Performing Arts Scholarships

About

Established in 2025, the Seton Hall Preparatory School Performing Arts Scholarships are awarded to those students who have demonstrated exceptional ability and talent in Drama/Musical Theater and/or Musical Performance and who are committed both to participation and further growth in their chosen art throughout their high school careers.

Timeline to Apply for School Year 2026-2027

Scholarships will be awarded annually to two accepted incoming students. Each $5,000 scholarship may be renewed annually provided that the recipient has met all participatory and academic requirements as set forth by the terms of the scholarship and with final approval of the scholarship committee. Performing Arts scholarships may not be stacked.

Submissions Close Monday, 12/29/25: The window for virtual submissions will close on Monday, December 29, 2025.
- Live Audition Invitations will be sent out on Friday, January 2, 2025 via email.
Live Auditions (held on campus at SHP)
- Music Applicants: Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2025 beginning at 4PM for Music applicants
- Drama Applicants: Friday, Jan. 9, 2025 beginning at 4PM for Drama applicants.

Performing Arts Scholarship: Drama/Musical Theater

List of 2 items.

Information & Expectations
Candidates for the Drama/Musical Theater Scholarship are those students who, as evidenced by prior experience, demonstrate a genuine passion for the dramatic arts and/or vocal performance.

Each recipient of the Drama/Musical Theater Scholarship will be expected to fully immerse themselves in the performing arts at Seton Hall Prep as indicated below:
- Scholarship recipients are expected to audition for and participate in both the fall drama and spring musical productions annually
- Scholarship recipients are expected to be active performers in all school-sponsored vocal ensembles, including but not limited to Music Ministry and C-Tonian Vocal Ensemble
- Scholarship recipients are expected to perform at the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Singalong, Christmas Concert, Spring Concert, and any other performance (either on or off campus) as designated by the Fine & Performing Arts Department
- Scholarship recipients are expected to enroll in both the Acting I and Acting II courses once eligible
- Annual scholarship renewal is contingent upon satisfactory participation in all aforementioned performances, positive year-end review by the scholarship committee, and the achievement of a minimum cumulative 3.0 grade point average at the conclusion of each academic year
Application & Audition Process
In order to be considered for the Drama/Musical Theater Scholarship, each applicant will be required to submit the following to the scholarship committee by Monday, December 29, 2025:

Application Process:

Please send ONE email with your Essay, Resume/CV, and Letter of Recommendation (1) all attached to amartinez@shp.org

Your will upload your VIDEO to the Microsoft OneDrive folder detailed below.
- Essay: 400-500 word essay on the topic: “What role has drama or musical theater played in my life and how will it continue to shape and influence my future at Seton Hall Prep and beyond?”
  - Email the essay to Mr. Andrew Martinez '11 at amartinez@shp.org
- Performance CV or resume listing all performance credits, any formal training received, special skills, and acting credits -including titles of shows and roles performed (optional)
  - Email the CV/resume to Mr. Andrew Martinez '11 at amartinez@shp.org
- Letter of recommendation (1) from a current or former director or instructor (optional)
  - Email the letter of recommendation (1) to Mr. Andrew Martinez '11 at amartinez@shp.org
- Brief Video (no more than 2 minutes) of a recent performance or performance reel (optional)
  - Upload your video to this Seton Hall Prep Microsoft OneDrive shared folder
  - Please title your submissions as ‘FirstNameLastName_Audition’. If you have any issues submitting your videos, please reach out ASAP to Mr. Andrew Martinez at amartinez@shp.org
Audition Process: Once all required elements have been received, select candidates will be asked to take part in a live audition at Seton Hall Prep at a future date.

Audition pieces should adhere to the following guidelines:
- Drama: Two contrasting contemporary monologues – one dramatic and one comedic. Each monologue should be no longer than two minutes in length.
- Musical Theater: One comedic or dramatic contemporary monologue and 16-32 bars of a contrasting song. Candidates must provide their own sheet music with marked selections for the accompanist and must submit copies of all music electronically via email prior to the audition date (please also indicate the preferred key)
Interview: After completion of the live audition, each candidate will take part in a brief interview, conducted by a member of the Fine & Performing Arts faculty.

Performing Arts Scholarship: Musical Performance

List of 2 items.

Information & Expectations
Candidates for the Musical Performance Scholarship are those students who, as evidenced by prior experience, demonstrate a genuine passion for instrumental performance. Candidates for this scholarship must play a traditional concert band instrument including (but not limited to) brass, woodwind, and percussion. (While those instrumentalists who play orchestral stringed instruments are not eligible to apply for this scholarship, those who play guitar, bass, or piano may be eligible with prior committee approval.)

Each recipient of the Musical Performance Scholarship will be expected to fully immerse themselves in the performing arts at Seton Hall Prep as indicated below:
- Scholarship recipients are expected to enroll in Freshman Band as an academic course
- Scholarship recipients are expected to be active participants in all applicable school-sponsored ensembles, including but not limited to Jazz Ensemble, Brass & Woodwind Ensemble, and Music Ministry
- Scholarship recipients are expected to perform at the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Singalong (if applicable), Christmas Concert, Spring Concert, and any other performance (either on or off campus) as designated by the Fine & Performing Arts Department
- Scholarship recipients are expected to enroll in both the Music Fundamentals I and Music Fundamentals II courses once eligible
- Annual scholarship renewal is contingent upon satisfactory participation in all aforementioned performances, positive year-end review by the scholarship committee, and the achievement of a minimum cumulative 3.0 grade point average at the conclusion of each academic year
Application & Audition Process
In order to be considered for the Musical Performance Scholarship, each applicant will be required to submit the following to the scholarship committee by Monday, December 29, 2025:

Application Process

Please send ONE email with your Essay, Resume/CV, and Letter of Recommendation (1) all attached to mneglia@shp.org

Your will upload your VIDEO to the Microsoft OneDrive folder detailed below.

Complete scholarship application by doing the following:
- Essay: 400-500 word essay on the topic: “What role has music played in my life and how will it continue to shape and influence my future at Seton Hall Prep and beyond?”
  - Email the essay to Mr. Michael Neglia '05 at mneglia@shp.org
- Performance CV or resume listing names of orchestras, bands, ensembles, or solo recitals in which you have performed and any formal training received, (optional)
  - Email the CV or resume to Mr. Michael Neglia '05 at mneglia@shp.org.
- Letter of recommendation (1) from a current or former director or instructor (optional)
  - Email the letter of recommendation (1) to Mr. Michael Neglia '05 at mneglia@shp.org
- Brief video (no more than 2 minutes) of a recent performance (optional)
  - Upload your video to this Seton Hall Prep Microsoft OneDrive shared folder
  - Please title your submissions as ‘FirstNameLastName_Audition’. If you have any issues submitting your videos, please reach out ASAP to Mr. Michael Neglia at mneglia@shp.org
Auditions
Once all required elements have been received, select candidates will be asked to take part in a live audition at Seton Hall Prep at a future date. Audition pieces should adhere to the following guidelines:

Details by Instrument
- Brass or Woodwind Instruments:
  - Play at least two octaves for woodwinds, one octave for brass of all major scales up to two sharps and two flats (C, G, D, F, B flat)
  - Play a harmonic minor scale of your choosing (two octaves for woodwinds, one octave for brass)
  - Prepare a technical etude or short solo work
  - Candidates must provide a copy of their sheet music prior to the audition
- Percussion Instruments:
  - Mallet Percussion
    Play at least two octaves of any major scale and a harmonic minor scale of your choosing on a mallet instrument
    Prepare a technical etude or short solo work
    Candidates must provide a copy of their sheet music prior to the audition
    The school will provide instruments, but candidates should bring their own mallets to the audition
  - Snare Drum (non-pitched percussion)
    Play the following rudiments:
    Long roll (closed)
    Flam/Flam tap
    Paradiddle
    Play basic rock and jazz beats on set
    Perform a lyrical or rudimental composition of your choice
    Candidates must provide a copy of their sheet music prior to the audition
    The school will provide instruments, but candidates should bring their own sticks to the audition.