About TMEA Scholarships
TMEA is pleased to offer over $200,000 in scholarships each year for undergraduate and graduate music study in Texas.
Congratulations to the 2026-2027 Scholarship Recipients!
Thank you to our members and music industry partners for their generous contributions! Want to support the future of music education?
Apply for a Scholarship
Apply for a TMEA scholarship to help support your educational journey. Scholarship applications are accepted from August 1 to October 31. Scholarship recipients are announced in January.
Scholarship Opportunities
Explore scholarship opportunities, check eligibility requirements, and review application criteria. Scholarship applicants will receive notification via email during the week of January 12, 2026.
For Graduating High School Seniors
- Bill Cormack Scholarship: $3,000 per year for up to five years (one awarded annually)
- Past-Presidents Memorial Scholarship: $2,500 per year for up to five years (one awarded annually)
- Past-Presidents Scholarship: $2,500 per year for up to five years (one awarded annually)
- Executive Board Scholarship: $2,500 per year for up to five years (one awarded annually)
- One-Year Scholarships: $2,500 for one year (multiple awarded annually)
Eligibility Requirements
- Texas high school graduate must be entering as a full-time freshman, as defined by the attending institution, in a Texas college or university in the fall 2026
- Must major in a music degree program leading to Texas teacher certification with music as the primary teaching field
Application Criteria
To be eligible to receive a TMEA Scholarship, you must submit your completed Scholarship Application by 4:30 PM CT on October 31. Do not create more than one application. If you have created an application and lost your upload link, please contact Kay Vanlandingham before 3:30 PM CT on October 31.
☑ Names & Emails of Five References
Submit five (5) names of individuals, and their email addresses, of people who can address your potential for success in an undergraduate music education program, music skills and abilities, work ethic, and other personal qualities. One evaluation must be submitted by your primary ensemble director. These evaluations will be completed online.
☑ Short Essay
Self-composed essay that describes when you knew you wanted to be a music educator, the teachers who inspired you, and the teacher you want to become. Applicants are expected to write their essays in their own authentic voice, reflecting their personal thoughts and insights. Essays will be inspected to detect the percentage of AI-generated content, and the result will be considered in the application evaluation.
This document must be uploaded in PDF or Microsoft Word format.
☑ Professional Resume
Professional resume that includes a list of musical and academic honors, awards, recognitions, affiliations, community involvement, and service.
This document must be uploaded in PDF or Microsoft Word format.
☑ Current Academic Transcript
Copy of your current academic transcript may be uploaded as a PDF or mailed to TMEA, 7900 Centre Park Dr., Austin, TX 78754. Your transcript must be received on or before October 31. Do not email or fax your transcript to TMEA.
For Undergraduate Students
- The Robert Floyd Scholarship for Music Education: $4,000 per year for up to four years (one awarded annually)
- One-Year Scholarships: $2,500 for one year, to be distributed for the fall 2026 semester (multiple awarded annually)
- One-Semester Student Teaching Scholarships: $2,500 for students scheduled to student teach during spring 2026 or fall 2026 semesters (multiple awarded annually)
Eligibility Requirements
- Must be currently enrolled as an undergraduate music education major at a fully accredited university in Texas pursuing a degree that leads to Texas teacher certification with music as the primary teaching field
- Applicant must be enrolled as a full-time student as defined by the attending institution
- Must be a current College Student Member of TMEA
- Must have a minimum 3.0 grade point average on a four-point scale
- Student may reapply for consideration in subsequent years
One-Semester Student Teaching Scholarship Eligibility Requirements
- Must be currently enrolled as an undergraduate music education major at a fully accredited university in Texas pursuing a degree that leads to Texas teacher certification with music as the primary teaching field
- Must be a current College Student Member of TMEA
- Must have a minimum 3.0 grade point average on a four-point scale
- Must be scheduled to student teach within the two semesters following the application deadline
- Must not currently have a TMEA Scholarship
Application Criteria
To be eligible to receive a TMEA Scholarship, you must submit your completed Scholarship Application by 4:30 PM CT on October 31. Do not create more than one application. If you have created an application and lost your upload link, please contact Kay Vanlandingham before 3:30 PM CT on October 31.
☑ Names & Emails of Five References
Submit five (5) names of individuals, and their email addresses, of people who can address your potential for success as a music educator, music skills and abilities, work ethic, and other personal qualities. These evaluations will be completed online.
☑ Short Essay
Self-composed essay (1-2 pages) that describes when you knew you wanted to be a music educator, the teachers who inspired you, and the teacher you want to become. Applicants are expected to write their essays in their own authentic voice, reflecting their personal thoughts and insights. Essays will be inspected to detect the percentage of AI-generated content, and the result will be considered in the application evaluation.
This document must be uploaded in PDF or Microsoft Word format.
☑ Professional Resume
Professional resume that includes a list of musical and academic honors, awards, recognitions, affiliations, community involvement, and service.
This document must be uploaded in PDF or Microsoft Word format.
☑ Current Academic Transcript
Copy of your most recent academic transcript may be uploaded as a PDF or mailed to TMEA, 7900 Centre Park Dr., Austin, TX 78754. If you are currently a freshman, you should submit your high school transcript. Your transcript must be received on or before October 31. Do not email or fax your transcript to TMEA.
For Graduate Students
- Graduate Study Scholarships: $1,250 for 3 Hours and $2,500 for 6+ hours for studies during the summer 2026 and/or fall 2026 semesters (multiple awarded annually)
Eligibility Requirements
- Must be a current Active member of TMEA
- Must have a minimum of three years, full-time, classroom teaching experience in Texas with music as the primary teaching field at the time of application
- Must be pursuing a music-related graduate degree at a fully-accredited university in the state of Texas
Application Criteria
To be eligible to receive a TMEA Scholarship, you must submit your completed Scholarship Application by 4:30 PM CT on October 31. Do not create more than one application. If you have created an application and lost your upload link, please contact Kay Vanlandingham before 3:30 PM CT on October 31.
☑ Names & Emails of Five References
Submit five (5) names of individuals, and their email addresses, of people who can address your success as a music educator, music skills and abilities, work ethic, and other personal qualities. These evaluations will be completed online.
☑ Short Essay
Self-composed essay (1-2 pages) that describes your primary goals as a music educator and how a graduate degree related to music education will help you achieve these goals. Applicants are expected to write their essays in their own authentic voice, reflecting their personal thoughts and insights. Essays will be inspected to detect the percentage of AI-generated content, and the result will be considered in the application evaluation.
This document must be uploaded in PDF or Microsoft Word format.
☑ Professional Resume
Professional resume that includes a list of musical and academic honors, awards, recognitions, affiliations, community involvement, and service.
This document must be uploaded in PDF or Microsoft Word format.
☑ Current Academic Transcript
Copy of your most recent academic transcript may be uploaded as a PDF or mailed to TMEA, 7900 Centre Park Dr., Austin, TX 78754. Your transcript must be received on or before October 31. Do not email or fax your transcript to TMEA.
Without my TMEA scholarship, I would most definitely not be where I am today at UNT. Finances were always a topic of much stress for me growing up, so much so that I didn’t think college was even an option for me. Without this scholarship, I would’ve never had the opportunity to study with the world-class faculty here, and I would’ve missed out on so many life-changing experiences.
Wesley Wynn,
Music Education Major, University of North Texas
Need Help?
For questions or assistance with scholarships, please email Kay Vanlandingham.
2026-2027 Scholarship Recipients
High School
Bill Cormack Scholarship
Jason Castillo, J.M Hanks HS
Past-Presidents Scholarship
Esther Jones, Marcus HS
Past-Presidents Memorial Scholarship
Michael Vangeli, Vista Ridge HS
Executive Board Scholarship
Leah Grigsby, Bridgeland HS
One Year Scholarships
- Usman Ali, Irving MacArthur HS
- Evan Avery, Veterans Memorial HS
- Armando Cabrera-Ontiveros, Pearland HS
- Millicent Cherry, Midway HS
- Cadon Croy, Community HS
- Jason Gonzales, Vandegrift HS
- Anna Hunter, Franklin HS
- Joseph Keo, Klein Cain HS
- Dean Kuhl, Canton HS
- David Le, Round Rock HS
- Emma Mathis, East Central HS
- Mark Motal, Pasadena Memorial HS
- Kieran Newton, Cypress Ranch HS
- Mason Pfeiffer, Rockwall-Heath HS
- Max Ratttleff, Lovejoy HS
- Padraig Salinas-McCoy, Advanced Learning Academy
- Eden Shin, Emerson HS
- Bryan Trim, Magnolia West HS
- Christian Vasquez, Leander HS
- James Williams, Shadow Creek HS
- Stephanie Wilson, White Oak HS
Undergraduate
Robert Floyd Scholarship for Music Education
Tessa Marsh, Baylor Univ
One Year Scholarships
- Samuel Palmer Biggers, Texas Tech Univ
- Madison Bookman, Univ of Texas at Austin
- Phillip Clark, Baylor Univ
- Maura Connors, Baylor Univ
- Ava Cooper, Baylor Univ
- Jaydon De Los Santos, UT San Antonio
- Kylie Dunham, Univ of Houston
- Autumn Forgey, Univ of North Texas
- Noah Grant, Stephen F. Austin State Univ
- Aaron LaVohn, Univ of Houston
- Patricia Lopez, Texas Tech Univ
- Sara Lwin, Texas Christian Univ
- Kaitlyn Maresca, Univ of North Texas
- Alana Grace Medlin, Baylor Univ
- Will Moeller, Texas Christian Univ
- Emily Overdirth, Texas Christian Univ
- Michael Pair, Univ of North Texas
- Regan Rucker, Baylor Univ
- Josi Simmons, East Texas Baptist Univ
- Katherine Smith, Texas Tech Univ
- Giana Stebley, Austin College
- Ashley Tyson, Texas Christian Univ
- Maddie White, Univ of North Texas
Student Teacher
- Lauren Abell, The Univ of North Texas
- Presley Arvin, Univ of North Texas
- Emma Barrow, Univ of North Texas
- Sarah Barrow, Univ of North Texas
- Ashley Bird, Texas Woman’s Univ
- Madeline Bowen, Baylor Univ
- Micah Bronaugh, The Univ of Texas at Austin
- Andrew Bryson, Univ of North Texas
- Malachi Burke, The Univ of Texas at Austin
- Chanel Daniels, Baylor Univ
- Nathalie De La Cruz, Stephen F. Austin State Univ
- Marina Elizondo Collado, Univ of Houston
- Caleb Haffner, Stephen F. Austin State Univ
- Tomas Hinojosa, Texas State Univ
- Mark Huffines, Texas Tech Univ
- Reilly Ledbetter, Texas Tech Univ
- Ava Lee, Univ of Houston
- Adolfo Leon, Texas A&M Univ-Kingsville
- Karen Morales, Univ of Texas at Arlington
- Alain Mpinda, Univ of North Texas
- Zackary Noe, Baylor Univ
- Adam Parham, Univ of Texas at Arlington
- Charlotte Power, Univ of North Texas
- Samuel Shin, Univ Of Texas At Austin
- Kynnady Sparks, Sam Houston State Univ
- James Stephenson, Univ of Houston
Graduate
- Melissa Bunzendahl, Bowman MS/Texas State Univ
- Mary Katheryn Clark, West Avenue ES/Stephen F Austin
- Audrey De la Cruz, Jordan HS/Texas State Univ
- Jared Dees, Crawford HS/Texas State Univ
- William Blake Glass, Western Hills HS/Texas State Univ
- Elaine Johnson, Sam Houston State Univ
- Victoria Recker, Brent ES/Southern Methodist Univ
- Heather Sharp, Rock Hill HS/Texas State Univ
- Daniel Weatherholt, Univ of North Texas
- Reginal Wright, Baylor Univ/Texas Tech Univ