In the early days of the school, founder Dave Brumbaugh would teach students who couldn’t afford to pay for free. They just needed to show the desire to learn and the discipline to work hard at their craft.
In return he expected them to excel at their studies, be respectful, clean and take care of the school, help with organizational tasks, and when ready, to teach their peers.
That idea of making high-quality music education available to everyone – regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or financial status – sits at the core of what we do.
Through our UMC Scholarship and Financial Aid programs, we offer our dynamic music education to any student willing to work hard and learn, and commit to never turning away a deserving student because of their inability to pay.
Each year, our winter concert raises money to support our UMC Financial Aid and Scholarship Fund for the coming year. Generous contributions from our community partners and donors further aid in our ability to offer tuition assistance. It’s truly a community effort – one that soley and fully serves our kids.
Financial Aid
Students may apply for Financial Assistance at any time of the year, including after the deadline has passed for scholarships. The amount of assistance given will depend on the student’s need (based on a sliding scale system), the number of approved applications, and available funding.
Financial Assistance, if approved, will be for a single semester, and the student must reapply each semester to continue assistance. These funds are through the Woodcock Foundation for the Appreciation of the Arts Inc. Financial Aid Fund at the Uptown Music Collective.
Scholarship
Our extensive Scholarship program currently supports 15 Uptown Music Collective students, totaling a value of over $22,000.
Through a competitive application process, scholarships are awarded to students who show a need for support, good student merit, and a drive and passion for music. Applications are reviewed by a scholarship committee consisting of UMC board members, staff, and key community members and donors.
Each scholarship recipient must maintain good attendance, appropriate study habits, and satisfactory grades. They are expected to give back to the Collective by taking part in volunteer programs, communicate regularly with our Scholarship Committee, and serve as good examples to their peers by exhibiting discipline, respect, and commitment.