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Bold Music Scholarship

Funded by
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Bold.org
$500
1 winner$500
Awarded
Application Deadline
May 15, 2022
Winners Announced
Jun 15, 2022
Education Level
Any

“Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent,” -Victor Hugo. 

Music is a source of release and passion for the world. Music can help you express your emotions and creativity to the world, whether you play an instrument, write music, or simply listen to it.

This scholarship aims to help students who are passionate about music and take inspiration from it. 

Any student who loves playing, writing, or listening to music may apply for this scholarship. To apply, tell us what song most inspires you and share a link to it.

Selection Criteria:
Ambition, Need, Boldest Bold.org Profile
Music ScholarshipsEssay ScholarshipsBand Scholarships
Published February 14, 2022
Essay Topic

What song most inspires you?

150–300 words

Winners and Finalists

Winning Application

Katherine Davis
University of South Carolina-ColumbiaColumbia, SC
The song that most inspires me is "A Pirate Looks at 40" by Jimmy Buffet. When I was little, my dad used to sing that song to me. Of course, some lyrics had to be changed because I was young. But I still remember my dad tickling my stomach when Buffet sings, "and in your belly you hold the treasures few have ever seen" and all the hand motions we made to go along with the lyrics. Now that I am older, a simple hug of goodnight will usually suffice. However, I find even more significance in Buffet's lyrics now that I am old enough to comprehend them. The song is about growing older, watching the environment around you change, but still being left haunted by memories of the past. The pirate acknowledges that he has made mistakes, and is on a never-ending journey trying to forgive himself and find peace with his past. The song ends with the line, "I feel like I've drowned, but I won't wear a frown" meaning that even though the pirate is depressed because of the accumulation of life events and his aging, he will not let that stop him from trying to be a happy person. I relate to this song, especially now as a young adult. It is hard to think about how quickly changes happen between childhood and adulthood. Growing up is like continuously having sensory overload, but with memories you don't know how to process. Listening to songs from my childhood like this one helps to ground me. This song reminds me of my father and the memories we have shared. It reminds me that no matter what I do in life, I will always have him behind me to comfort me in my endeavors.
Natalie Zeledon
University of HoustonHouston, TX
The song that inspires me is Rosas by La Oreja de Van Gogh. My first time listening to this song was when I was eight years old. I was in Nicaragua at the time, my home country, where I lived during my childhood. My childhood memories are foggy but this is one memory I will never forget. I remember being at my Godmother's house. It was the day after my birthday and I remember asking for an iPod to listen to music. She had gave me a cream MP3. Until this day, I still have it. She used to own that MP3 so it had some songs downloaded on it. I had no idea how to use an MP3 or how to even download new songs on it so I spent the rest of my childhood listening to the same Spanish songs that my Godmother liked. Rosas by La Oreja de Van Gogh is a song that stuck with me because it was the only song with a female lead as the singer. I loved how calm and sweet the melody was. She sings about someone she met and loved. She thinks about the day when her love left her and how she hopes that her love will come back holding roses. She says that she stands with a soaked face thinking about how the only real love is the love we have for ourselves and how she is starting to forget if love is even real. No matter how sad she felt, she still hoped her love would return. I'm a hopeful, optimistic person who always wishes for the best. This was the song centered around my childhood that I can't let go off because, in some way, it helped me become the hopeful, optimistic person I am today.

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FAQ

When is the scholarship application deadline?

The application deadline is May 15, 2022. Winners will be announced on Jun 15, 2022.