Applications Open for University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s Diversity Fellowship

Applications to the 2024/26 class of Diversity Fellows will close on December 1, 2023

The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s (CSO) Diversity Fellowship is open to graduate-level violin, viola, violoncello, and double bass players.

Accepting up to five qualifying Fellows each year, the program offers students full tuition scholarship support (instructional fees and non-resident surcharges) while they are enrolled in CCM’s two-year master of music degree or artist diploma program.

The Fellows will perform the equivalent of five weeks per season with the CSO, receiving compensation of $8,000 per season. They will also be paired with a CSO coach/mentor throughout the program, and be supported by an administrative liaison.

Supported by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Fellowship’s funding totals $27,500 annually. Each Fellow will also receive a yearly $10,000 graduate stipend and a one-time Graduate School Dean’s Excellence Award of $3,000 from CCM. 

Additionally, Fellows will receive guidance from CCM faculty members, and have access to orchestral audition and professional development travel stipends, arts entrepreneurial seminars, and other performing and non-performing community engagement events.

More opportunities include performing with the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra and participating in professional development opportunities with the Chautauqua Institution during its summer season.

To apply click here. Further information and the audition repertoire for each eligible instrument can be accessed here. 

The deadline is December 1, 2023. Live auditions with CCM faculty will be held in January and February 2024. Finalists will audition for the CSO in March.

A mini-documentary about the Fellowship can be viewed below.