Music Composition for Change by Ethan

Music Composition for Change by Ethan - May 2025 Scholarship Essay

As a Music Composition student at The Boston Conservatory at Berklee, I’ve learned that music is so more than art—it’s a force for connection, for healing, and for change. My education and my technical experience have each deepened not just my technical ability but my understanding of how music builds bridges across culture, identity, and experience. If I had unlimited time and resources, I would travel the world to study the music in all of its forms, learn from a diverse range of cultures and communities, and apply that knowledge to further my goal. My main goal is to reinvest in my community through widely accessible educational programs, student scholarships, and grants—tools which empowered me to pursue my dreams, and that I will pass on to others.

In the long term, I envision myself not only as a composer and musician but also as a deeply engaged member of my local community. I want to be the person who shows up: for local initiatives, for infrastructure improvements, for the hard work of change. My goal is to establish an educational nonprofit– operating both in-person and online– that provides scholarships, free music education, and composition workshops to aspiring musicians, especially those who might be from marginalized or underfunded backgrounds. I want to advocate for communities that are too often overlooked, using music as both a platform and a pathway for equity.

I chose The Boston Conservatory because it aligns with my values for equity. With small class sizes and a 5:1 student-to-faculty ratio, it fosters personal mentorship and rigorous artistry. Its association with Berklee opens the door to diverse musical influences and global perspectives. Programs like ‘Reach Out’ and partnerships with organizations such as the Greater Boston Food Bank reflect the school’s commitment to community service. With 92% of students receiving scholarships, the Conservatory lives its mission of accessibility—something I plan to mirror with my future work.

Varsity Tutors’ commitment to accessible education deeply resonates with me. Through this scholarship, I hope to further my studies in music composition and continue teaching others—both formally and informally—through a platform not unlike Varsity Tutors. I value getting an education, not only as a means of self-improvement through rigorous discipline, but also as a means of uplifting not only oneself but one’s community as well.

My path has not been easy. My parents’ divorce and the financial strain of the pandemic, which forced my mom to sell her franchise, which later led to her selling her home, shaped much of my upbringing. My grandmother’s health challenges and my transition to living independently add to the weight I carry daily. But those challenges have never stopped me—they’ve only made me more determined. In some ways, I am a product of public school music programs—band, chorus, theater—and now, a conservatory student. I carry every lesson, every performance, and every hardship with me as fuel to create something better for others.

I believe I deserve this scholarship because I have plans to multiply its impact. My goal is not just personal success but community transformation. With the help of this scholarship, I will be one step closer to launching a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides scholarships, supports local arts initiatives, and amplifies underrepresented community voices. I will use my platform to fundraise, mentor, teach, and perform—all to give back to the community that raised me. Music reached me at the darkest point of my life; I want to make sure it can reach someone else, too.