The Colburn-Pledge Music Scholarship
About the Scholarship
The Colburn-Pledge Music Scholarship provides college tuition assistance to young string instrument players who are preparing for careers in classical music.
The scholarship awards are limited to the amount of the annual tuition to be charged by the school, college, or university of the recipient’s choice, not to exceed $3,000 per recipient. As of 2025, 150 scholarships totaling more than $110,000 have been awarded to 83 different students.
The scholarship was formerly associated under the auspices of The Colburn-Pledge Music Scholarship Foundation from 1985 to 2021, and now resides under the management of Musical Bridges Around the World. The previously-named foundation was formed by John Pledge with proceeds from the estates of his sister, Genevieve Pledge, and of Lois Colburn, both former members of the San Antonio Symphony, for the purpose of offering tuition aid to string players residing in Texas who are preparing for careers in classical music. The first annual Colburn-Pledge Music Scholarship auditions were held in San Antonio on June 2, 1986, and the original foundation officers were Shirley Frederic, president; Robert Danielson, William Moore, and Barbara Faught, vice-presidents; Joycelyn Rudeloff, secretary; and John Pledge, treasurer.
2025 Scholarship Recipients
Emma Akkutlu
Violin
Oberlin College and Conservatory of Music
Sofia Ramirez
Cello
University of Tennessee at Knoxville- Haslam College of Music
Javier Martinez II
Violin
University of Texas at San Antonio, School of Music
Elena Castillo
Violin
University of Texas at San Antonio, School of Music
Eligibility, Application & Audition
2025-26 Key Dates
- Open Application Period: 1 May – 30 June 2025
- 2025-26 Scholarship Recipients Selected: 15 July 2025
Eligibility
- Applicants for financial aid must be music students pursuing the studies of a bowed string instrument (specifically violin, viola, cello, or double bass) in classical music at any nationally recognized music school, college, or university with proof of admission to this institution. They must be starting their first year in the upcoming fall or spring semester after the scholarship’s application period.
- Applicants must be bona fide residents of Greater San Antonio (counties include Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Guadalupe, Kendall, Medina, Wilson) on the date of making application and for a period of at least six (6) months prior thereto.
Application & Audition Submission Process
Applications are handled through the ACCEPTD application platform. The Colburn-Pledge Music Scholarship does NOT conduct live auditions. All auditions are screened through video recordings as a part of the online application process.
To read the full list of submission guidelines and apply
- Visit our ACCEPTD page.
- “Select Program” under “Start an Application” box. Select “Colburn-Pledge Music Scholarship”.
- Read and prepare all application submission materials.
- Once applications have opened, click “Apply for Colburn-Pledge Music Scholarship under the “Start an Application” box to begin your application.
Featured Video & Pictures
To view IRS Forms of the previously-held foundation (2015-2021), click here.
- 2015 IRS Form 990-PF (Return of Private Foundation)
- 2016 IRS Form 990-PF (Return of Private Foundation)
- 2017 IRS Form 990-PF (Return of Private Foundation)
- 2018 IRS Form 990-PF (Return of Private Foundation)
- 2019 IRS Form 990-PF (Return of Private Foundation)
- 2020 IRS Form 990-PF (Return of Private Foundation)
- 2021 IRS Form 990-PF (Return of Private Foundation)
OPERATIONAL SPONSORS
