The John Lennon Scholarship program honors the memory of one of the preeminent songwriters of the 20th century. Yoko Ono, in conjunction with the BMI Foundation, established this scholarship program in memory of her beloved husband John Lennon. The scholarship honors one of the prolific songwriters of our time. John Lennon is known for writing “I Want To Hold Your Hand,” “Strawberry Fields,” “Imagine,” “I Am the Walrus,” “All You Need Is Love,” and “Come Together.” Aspiring songwriters and composers, apply for one of these three John Lennon Scholarships now!
Who is eligible to apply for the BMI Foundation John Lennon Scholarships?
Eligibility requirements for these scholarships:
All eligible applicants must:
- Be a current student or alumnus/alumna at a U.S. college or university
- At the time of submission, be between the ages of 17 and 24 (the deadline is January 22, 2021)
- Affirm that the rights to the submitted work have not been assigned to a major music publisher or to a major record label
- Not be a prior BMI Foundation John Lennon Scholarship winner (excluding Honorable Mentions)
NOTE: If you are applying to the John Lennon Scholarship and the Nashville Songwriting Scholarship contest, you must submit different songs for each contest. Remember, you may not submit the same original work to both competitions!
How much are the BMI Foundation John Lennon Scholarships worth?
Each year, three scholarships totaling $20,000 are presented annually for the best original songs in any musical genre. These scholarships are available through the generosity of Ono and Gibson Musical Instruments.
When is the deadline to apply for these scholarships?
Completed applications are due online no later than January 22, 2021 at 11:59pm EST. Start your application early, and remember, incomplete or late applications will not be accepted.
Winners announced in the summer of 2020!
Best of luck to all songwriters and composers!
