Explore Our Scholarship Opportunities
We have funds specifically for songwriting, music education, and musician/band professional development. Take a look below and please apply. We love reviewing applications from bluegrass-adjacent genres and encourage folk/americana musicians to submit for consideration, too.
This money is absolutely here to serve you!
Music Education
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Session Recording
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Songwriting
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Bluegrass Band Projects
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Music Education ✳︎ Session Recording ✳︎ Songwriting ✳︎ Bluegrass Band Projects ✳︎
Steve Waller Memorial Scholarships will be awarded annually to individuals or groups with involvement in the Oregon Bluegrass community.
The purpose of the Scholarship is to honor Steve through awarding financial grants to deserving individuals, to further their education, professional growth, or the advancement, preservation or support of bluegrass music.
We are currently accepting applications for the 2026 Steve Waller Scholarship! Apply by September 1, 2026 for consideration. Recipients will be announced at the Tygh Valley Bluegrass Jamboree on September 19, 2026. Scroll down to apply
Application Criteria
1. Applicant(s) must be an Oregon Bluegrass Association member (individual or band).
2. Applicants must explain their financial need and intended use of scholarship funds.
3. Applicants may request funds for musical tuition or lessons, professional development, recording and/or the advancement of the bluegrass genre.
Use Of Funds
1. Awards are intended to be used within the OBA’s mission statement to “promote, preserve and perform bluegrass (and related) music”
2. Awards are to be used within the one-year grant cycle.
3. Recipients of the award may be asked to present their use of the award at the OBA general membership meeting held annually in May. If awardees are unable to present in person, a statement may be prepared.
Apply for the Waller Scholarship
Past Recipients
Bekkah McAlvage (The Rosa Lees)
The Rosa Lees are an all-woman bluegrass band delivering fresh bluegrass, old-time and roots music from the hills of Southern Oregon.
The Rosa Lees used their Steve Waller Memorial Scholarship funds for studio time and mastering of their [now] newly released”“Wake Up Call”, — recorded at Tom Freeman’s (engineer) studio in Ashland, and Bob Evoniuk as their producer.
Ryan Hanson (Tuesday String Band)
Tuesday String Band is a full-time Progressive Bluegrass band from Monmouth, Oregon, that formed while its members were studying in the music program at Western Oregon University. Known for their relentless touring, they were once called “the hardest working band in the Pacific Northwest” after playing nearly 200 shows in 40 different cities in a single year (Josh Cole, KBOO Radio Portland). Ryan used scholarship funds to help support TSB touring costs — the band as lived up to this pledge by hosting Bluegrass workshops, clinics, and assemblies in schools, after-school music programs, and at music festivals throughout the country.
Lillian Sawyer & Crystal Lariza (Never Come Down)
Weaving together modern and traditional styles of American music, Never Come Down is a Portland, Oregon based band .Their dedication to thoughtful songwriting and dynamic arrangements highlight polished technical skills and a commitment to listening to each other. Formed in 2018, the band began touring extensively- steadily cultivating a passionate fan base at home in the Pacific Northwest, and eventually around the country. NCD released their first studio album “Better Late Than Never” in 2021 and their second LP “Greener Pastures” in 2024 — the Waller Memorial Scholarship provided support for recording.
The Nora Candey Memorial Songwriting Scholarship was first established in 2021 after Nora’s passing in 2020.
The purpose of the Scholarship is to aid anyone looking to further their development of original music and lyrics through classes, workshops, lessons, etc.
The application period for the Candey Songwriting Scholarship has closed — Thanks to all who put in a submission, we appreciate you! Congratulations to Jessilyn Brinkhoff, Tony Fuentes and Bonnie MacDonald! The 2027 applications will open again in the winter of 2027. Stay tuned!
Past Recipients
Megan Alder is a vocal powerhouse performing upbeat swing and Americana music. She delivers her original songs with raw grit and soul. She performs as a solo artist with live loops and kazoo flare. Her latest EP, Dark Side, features four original songs recorded live in Parkdale, OR, available on all platforms.
Megan used funds from the Nora Candy Songwriting Scholarship to attend her first songwriting workshop.
Rachel Harrington is a singer-songwriter with five full-length studio albums to date and 4-star reviews from Mojo, Q, Uncut, Utne Reader, The Irish Times, and others. Rachel’s been a finalist in several songwriting contests including Merlefest. Rachel used Candey Scholarship funds to attend the 2023 Rocky Mountain Song School from Planet Bluegrass under the tutelage of longtime Berklee College of Music songwriting professor, Pat Pattison.