The National Association for Music Education (NAfME)

NAfME Scholarships are awards offered by the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) through its Tri-M Music Honor Society Chapter of the Year program and its Collegiate scholarship initiatives. NAfME supports music education students, future music teachers, and outstanding high school chapter members with awards ranging from $400 to $1,000. Founded in 1907, NAfME is the largest professional organization for music educators in the United States, with more than 50,000 members.

How NAfME Scholarships Work

NAfME distributes scholarships through two primary channels: the Tri-M Music Honor Society Chapter of the Year program and the NAfME Collegiate scholarship program.

Tri-M Chapter of the Year Scholarships

The Tri-M Music Honor Society is the international music honor society for middle school, junior high, and high school students. Since 1985, Tri-M has chartered more than 9,700 chapters with approximately 80,000 student members annually. The Chapter of the Year program rewards chapters that perform outstanding service projects and demonstrate leadership in their communities.

Scholarship amounts for the 2025-2026 program year:

Senior Division (High School):

• Chapter of the Year: $1,000
• 1st Runner-Up: $800
• 2nd Runner-Up: $600

Junior Division (Middle School):

• Chapter of the Year: $800
• 1st Runner-Up: $600
• 2nd Runner-Up: $400

Scholarship funds must be used for professional development activities for the chapter, including clinicians, master classes, field trips, conference travel, or summer music program scholarships. National Chapters of the Year also receive engraved permanent service plaques.

NAfME Collegiate Scholarships

NAfME Collegiate chapters at universities across the country participate in scholarship and award programs. The Shannon Kelly Kane Scholarship, for example, recognizes outstanding NAfME Collegiate members who demonstrate commitment to music education. In 2026, recipients included Ethan Hacker of the University of Indianapolis and Felix Moreno of the University of Mount Union.

NAfME Scholarship Resources

NAfME also maintains a comprehensive scholarship database on its website, listing external music scholarships for high school juniors, seniors, and college students. This resource is available to NAfME and Tri-M members and includes opportunities from state music educator associations, community organizations, and national foundations.

Eligibility

• Active NAfME or Tri-M membership
• For Tri-M Chapter awards: affiliation with a chartered Tri-M chapter
• For Collegiate awards: enrollment in a music education degree program at a NAfME Collegiate chapter institution
• Chapter advisors must submit applications by posted deadlines

Real-World Example

A high school Tri-M chapter with 30 active members could apply for the Chapter of the Year program by documenting their service projects throughout the school year. If the chapter organized a community concert series, tutored middle school musicians, and hosted a guest clinician workshop, they would submit an application describing these activities. Winning the Senior Division Chapter of the Year would bring a $1,000 scholarship to the chapter, which could fund a trip to a state music conference or bring in a professional clinician for a master class.

In 2025-2026, McHenry Community High School's Tri-M chapter in Illinois won the National Senior Division Chapter of the Year, earning $1,000 and a personalized plaque. The chapter had been runner-up the previous year, earning $800, before winning the top award.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

If you are a music education major, NAfME membership is one of the most cost-effective investments you can make. Student membership costs approximately $35 per year and gives you access to scholarship opportunities, professional development resources, conference discounts, and a network of music educators nationwide.

For high school students, joining or starting a Tri-M chapter at your school opens the door to chapter scholarship awards and builds your resume for college applications. Chapter activities like community concerts and peer tutoring demonstrate the leadership and service qualities that music schools and scholarship committees look for.

State-level NAfME affiliates (like TMEA in Texas or FMEA in Florida) often distribute their own scholarships. TMEA distributes more than $200,000 in scholarships annually. Check your state music educators association for additional funding opportunities beyond the national NAfME programs.

Related Opportunities

• ASCAP Foundation Scholarships for songwriters and composers
• From the Top for young classical musicians
• Music Scholarships Directory for the full list of funding opportunities
• Music Schools Directory to find music education programs
• Visit the NAfME Scholarships page for the complete scholarship database