Kerže Foundation Scholarships for Slovenian Students for Music Studies in the US
Kerže Foundation Scholarships for Slovenian Students for Music Studies in the US
The USC Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles offers scholarships for music studies to Slovenian students. Funding for the scholarships, which typically covers tuition and living expenses, is available from two funds: the Therese Kerze Cheyovich Endowment Fund and The Frank Kerze and Florence Kerze-Dunphy Scholarship Fund for the Study of Music.
Available Scholarship Funds
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Therese Kerze Cheyovich Endowment Fund
This fund is primarily intended for Slovenian undergraduate and graduate students of classical music specifically students in bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and certificate programs. Priority is given to students whose primary instrument is the cello.
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The Frank Kerze and Florence Kerze-Dunphy Scholarship Fund for the Study of Music
This fund is primarily intended for Slovenian graduate students across all music disciplines, especially master’s, doctoral, and certificate program students.
Both funds were established in accordance with the wishes of the Kerže family, a Slovenian emigrant family whose members dedicated part of their estate to supporting Slovenian students pursuing music education at the University of Southern California.
Background & Current Students
Several Slovenian students across various music disciplines have already taken advantage of this opportunity. Some of them are featured in a video available at: https://vimeo.com/280709113/fc67278794. Currently, seven Slovenian students are studying at USC.
Application Deadline & Requirements
Candidates who wish to begin their studies at the USC Thornton School of Music in the 2027/2028 academic year must generally submit their application by December 1, 2026. As deadlines may vary depending on the chosen field of study, please verify the exact deadline with the specific degree program.
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The list of study programs, admission requirements, and application forms are published [here].
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Additional information and requirements for international students are available [here].
How to Apply
Candidates who indicate in their application that they are from Slovenia will automatically be considered as applicants for funding from the Kerže funds.
If you submit an application, please inform the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Washington by sending a brief email to: sloembassy.washington@gov.si
For additional inquiries, you may also write to: nuska.zakrajsek@gov.si