John A. Marshall Scholarship

The John A. Marshall Scholarship is offered by the Columbus City Band to area students who are committed to community arts.
John Marshall
John Marshall joined CCB when he was 15 years old.

John Albert Marshall was born in Columbus, Indiana, on Feb. 6, 1927. A World War II United States Navy Veteran, he married Emma Lorene Lain in 1955. He joined the Columbus City Band as a teenager, playing percussion with us for 68 years. He also played with the Gary Davis Music Makers Band, the Red Behrman Combo, Columbus Symphony Orchestra and the orchestra at the First United Methodist Church. He died at age 83 in July 2010.

The John A. Marshall Scholarship, founded in 2015 by his wife, Lorene, is offered by the Columbus City Band to area students who are current members; are committed to community arts; will be attending an accredited community college, university or technical school in the United States in the fall; and plan to continue participating in musical performance.

Annually, the scholarship application deadline is in March. The announcement and award presentation occurs at the band’s following spring concert in April.

The 2024 deadline to apply is March 25.

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Eligibility criteria:

  • Cumulative 3.0 GPA.
  • Must be a current member of the Columbus City Band playing a woodwind, brass or percussion instrument and having participated in at least four concerts and related rehearsals prior to submitting their scholarship application.
  • Reside in Indiana.
  • Be either a high school senior accepted for enrollment or a student currently enrolled at a fully accredited community college, university or technical school in the United States.
  • Previous recipients can apply again as long as scholarship’s criteria are met. Preference is given to current high school seniors.
  • Applicants are encouraged to be members of a performing arts organization at their school.

Selection criteria:

Award is made by a selection committee from the Columbus City Band based on:

  • Application.
  • Essay.
  • Recommendation letters.
  • Commitment to music/musicianship.
  • Commitment to the arts in education.
  • Interest in continuing to play or teach music in the future.

Application requirements:

  • Submit the application form.
  • Through the form, submit two letters of recommendation from one of each of the following:
    • A band director.
    • A fellow CCB member who can provide an assessment of the applicant’s musicianship, participation and continued interest in music.
  • Also through the form, submit an original 350- to 500-word essay on the value of music and arts in the community.

Scholarship recipients will receive:

  • A scholarship in an amount up to $700, dependent on available funds.

Award distribution:

  • Funds will be paid by the Columbus City Band directly to the recipient’s college or university.

The above requirement criteria and scholarship amounts, which we hope to see grow, are subject to change. And speaking of growing those funds …
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Are you interested in contributing to our scholarship fund?

Columbus City Band is thankful to the individuals and businesses who provide their generous support to community arts.

To donate to the scholarship, please contact Pam Schmelz at pschmelz1@gmail.com. Or mail:

Columbus City Band
ATTN: Pam Schmelz
P.O. Box 2501
Columbus, IN 47202-2501

Donations also are accepted through through GiveButter.

All donors are recognized at each of the four major concerts with a listing in a special section of the concert program and here on CCB’s website. Columbus City Band is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

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