Morehead State Offers Scholarships for Traditional Music Students

Deadline to apply for up to $15,000 in annual awards is April 15

Apr. 6, 2026 at 4:10pm

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An abstract, impressionistic photograph of a musician's hands playing an acoustic guitar, the strings and fretboard blurred into soft, glowing pools of warm light, conceptually representing the scholarships that will support traditional music education.Scholarships from Morehead State's Kentucky Center for Traditional Music will help support the next generation of bluegrass and folk musicians.Morehead Today

The Kentucky Center for Traditional Music at Morehead State University is reminding students that the deadline to apply for three scholarships - including the $15,000 per year Banjo and Bluegrass Music Scholarship Endowment - is April 15. The awards are designed to support students in the Bachelor of Arts degree in Traditional Music program.

Why it matters

These scholarships provide crucial financial assistance to students pursuing degrees in traditional music, helping to ensure the preservation and continuation of important cultural art forms like bluegrass and folk music in Kentucky.

The details

The three scholarships available are the Banjo and Bluegrass Music Scholarship Endowment in honor of Steve Cooley (up to $15,000 per year, renewable for up to 3 years), the Hal Rogers Traditional Music Scholarship (one-year assistance including cash awards and internships), and the Andrews Family Fund for Student Success (for high-achieving students with a 3.0 GPA or above). A single application can qualify students for all scholarships they are eligible for.

  • The deadline to apply for the scholarships is April 15, 2026.
  • The scholarship recipients will be announced during the KCTM semester finale concert on April 29, 2026.

The players

Kentucky Center for Traditional Music

A program at Morehead State University that offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in Traditional Music.

Daxson Lewis

Director of the Kentucky Center for Traditional Music at Morehead State University.

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What they’re saying

“These scholarship opportunities are a life-changing resource for those studying Traditional Music. We are deeply grateful to the donors who make this possible, and we are excited to support students who are passionate about carrying traditional music forward!”

— Daxson Lewis, Director, Kentucky Center for Traditional Music

What’s next

The scholarship recipients will be announced during the KCTM semester finale concert on April 29, 2026.

The takeaway

These scholarships demonstrate Morehead State's commitment to preserving and promoting traditional music education, ensuring the next generation of bluegrass and folk musicians have the resources they need to continue these important cultural art forms.