Best Grants for Musical Instruments in Kansas

Kansas arts and cultural nonprofits in disciplines like music, dance, theatre, media, and visual arts can access funding for general operating support through the Kansas Department of Commerce’s General Operating Support program. Kansas organizations with missions centered on arts programming, including museums and local arts councils, may use these funds to strengthen cultural infrastructure and sustain ongoing activities.

Kansas high school seniors who play an instrument and plan to study instrumental music at an accredited college can receive the Tony DiPardo Instrumental Music Foundation Scholarship, awarding US $500 for their education. Greater Kansas City Community Foundation also supports programs that enhance students’ appreciation for instrumental music, which may include instrument-related needs.

Junior and senior high school students in Kansas’s Solomon Valley area pursuing summer music or art camps can apply for Greater Salina Community Foundation’s Fine Arts Future Development Summer Camp Scholarship. Eligible students must attend an accredited junior high or high school in Mitchell, Cloud, or Jewell Counties and participate in art or music, with preference for instrumental music; past recipients may reapply.

The Music Family Scholarship, funded by the Music Performance Trust Fund, aims to enhance music appreciation and accessibility for children and communities. Established in 1948, the MPTF provides free live music programs across the U.S. and Canada, focusing on underserved populations. Eligible applicants must have a parent in good standing with a Local AFM and be enrolled in higher education for fall 2025. This scholarship encourages artistic expression and community unity through music, fostering enriching experiences for all.

Emerging jazz artists ages 21–35 based in Kansas or elsewhere in the U.S. can apply for CultureSource’s Next Jazz Legacy program, which awards US $10,000 for career development. Participants receive a national apprenticeship, creative and business mentorship, cohort learning, Berklee Online coursework, and performance showcases that may help advance music careers and related equipment needs.

Graduating seniors of Beatrice High School in Kansas seeking help with higher education costs and active in music may be eligible for this scholarship funding. Beatrice Educational Foundation supports academic scholarship programs, with one to three awards totaling up to US $2,000, favoring students with strong GPAs, community involvement, and school activities such as music or golf.

Graduating Beatrice High School seniors involved in music programs and planning undergraduate study can receive up to US $1,000 for higher education costs. Beatrice Educational Foundation provides Kansas music students with one to three Hays, Karla, Loving Heart Scholarships, with preference for those active in choir, band, jazz band, volunteer work, and St. John Lutheran Church.

Individual music scholars needing help with publication costs in Kansas can receive up to US $2,500 to support works in music studies, including books, articles, and digital media. The American Musicological Society funds expenses like illustrations, permissions, indexing, and multimedia; applicants must be AMS members and not have received an individual subvention in the past three years.

Publishers and organizations in the Coalition of Music Organizations can apply for American Musicological Society publication subventions, with awards up to Up to US $4,000 to support music scholarship publications. Funding helps reduce retail prices, defray production costs, or increase accessibility, which may benefit Kansas-based music-focused institutions preparing books or other scholarly resources.

Sweet Adelines quartets in Kansas can receive scholarship funding to attend Sweet Adelines-sponsored educational events, including major conventions and the A Cappella Academy. The Pat Ostrander 4-Star Collection Quartet Scholarship from Sweet Adelines International awards US $1,600 to two eligible quartets to help cover registration, lodging, meals, and some travel costs.

Undergraduate music students involved with barbershop activities in Kansas and beyond can receive scholarship support for vocal pedagogy, music education, or music composition studies. With a mission to empower singers, Sweet Adelines International provides US $5,000 to help cover tuition and fees for eligible four-year university students in good academic standing.

Nonprofit performing ensembles, presenters, music service organizations, and record companies with a multi-year focus on contemporary American concert music or jazz can receive unrestricted operating support from the Aaron Copland Fund for Music. Focused on music, this national program offers US $2,000 - US $20,000 and may benefit Kansas groups needing broader support alongside instrument-related work.

Kansas 501(c)(3) music and performing arts organizations with at least two years of professional programming can apply for the Aaron Copland Fund for Music’s project support grants, awarding US $2,000 - US $20,000 for contemporary American concert music and jazz projects. Funding can support performances, recordings, residencies, and related initiatives that deepen public appreciation of this repertoire, which may include instrument-focused activities.

Graduating high school seniors from Marshfield High School in Kansas planning to study or participate in music can apply for the Community Foundation of the Ozarks’ H. Lyman Mooney Music Scholarship, awarding US $450 for college or vocational study. Eligible students must show financial need, submit transcripts and FAFSA-SAI, and provide a music teacher recommendation.

Kansas music and arts students seeking college funding may be eligible for the Dr. Alice M. Hudder–Richard T. Molder Post-Secondary Scholarship Fund, a need-based award for high school seniors. Administered by Erie Community Foundation, it supports students with a 3.0+ GPA planning to study science, math, business, art, or music at any college or university.

Graduating seniors involved in athletics or music at Greensburg Community High School can receive scholarship support to further their education. With a mission to inspire community generosity, Decatur County Community Foundation provides this award to a student who demonstrates outstanding Pirate school spirit and submits a brief personal statement.

About Us

Mission Statement

The Westfield Center for Historical Keyboard Studies offers a unique environment for the study, appreciation, use, and promotion of a wide range of keyboard instruments. To serve an increasingly diverse audience, the Center presents keyboard-related conferences, workshops, concerts, masterclasses, educational programs, and publishes scholarly work at regular intervals; longstanding priorities have included the intersections of historical practices and technologies with larger social and artistic developments. In its activities and governance, the Center seeks to foster inclusion and equity among artists, builders, scholars, educators, students, enthusiasts, and partner organizations.

Since its founding in 1979, the Center has sponsored over one hundred events, including workshops, research conferences and symposia, tours to historic instruments, solo recitals and early music concerts, and educational programs designed to interest the general public in keyboard instruments and their repertoire.

Members include highly acclaimed artists, noted scholars, some of the world’s greatest instrument builders, and music lovers.

The Barbara Owen Research Grant

A lifelong member of the Westfield Center, Barbara Owen made immense contributions to our understanding of the organ and its music. She was especially known for her scholarship on the American organ and organists, and she co-wrote the Grove Dictionary article on the organ, a standard reference work. To honor her memory, the Westfield Center will award a $2000 grant for research into historical keyboard instruments (organ, harpsichord, clavichord, fortepiano). The research may culminate in a scholarly article or other format for presenting the information.

Community Foundation for Northern Virginia

Founded in 1978, the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia is a tax-exempt trusted public charity that advances equity through philanthropy and community leadership. Its work is guided by a strategic plan that advances four key priorities for the region:

• Social and Economic Mobility
• Opportunities for All
• Inclusive Systems of Economic Growth
• Community Resilience

Leslie Richardson Memorial Swan & Sparrow Scholarship Fund

The Leslie Richardson Memorial Swan & Sparrow Scholarship Fund provides scholarships to benefit students studying musical performance, jazz studies or choral conducting at a historically or predominantly black college or university (HBCU).

Stark Community Foundation is one of the area’s major sources of college scholarship support— thanks to the generosity of caring individuals, families and businesses that have created scholarship funds.

The Foundation currently manages more than 100 scholarship funds that support hundreds of deserving students each year from Stark and Carroll counties. In 2025, more than $1,000,000 was awarded to local students to help them achieve their educational dreams.

The Velma Shotwell Griffin Memorial Scholarship Fund

The Velma Shotwell Griffin Memorial Scholarship Fund was established to assist graduates of Conotton Valley or Carrollton High Schools planning to enroll, or currently enrolled, at an accredited college or university to pursue further education in the following fields: History, Writing (not limited to, English, Journalism, Language Arts, Communications and programs in Mass Media), Graphic Arts, Music (which shall include but not limited to, vocal music, instrumental music, music history, music education, and music performance) and any other program or field of study approved by the Selection Committee. 

Amount:

• Varies. Minimum $500.

Renewable:

• Yes

What is Emergency Assistance Fund

Emergency Financial Assistance is available to eligible performing arts and entertainment professionals:

• In times of unexpected critical need.
• To assist towards basic living expenses, such as health care, housing and utilities to prevent eviction or shut-offs.

Hunter Brown Emergency Assistance Fund

The Hunter Brown Emergency Assistance Fund offers emergency financial assistance to current or former employees of Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

The Ethel Zwiebel Scholarship, managed by the Community Foundation of the North State, supports Shasta County students majoring in music who demonstrate financial need. This award is open to graduating high school seniors and Shasta College students completing their two-year music program. By fostering educational goals, this scholarship aims to empower young musicians to pursue their passion for music in higher education.

The Music Performance Trust Fund (MPTF) is a nonprofit organization established in 1948, dedicated to enhancing public appreciation of music. It offers free, live music programs across the United States and Canada, ensuring access to quality musical experiences for diverse communities. Funded by royalties from major record labels, the MPTF collaborates with local arts organizations to promote music education and performance, enriching lives through the power of music at no cost to attendees.

The We Are Moving The Needle Scholarship supports women, trans, and non-binary creators in the music industry by offering two full scholarships for a masterclass with GRAMMY-nominated producer Alissia in Paris. This initiative aims to empower underrepresented voices through education and mentorship, fostering a more inclusive music industry. Participants will engage in hands-on workshops designed to enhance their production skills and gain insights from a leading industry professional, contributing to lasting cultural change.

The Hearing Health Fund, part of Sweet Relief Musicians Fund in collaboration with Sweetwater, aims to support musicians and music industry professionals facing hearing difficulties. This initiative addresses the auditory risks inherent in the music industry due to exposure to loud sounds. Eligible applicants must demonstrate financial need and prove that a significant portion of their income comes from music-related work, ensuring that assistance reaches those most affected by hearing challenges.

The Suzanne G. Cusick Professional Development Fund, offered by the American Musicological Society, provides $500 grants to support low-income scholars in music and sound studies. These grants aim to enhance professional development for independent scholars and contingent faculty who lack access to such opportunities. The fund emphasizes equitable participation, particularly for historically under-represented groups, ensuring a diverse range of recipients can benefit from this vital support.

The Alvin H. Johnson AMS 50 Fellowship supports PhD candidates in music scholarship during their final dissertation year. Awarded based on academic merit, it offers a $25,000 stipend for full-time study, with no tuition coverage. Applicants must be registered doctoral students in good standing at North American universities, having completed all requirements except the dissertation. The fellowship emphasizes timely completion, discouraging extensive employment during the term, and is non-renewable.

The AMS Explore Travel Grant supports current or recent undergraduate students to present 10-minute papers at the 2025 AMS-SMT Joint Annual Meeting in Minneapolis. Participants will engage in cohort activities, receive constructive feedback, and enjoy a supportive conference environment. Accepted applicants will benefit from complimentary registration, a $350 travel grant, and shared lodging in the conference hotel, enhancing their academic experience and involvement in the AMS community.