The Friday Musicale Scholarship
Friday Musicale, a community service organization with a rich history of providing music programs in Bloomington, Indiana, began to function as a formal body in 1905. In 1908 the club joined the National Federation of Music Clubs (NFMC), a philanthropic and educational organization dedicated to music education and promotion of creative and performing arts in America. The NFMC is one of the world's largest music associations, with approximately 200,000 members in over 5,300 organizations nationwide. It is one of three music organizations chartered by the United States Congress and the only music organization member of the United Nations. Each year, the NFMC and affiliated local organizations provide significant scholarship assistance to music students across the nation.
In November 1920, the Friday Musicale became a member of the State Federation of Music Clubs, and by 1921 it had established two Junior Clubs. The club grew very rapidly and by 1929 it had greatly increased its membership and philanthropic efforts, performing all of the functions of a charity organization. It flourished in spite of the numerous obstacles presented by two world wars, depression, and inflation. Throughout its rich and ambitious history, the club has been a constant provider of diverse musical programs, which have, in turn, served to educate and cultivate the musical tastes and talents of its members and the community.
The purpose of the Friday Musicale Scholarship, first awarded in 1963, is to aid and reward the academic achievements of talented students at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. It is awarded annually on the basis of academic performance and musical talent. Scholarship recipients are invited to perform at the annual Friday Musicale spring luncheon.