UK School of Music Scholarships and Grants

The McCracken Scholarships

Emily Scott McCracken

Because of her great love of music, her concern for the success of young musicians, and her involvement with the music department at UK, Emily Scott McCracken established the first music endowment fund at the University in 1954, with an initial amount of $10,000. Five McCracken Scholarships are presented each year to current music students at the annual McCracken Scholarship Reception, a tradition established by her son, Ralph McCracken, Jr. The McCracken Scholarship Reception continues today with her granddaughters, Frances McCracken Remmele and Margaret McCracken Haynes.

Mrs. McCracken was an active musician and supporter of the music department through four decades until her death in 1961. Well known for her love of music, her frequent travels to New York and abroad were filled with concerts of great music, particularly in the world of opera. One would always find music in her home: from the grand pianos she cherished, to the music selected from her eclectic collection of records, many of which were given to the UK School of Music. She was known to be extremely discerning in her judgment of young developing musicians and was particularly eager to encourage and support those individuals whom she considered blessed with great talent and potential. It is estimated that over the past five decades, more than 200 music students have been aided by the McCracken scholarships.

Eligibility: Recipient shall be an undergraduate music major who demonstrates potential in a specific music area listed below. Recipient must be a Kentucky resident and Pulaski, Whitley, Bell Knox, Fayette, Boyle, and Campbell counties are preferred. Applications for these scholarships are due the Friday prior to spring break. Students may self-nominate or be nominated by a selection committee.

• McCracken Scholarship in Music Education ($800)
• McCracken Scholarship in Musicology ($800)
  The recipient must be either currently enrolled in MUS 302 or 303 or have successfully completed one of these courses.
• McCracken Scholarship in Performance Voice, Keyboard, and Strings ($800)
• McCracken Scholarship in Performance Winds, Percussion, and Jazz ($800)
• McCracken Scholarship in Music Theory ($800)
  The recipient must be either currently enrolled in MUS 272/273 or have successfully completed MUS 272/273