Wisconsin Conservatory of Music

Mary Horwitt Piano Scholarship

Since 1999, the Conservatory has hosted the annual competition for the Mary Horwitt Piano Scholarship. This scholarship provides financial assistance for piano lessons at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music for MPS students in grades 6-11. Students of all ability levels are eligible to apply. Applicants must demonstrate serious interest in, and dedication to, studying classical, jazz or other styles of piano music.

This scholarship is named for Mary Horwitt, a graduate of MPS, who began her life-long love of the piano by taking lessons as a young girl. The scholarship was established by her family and friends to celebrate the love, kindness and great spirit that she expressed through her music and in so many other ways.

The annual scholarship provides up to $1,000 for piano lessons at the Conservatory and may be renewed for additional years at the discretion of the selection committee which is comprised of members of Mary Horwitt's family.

Applications are due Friday, February 27, 2009. Scholarship finalists will be notified in the spring and invited to an audition. To obtain an application, click here OR contact the MPS Music Department (414-475-8050), the Guidance Department (414-475-8142), or the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music (414-276-5760).

Marlee Sabo Voice Scholarship

The Marlee Sabo Voice Scholarship was established in 2001 by the parents of former students to honor the work of this long-time voice teacher. Ms Sabo has taught at the Conservatory since 1967.

This scholarship will be awarded to a young woman age 20 or under as of the date of the auditions. This competition is held concurrently with our all-school scholarship auditions each spring. Each auditioner must participate in the all-school scholarship auditions in her proper category. In addition to the all-school requirements, each vocalist will sing a song from the standard German Art Song Repertoire (Mozart through Strauss/Wolf). Participants will be judged on vocal quality, technical ability, intonation, rhythm, pronunciation, dynamics, interpretation and overall stage presence.

Applications are available along with the annual WCM Scholarship Audition application.

Bonnie Dent Grass Piano Scholarship

This fund was established in 1999 by the Maihaugen Foundation to honor the career of Bonnie Dent Grass, a Wisconsin Conservatory of Music alumnus. As a piano teacher, Mrs. Grass endeared herself to her students as a caring and attentive teacher. This piano scholarship is awarded through the all-school scholarship audition process.

Dorothea Mayer General Scholarship

This fund was established through a bequest from Dorothea Mayer's estate in 2000. Miss Mayer was a beloved Milwaukee arts patron and long-time Wisconsin Conservatory of Music trustee who highly valued music in her life. This endowed fund provides for several scholarship awards through the all-school scholarship auditions.

Norbert Beihoff Scholarship

Norbert Beihoff received his Bachelors of Music at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music in 1925. He later opened Beihoff's music store in 1926, which was operated by his family until 1997. Famous for music instrument rentals, the Beihoff family has had a part in the music education of thousands of Milwaukee area children. This fund was established by the Beihoff Family in the 1980's. The scholarship is awarded to a brass and woodwind student through the all-school scholarship auditions.