You belong at Harmony University. Scholarships help you get there.
Whether you're a first-timer, aspiring arranger, or seasoned singer hoping to build a better barbershop world, there's support to help get you to HU.
2026 Scholarships Now Open!
Generous donors make it possible! Browse the many paths to Harmony University, and apply for any scholarships that fit your background and hopes.
How to apply
- Scholarship applications will close Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at 11:59 PM.
- All applicants will be notified of their application status no later than Friday, March 13, 2026. Once announced, scholarship recipients will receive a promo code to redeem their Harmony University scholarship in Eventbrite and complete the registration process.
- The Early Bird registration deadline for Harmony University is March 31, 2026. If you are not awarded a scholarship, you will still have ample time to register at the Early Bird rate.
- Applicants may apply for more than one scholarship; however, please carefully review the eligibility requirements before applying.
- All scholarships are offered through a single application. You will first complete a set of general application questions, then select the scholarship(s) you wish to apply for.
- 📝 Additional responses are required when applying for some scholarships. Consider these in advance to move through the application process.
- With the exception of the HU Half Scholarship, all listed scholarships are full scholarships.
What's included
- Full Scholarships cover the cost of a full Harmony University registration, including housing (double occupancy, with the option to purchase the second bed to upgrade to a single), meals, and roundtrip shuttle transportation to and from the Denver airport.
- Half Scholarships provide a $650 credit toward a full Harmony University registration. Recipients are responsible for paying the remaining balance of their registration.
- All scholarship recipients are responsible for arranging and paying for their own travel to and from Denver, CO.
Jump to a scholarship
AISQC • Young Directors of Youth Choruses
Earl Moon • First-time HU attendees and & strong contributors to the BHS chapter experience
Grand Central Red Caps • Singers, music educators, and directors of color
Music Educator Full Scholarship • Music Educators in the first 5 years of their teaching career
HU Half Scholarships • Music Educators, Frontline Directors, Next Generation Barbershoppers (ages 18-30), and/or those demonstrating financial need
Jim Miller • Directors who pursue artistic excellence in service of preserving barbershop music
Larry Ajer • Quartets on the rise looking to qualify for International
Lou Perry • New and Aspiring Arrangers
Peggy Leon • Women in Barbershop
Rich Knight • Quartet Lead Singers
Robert & Judy Brown • for Barbershoppers demonstrating financial need & a strong commitment to service
AISQC • Young Directors of Youth Choruses
Eligibility Requirements for Applicants:
Must be a choral director in the early stages of their career
Preferred: director of either a youth or young adult chorus
Music Educators are encouraged to apply!
📝 Additional responses required:
- What is the name of your Youth Chorus?
- What is the website or social media site associated with you and your chorus?
- What is your history of directing this group?
- To be considered for the scholarship, please share below what barbershop means to you and how you plan to preserve barbershop for the generations to come through your work with the youth.
The Association of International Senior Quartet Champions (AISQC) is offering scholarships to young, talented directors, especially directors of younger singers! It has not gone without notice that the Junior Chorus Invitational has become a major attraction at the Midwinter Convention, and the AISQC is as excited as everyone else. The AISQC intends to be a part of the continuing effort to encourage young singers to participate in barbershop.
Young directors, especially those who are public school music educators, are welcome to apply!
Earl Moon • For first-time HU attendees & strong contributors to the BHS chapter experience
Eligibility Requirements for Applicants:
Must be a current member of the BHS for at least three years
Must be active and involved in their chapter
Must have never attended Harmony University and is likely to not otherwise have the opportunity to do so
Be expected to personally benefit from attending Harmony University
Be recommended by their Chapter President or Immediate Past President
Have had candidacy for the scholarship approved by their chapter's Board of Directors
📝 Additional responses required:
- This scholarship requires a reference from either your Chapter President or Immediate Past President.
- What you would hope to learn at Harmony University? Why you, why now?
- If you were to attend Harmony University, how would you share what you learned with others upon your return to the chapter?
Earl Moon was the director of the Whittier Choralaires for more than 25 years, and has a long-standing reputation and legacy as a premier faculty member at Harmony University. Earl was not only a great quartet coach, chorus director, arranger and teacher, but also a true champion of the everyday barbershoppers of the Society.
The Whittier Choralaires, the Whittier Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society, and the Far Western District established a Memorial Endowment Scholarship Fund in the name of legendary Barbershopper Earl Moon. These scholarships support Harmony University applicants who demonstrate a passion for learning, leadership, and service within the barbershop community.
Grand Central Red Caps • For singers, music educators, and directors of color
Eligibility Requirements for Applicants:
Must identify as a person of color
Open to singers, music educators, directors, arrangers, etc.
Open to any level or history of involvement in the barbershop community
📝 Additional responses required:
- This scholarship is intended for promising barbershop singers, music educators, and directors of color. Describe how your background and experience fully encompass this scholarship requirement.
- What does an inclusive Barbershop Harmony Society look like to you, and how would this scholarship help support your involvement?
After winning the famed New York Barbershop Quartet Contest In the Park, the Grand Central Red Caps earned automatic qualification to compete at our 1941 International Convention. However, reflecting the unjust racial discrimination of the time, SPEBSQSA denied the quartet the opportunity to participate because they were Black. That decision was wrong. It does not reflect who we are today, nor who we aspire to be\.
The Grand Central Red Caps Endowment was established to help advance that commitment by providing scholarships and other forms of support to encourage the broadest possible participation from promising barbershop singers, music educators, and directors of color. The initiative was launched through an initial $50,000 commitment from the Barbershop Harmony Society, along with a $50,000 gift to Harmony Foundation International from Dr. Bart Campbell of Nashville.
The Barbershop Harmony Society is committed to acknowledging and honoring the African American roots of barbershop singing and the artists who shaped the foundation of our musical tradition. We are proud to support and invest in singers, educators, and directors of color whose voices and leadership strengthen the future of barbershop harmony.
Larry Ajer • Quartets on the rise looking to qualify for International
Eligibility Requirements for Quartets:
Must be a BHS registered quartet for at least two years
Must be on the cusp of moving up to a new level, with the goal of qualifying for International with a score of 81 or higher
📝 Additional responses required::
Please provide a link to a video of your quartet performing. This can be YouTube, Facebook, or any other format that allows review via link sharing.
At your most recent contest(s) what was your placement(s) and approximate average score(s)?
Larry Ajer believed in helping quartets attend HU so that each quartet could learn and grow, but more importantly, go back home and share what they learned with other quartets in the district. How will your quartet share what you have learned with your community?
Share a little bit about your quartet: How long you have been together, your goals, your involvement in district and international events—anything you think would help us understand your quartet!
In what ways does your quartet serve and/or engage with your local non-barbershop community?
The Larry Ajer Quartet Scholarship is rooted in the belief that investing in quartets has a ripple effect far beyond a single ensemble. Larry Ajer championed helping quartets attend Harmony University not only to grow artistically and musically, but to return home equipped to uplift others in their district. This scholarship supports BHS-registered quartets that are on the cusp of reaching a new competitive level and are committed to using Harmony University as a catalyst for growth.
Priority is given to quartets who demonstrate a dedication to service—within barbershop and beyond—and who are eager to share the knowledge, skills, and inspiration gained at Harmony University with fellow quartets and singers in their community.
Lou Perry • New and Aspiring Arrangers
This scholarship is selected by an external review committee and is awarded based on the committee’s evaluation of an original barbershop arrangement. Applicants of any age are encouraged to apply, including those who may be early in their arranging journey but demonstrate strong musical skills, creativity, and clear potential for future growth.
Eligibility Requirements for Applicants:
Must not be a previous recipient of the Lou Perry Scholarship
Must not have had an arrangement published by BHS or any commercial publisher
Each applicant may submit only one song/arrangement
📝Requirements for your Submission Materials:
1. Arrange one song in the barbershop style to submit: Dorico file is preferable, or Sibelius, XML, or PDF. An audio track is also required (MIDI, etc.).
Must be arranged in the barbershop style. The musical scope may include contest song/arrangements, or arrangements that might be heard on a BHS chapter show.
Arrangements must be based on the original sheet music, not on another arrangement, and the arrangement must be noticeably different from any existing arrangement.
The arrangement must be your original work, with no assistance or consultation with other arrangers.
Arrangements submitted in prior Lou Perry Scholarship competitions are ineligible
2. Provide a copy of the original sheet music that your arrangement is based on (PDF preferred)
3. Write a letter discussing your musical background, arranging experience, performance of your arrangements, and any other relevant information about your barbershop involvement.
Lou Perry was a respected barbershop arranger, director, and judge. His arrangements are considered foundational, and he coached renowned quartets, including the Four Statesmen and Boston Common. In retirement, he moved to Tucson, Arizona, dedicating himself to music and volunteering for local causes. Perry's legacy endures through his influential barbershop arrangements and the many harmonizers inspired by his work. He is remembered as a dedicated musician, mentor, and community servant.
This scholarship serves to recognize and support new and aspiring arrangers, and is selected by an external committee , independent of the BHS Music Education team.
Jim Miller • For directors who pursue artistic excellence in service of preserving barbershop music
Applicants for the Jim Miller Scholarship must:
Show a clear drive for excellence in directing, with focus on technique, musicality, and stage presence.
Demonstrate a deep commitment to barbershop music as a lifelong artistic pursuit.
Articulate meaningful personal and educational goals related to growth as a barbershop director.
Exhibit a genuine dedication to preserving and advancing the barbershop style through leadership and musicianship.
Intend to apply learning from Harmony University Conducting & Directing courses to their ensembles or community.
Be willing to complete a post-HU reflection specifically about the Conducting & Directing courses
📝 Additional responses required:
Chapter contacts: President, VP of Music & Performance, Immediate Past President
Website and/or social media accounts associated with you and/or your chorus.
Essay (between 800 and 1,600 words) explaining what barbershop means to you and how you plan to preserve barbershop for the generations to come without compromising the style.
Jim Miller Scholarship recipients are asked to share a written report about their Harmony University experience, specifically highlighting their experience taking the Directing & Conducting classes. If awarded this scholarship, can we count on you to complete this report?
The Jim Miller Scholarship honors the legacy of a dreamer who believed that anyone with the desire to strive for excellence could make a meaningful and lasting impact. This scholarship supports individuals who demonstrate the drive, passion, and commitment to make their artistic goals a reality through barbershop music.
Designed to provide educational advancement in barbershop directing, the Jim Miller Scholarship supports participation in Conducting & Directing courses at Harmony University (Formerly referred to as the "Director’s Track"). It reflects Jim Miller’s lifelong goal to improve and preserve the barbershop style as a respected and cherished musical art form—not as a casual hobby, but as a passion to be pursued fully and intentionally. This scholarship is awarded by an external committee, independent of the BHS Music Education Team.
Strong candidates for the Jim Miller Scholarship show a conviction for growth in technique, musicality, and stage presence, while remaining mindful of how their leadership and musicianship contribute to the preservation of the barbershop style. Scholarship recipients are expected to reflect on their experience by completing a post–Harmony University write-up that specifically highlights their experience in the Conducting & Directing courses.
Music Educator Full Scholarship • for Music Educators in the first 5 years of their teaching career
Eligibility Requirements for Applicants:
Must be a music educator within the first five (5) years of their teaching career
Must currently be teaching music in a classroom or school-based setting
📝 Additional responses required:
How long have you been teaching as a music educator?
What year did you start teaching?
What is your current role or job title?
What school or institution do you currently teach at?
What grade levels do you work with currently/have you worked with in the past?
What ensembles, classes, or musical groups do you direct or support?
Approximately how many students do you work with each year?
Are you involved in any extracurricular or community-based music programs? If so, please describe.
What challenges do you face as an early-career music educator?
How would attending Harmony University support your growth as a music educator at this stage in your career?
What specific skills, tools, or experiences are you hoping to gain at Harmony University?
How do you plan to apply what you learn at Harmony University in your classroom or ensembles?
The HU Music Educator Full Scholarship is designed to support music educators in the first five years of their teaching careers by removing financial barriers to professional development at Harmony University. The Barbershop Harmony Society is committed to investing in up-and-coming educators and equipping them with practical tools, fresh pedagogical approaches, and a strong professional network they can take back to their classrooms and ensembles. By supporting early-career educators at this pivotal stage, BHS aims to amplify their impact on students and communities while fostering the next generation of musical leaders and advocates for barbershop harmony.
HU Half Scholarship • for Music Educators, Frontline Directors, Next Generation Barbershoppers(ages 18-30), and/or those demonstrating financial need
HALF SCHOLARSHIP - covers $650 towards a full HU registration. You must pay the remaining cost of your HU registration, and you must arrange your own travel to/from Denver.
Eligible applicants must fall into ONE or more of the following categories:
Music Educator
Frontline Director
Next Generation Barbershopper (ages 18-30)
Demonstrated Financial Barriers
📝 Additional responses required:
For Frontline Directors:
What ensemble(s) or group(s) do you currently direct or lead?
How long have you served in a frontline directing role?
What are the primary challenges you face in your current directing work?
How do you plan to apply what you learn at Harmony University to support the singers you lead?
How will you share knowledge or resources from Harmony University with others in your chapter, school, or community?
The HU Half Scholarship is designed to reduce financial barriers for individuals who play a vital role in growing and sustaining barbershop and vocal music in their communities. This scholarship supports music educators, frontline directors, and Next Generation Barbershoppers (ages 18–30) who demonstrate financial need and a commitment to continued learning. By investing in these singers and leaders, the Barbershop Harmony Society seeks to equip participants with practical skills, fresh musical ideas, and renewed inspiration that they can bring back to their ensembles, students, and communities—amplifying the impact of Harmony University well beyond the campus.
Peggy Leon Women In Barbershop Scholarship
Eligibility Requirements for Applicants:
Must identify as a Woman
Must be age 25 or Older
Must be a registered member of a women's barbershop organization for three (3) or more years
Must be music team member of their chapter or chorus (director, assistant or co-director, music team member)
Must demonstrate financial need.
Peggy Viermann Leon is a retired music educator, Harmony University faculty member, and student. As a lifetime member of NAfME, a member of ACDA, the Orff Schulwerk Society, and BHS, a former assistant director of a Sweet Adelines International chorus, a charter member and current board member of Visions of Harmony, Peggy serves as an adjudicator, mentor to new teachers, and is active in barbershop outreach, and she has held many music leadership positions at the regional, local and chapter levels.
Peggy has a passion for working with young people in schools and her community to spread the joy of singing. Peggy knows first hand the power of music and especially singing in harmony with others. She wants more women to experience this joy and has established this scholarship fund to do just that! Her goal for this scholarship is to help promote and foster sharing between the women's and men's barbershop style organizations in the world. Peggy believes that quality barbershop education is not limited to any one organization.
As an attendee at educational events of several barbershop organizations, she recognizes the impact Harmony University can offer to women who are musical leaders that want to grow in their understanding of Barbershop, teaching and directing skills. After Harmony University, students can share the information learned with their home chorus as they continue to improve their barbershop skills.
Rich Knight “LEAD the Way” Scholarship
Eligibility Requirements for Applicants:
Must be the Lead singer in a registered quartet of two (2) or more years in the BHS or Alliance Organization
Must be an active member of the Barbershop Harmony Society or Alliance Organization for three (3) or more years
Preferred, but not required:
Preference for applicants who attend as part of the Quartet Coaching program with the rest of their quartet
Preference to applicants demonstrating financial need
Preference to applicants who can show that they will share their knowledge with youth, schools, camps, and local coaching after attending HU.
📝 Additional responses required::
Quartet background, performance video link, contest experience and level
Tell us about your current quartet. What are you about? Are you focused on competition, entertainment, service, or something else?
Why do you sing lead?
What would you like to learn to do better as a lead that will help achieve your quartet goals?
If you receive this scholarship, how will you use this experience to help others (especially lead singers) in your community improve their Barbershop skills? Examples may be working at youth camps, music schools, coaching quartets and choruses, being a section leader, etc.
Rich Knight is the lead of the BHS 1993 international champion quartet The Gas House Gang and is a member of the five-time BHS gold medal champion chorus the Ambassadors of Harmony. He is a long time Harmony University faculty member and has coached quartets and choruses world wide. Rich knows that barbershop is far more than a hobby. It is the art form and community that has impacted his life in immeasurable ways and he wants to see that impact on future singers and their communities.
By creating an endowment fund, Rich is helping ensure education for future quartet leads to grow musically. He hopes this experience will help the scholarship winner (and their quartet) return home and give back what they have learned at HU. Rich firmly believes that promoting excellence in singing and bringing emotional impact to performances will allow the quartet to have a greater impact on other singers and their audiences.
Robert & Judy Brown • for Barbershoppers with financial need and a strong commitment to service
Eligibility Requirements for Applicants:
Must be a current active member of the Barbershop Harmony Society
Must be active and involved with their chapter
Must demonstrate financial need
Must provide a chapter officer contact as a reference
📝 Additional responses required:
Contact for Chapter Officer Reference
This scholarship is awarded based on financial need. Please describe your current financial circumstances and explain how scholarship assistance would support your participation at Harmony University
This scholarship also considers your service to your barbershop chapter and your potential to positively influence others after returning from Harmony University. Please describe how you plan to share what you learn with your chapter or broader community.
Do you have any special circumstances the committee should be aware of? Robert & Judy Brown Scholarship recipients are asked to share a written report about their Harmony University experience with their Barbershop Harmony Society chapter. If awarded this scholarship, can we count on you to complete this report?
The Robert and Judy Brown Scholarship is awarded to individuals who demonstrate financial need and a strong commitment to service within their barbershop chapter and community. Applicants are invited to share how financial assistance will make participation in Harmony University possible, as well as how their involvement in barbershop has impacted others. In honoring the singing legacies of Bill Park, Dick Crockett, Bo Allen, Lloyd Erickson, Conrad “Connie” Keil, and Ken Pacetti, this scholarship seeks to support singers who will carry forward that tradition by returning from Harmony University ready to share their knowledge, enthusiasm, and skills with others.