Scholarship opportunities

River City Rhythm strives to ensure that the marching arts remain affordable and accessible for all. To this end, scholarship opportunities are available to currently contracted members to participate in any of our primary performing ensembles. These scholarships are funded by community donations made through the River City Rhythm Excellence in Education program. For more information, or to make a donation, visit our Scholarship Fund page.

Scholarship awards will be made at the discretion of the RCR Scholarship Committee based on available funds, individual and collective need, and additional eligibility requirements as specified within the application. Awarded funds will be applied directly to membership dues for the season in which the scholarship is awarded.

Scholarships are awarded for a single season. Eligible recipients may reapply in future years. Note that recipients may receive one General Scholarship per season and the Excellence in Leadership Scholarship once per organizational year, defined as the period from September 1st to August 31st.

Winter deadline: January 5th

Summer deadline: May 1st

Two scholarship categories are available to eligible members: the General Scholarship and the RCR Excellence in Leadership Scholarship.

Applications are currently open for the 2025 winter season.

RCR Excellence in Leadership Scholarship

The RCR Excellence in Leadership Scholarship is an application-based award that seeks to recognize current members of an RCR ensemble who demonstrate a commitment to the organization and the marching arts. Applications for this scholarship are open to all current members of RCR, and veteran members are especially encouraged to apply.

In addition to the RCR Scholarship Committee, donors at the highest level of the RCR Excellence in Education program will be invited to vote on the recipients of the Excellence in Leadership Scholarship as recognition for their commitment to supporting future leaders in the marching arts.

Application process

To apply for the RCR Excellence in Leadership Scholarship, submit an application online by the deadline specified above for the season in which funds are being requested. One Excellence in Leadership Scholarship will be awarded each season (winter and summer). 

In addition to having an active contract, eligible applicants must provide a letter of reference from an RCR staff member (preferred) or a staff member from a previous marching program in which they participated. Letters of recommendation must be emailed directly from the letter writer to the RCR Scholarship Committee at scholarships@rivercityrhythm.org.

Scholarship recipients will be asked to share a short headshot and biography to be shared with RCR Excellence in Education program donors.