Cascadia Music’s Annual Cherrington Memorial Scholarship Applications are now being accepted for local young music students!
The Christine Cherrington Memorial Scholarship Fund was created to support music study for local students of all ages. Since its inception, the fund, administered by Cascadia Music, has assisted hundreds of young valley musicians.
The program offers a 50% scholarship on the cost of music lessons with local music teachers for students whose household income falls at or below the amount shown for their household size in the chart on the form.
Please fill out and submit the Google form online HERE or feel free to request a PDF copy of this form please email director@cascadiamusic.org, and return to cascadiamusiceducation@gmail.com no later than Sept 30.
NOTES:
1. Paper copies of this form are also available at the Cascadia Music office located in room 4 of the Methow Valley Community Center
2. If you qualify, and start lessons before receiving the confirmation of your scholarship, we can back date your scholarship to September 1, 2026.
3. If you have received scholarship in the past, and/or believe you may qualify for support based on extenuating circumstances specific to your family, but do not fall into the income amounts on the chart in the form, please fill out the space provided on the bottom of the form, PLEASE STILL APPLY or reach out to us! Applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis. No one will be turned away from applying!
4. Scholarship Period: Sept 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027
5. Priority Guidelines When Funds Are Limited
If scholarship requests exceed available funds for the given year, priority is given in the following order:
• Returning scholarship students in good standing (regular attendance, engaged in lessons).
• New applicants, with priority given to families with the lowest Annual Median Incomes
• If fewer applications are received and funds are available after Sept 30, 2026, larger scholarships may be given to students with the lowest family incomes.
• If all available funds for 26-27 ($9500) are promised, students not funded due to limited scholarship funds will be placed on a waitlist and notified promptly if funding becomes available later in the year.
6. Application, Review & Renewal
• Applications are accepted for the 26-27 school year between September 1 – 30. If funds are available after 9/30, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis within 10 business days.
• Income attestation and household size are submitted by families on an honor based system, and no physical documents will be collected.
• Applications are reviewed by the Executive Director and a designated Board member on the Education Committee.
• Scholarships are awarded for the school year and must be renewed each year; families do not need to resubmit documentation more than once per 12 months unless circumstances have changed.
7. Confidentiality & Non-Discrimination
• Household financial information is kept confidential, accessible only to staff directly involved in scholarship review, and stored securely apart from general Cascadia files.
• Scholarships are awarded without regard to race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, or immigration status.
8. Annual Review
These guidelines, and the income chart are reviewed and updated each year once HUD publishes the current fiscal year’s Area Median Income limits for Okanogan County (typically released in spring), to keep eligibility thresholds accurate and equitable.