Community School of Performing Arts Financial Scholarship Application

Through the generous support of donors, the Colburn School offers merit and financial based scholarships through the Access Fund supporting Herbert Zipper, Merit, and Need-Based Scholarships. Awards are distributed for the fall and spring semesters; there are no awards for the summer session.

Need-Based Scholarships: The Colburn Community School of Performing Arts welcomes students of all ability and experience levels. We recognize that some students may require financial support to cover the cost of their studies. In this case, we offer need-based scholarships for fall and spring semesters.

Need-based scholarships are issued on a sliding scale based on financial need, and they cover between 10-90% of the tuition. Students may apply the award towards 1) a maximum of two group classes, including ensembles OR 2) applied private instruction (up to 60 minutes weekly). Students must reapply each year.

Eligibility Requirements

1. Student must be in 12th grade or under.
2. Student must be currently enrolled at an academic institution or home-schooled.
3. Student must possess a high level of interest and commitment to musical study.
4. Continuing students with existing Colburn School accounts must be paid in full with zero outstanding debt.
5. Students must demonstrate seriousness of purpose and motivation for chosen path of study. Evaluations and feedback from existing teachers will be considered to determine student progress, dedication, and consistent attendance.
6. Family gross income must not exceed $98,000 annually on current federal tax returns. 

Application Process and Award Distribution

1. We ask that you indicate your desired group class(es) or area of private instruction in your application. For group classes, the student must meet the eligibility requirements such as pre-requisites and age. For applied lessons, students must already be studying with a Colburn instructor OR have submitted an inquiry for instructor placement.
2. All communication regarding the scholarship application, including requests for additional information as well as distribution of financial scholarships and registration materials, will be conducted via email with the Primary Email listed in the application. 
3. Awardees must print the official award letter, sign the original document accepting the award, and submit it to the Community School along with registration documents. Award letters must be received and students must register no later than the first day of class and/or scheduled applied lesson. All unaccepted awards will be forfeited after the date specified on the award letter.
4. Financial scholarships cannot be deferred and can only be applied towards the items listed on the award letter. Any requests to alter the financial scholarship must be submitted in writing via email to the Community School office.

The following application is comprised of 4 sections:

1. Applicant Information
   • Basic information (name, age, grade, etc.)
   • Artistic information (desired area of study, prior experience, etc.)
2. Parent/Guardian and Household Information
   
   
3. Financial Information
   • List and describe expenses and assets
4. Financial Documents
   • REQUIRED:
     • Complete 2024 1040 Federal Tax Return
     • 2024 IRS Tax Transcript (request online here: https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript)
     • Supporting W-2's and/or 1099's
   • If these documents are unavailable for any reason, you must submit the following:
     • Verification of non-filing from the IRS (request online here: https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-4506-t) 
     • Complete bank statements from July-December, 2025 that show activity demonstrating both income and expenditures
     • Supporting W-2's and/or 1099's

PLEASE NOTE: Sections 1 and 2 are required for ALL applicants. If you are applying for more than one student, you must submit a separate application with parts 1 and 2 completed for each student. 

Sections 3 and 4 must be submitted once per household. If you are applying for more than one student, you will be given the option to bypass sections 3 and 4. Please ensure that you submit the information with at least one of your applications. 

Family's completed and signed FULL 2024 Federal Income Tax Return

• Taxes must claim the student as a dependent.
• If parents/guardians file separately, BOTH sets of tax returns for each parent/guardian must be submitted regardless of marital status.
• All schedules, W-2's, 1099's that accompany the tax return.
• If a parent or guardian has a partnership or owns a corporation, a copy of the 2024 partnership or federal corporate tax return must be provided.
• For security purposes, please strike out the social security number on all documents.
• NOTE: Applications that are submitted without supporting financial documents will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed.

By submitting this application, I understand that financial assistance is limited. Completion of this application does not guarantee granting or receipt of award funds. I certify that the information presented in all pages of this application, including any attached documentation, and all representations, are true and correct. I further understand that if the scholarship committee deems my application incomplete, they may request further documentation to support my financial status; examples of such documents include, but is not limited to: bank statements, letters confirming government assistance, court documents, etc., which will be held in confidence and used strictly for the purpose of attaining a better understanding of my family’s current financial picture and eligibility for scholarship offered by the Colburn School.