ensemble contests.
- Accompaniment recommended but not required; will not be provided.
- Virtual auditions: submit solo selections via video links in advance of your appointment.
Bassoon:
- Two contrasting movements from any major concerto, sonata, or concert piece. Advanced etudes are also appropriate
- Accompaniment not required.
- Virtual auditions: submit solo selections via video links in advance of your appointment.