A nonprofit founded in 1985, the BMI Foundation supports the creation, performance, and study of music through awards, scholarships, grants and commissions. Throughout the year, the Foundation works to administer various scholarships, awards, fellowships, and commissions. The final selections for these programs are entrusted to panels made up of some of the world’s most distinguished artists and musicians.
The focus of these programs is on American music; however, there are several opportunities open to international students. These programs include the BMI Composer Awards, BMI Future Jazz Master Award, Peermusic Latin Music Award, and the John Lennon Award.
The Foundation also awards grants annually to music and arts education nonprofits around the country. The Foundation’s artistic consultants review and make recommendations for these awards, which range from classical music ensembles specializing in contemporary works, to programs supporting or replacing music and arts programming in our schools, to institutions designed to preserve and encourage indigenous American music such as jazz and blues.
This is an exceptional opportunity for new songwriters and composers to be recognized and supported for their work.” said BMI Foundation President Deirdre Chadwick. “Our programs are designed to provide new writers with opportunities to build a firm foundation from which to launch their careers—and many have done so quite successfully.”
Please note that application deadlines vary by program. For complete details and to apply, visit https://bmifoundation.org/by-application. Below is a complete list of the BMI Foundation scholarship opportunities as of 2026.
BMI Composer for Classical Composers:
The BMI Composer Awards is an annual competition open to young composers engaged in the creation of classical music. This is the oldest awards program in any genre; the competition has a prestigious history of discovering and encouraging many of today’s most prominent and talented young composers. Co-sponsored by BMI and the BMI Foundation, awards totaling $20,000 are determined annually for any instrumentation and in any classical genre, submitted by composers under the age of 28. https://bmifoundation.org/by-application/bmicomposerawards
BMI Future Jazz Master Award
The BMI Future Jazz Master Award will award $5,000 to a rising jazz star pursuing a graduate degree in Jazz Studies, Jazz Performance, or related majors. The award was established in 2015 in honor of the NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship, a lifetime achievement recognition program of the National Endowment for the Arts. https://bmifoundation.org/by-application/bmifuturejazzmaster
Peermusic Latin Scholarship:
The peermusic Latin Award is an annual competition open to student songwriters and composers of Latin music. One of the few distinctions of its kind, the award was established in 2003 through the generosity and vision of peermusic CEO, Ralph Peer II. For two decades, the program has nurtured promising musicians who have gone on to distinguish themselves in the fields of television, film, recorded music, and concert performance. A $5,000 scholarship is presented annually for the best original song or instrumental composition in any Latin genre. https://bmifoundation.org/by-application/peermusiclatinmusicaward
John Lennon Award:
The John Lennon Award is an annual competition open to student songwriters and composers of contemporary musical genres including alternative, pop, rock, indie, electronica, R&B, and experimental. Through the generosity of Ono and Gibson Musical Instruments, three scholarships totaling $20,000 are presented annually for the best original songs submitted to the competition. Established in 1997 by Yoko Ono in conjunction with the BMI Foundation, this scholarship program honors the memory of one of the preeminent songwriters of the 20th century. https://bmifoundation.org/by-application/johnlennonaward
