Financial Aid

Financial aid grants are awarded on the basis of financial need and demonstrated interest.  You need not be an accomplished musician to apply.  Applications are judged by the Valley of the Moon Scottish Fiddling School (VOM) Scholarship Committee and awarded to those who have already applied and been accepted to VOM.  Award amounts are based on financial need and anticipated travel expense.  There are special scholarships, in larger amounts, awarded to promising students traveling from abroad, and for other special circumstances.   The financial aid program is supported by private donations, 85% of which come from the attendees of the fiddle school, and is open to all VOM attendees.

The funds supporting financial aid at VOM include:

The Peter Connelly Fund (PC Fund), established in 1987 in memory of Peter Connelly to provide financial aid grants for the purpose of encouraging the perpetuation of traditional music. 

The Cali McKasson-Kovin Memorial Fund (Cali Fund), established in 2019 in memory of Cali McKasson-Kovin in recognition of her lifetime of dedication and service to VOM.  This fund seeks to support applicants from diverse backgrounds who might otherwise be unable to attend VOM, and to support applicants who are foster children.

The VOM financial aid program is grateful for ongoing support from the Learning Opportunities Endowment Fund (for all applicants) and the Maury Richmond Endowment Fund (for youth applicants who have worked to raise funds to attend VOM), and is privileged to be a recipient of a generous grant provided by the Williamson Foundation (wfmusic.org) from which several special awards are given.

All of the funds and endowments are wholly supported by private donations and are a part of the Scottish Fiddlers of California, a 501(c)3 entity.

Please direct any questions about the financial aid application process to vomscholarship@comcast.net