LaToya Bates-Barnes

Review of Wisconsin Conservatory of Musi...

My daughter was denied an opportunity to compete f...

My daughter was denied an opportunity to compete for a scholarship to study music at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. She studied at the Conservatory from 2014-2016. Her 2017 application was denied. She obtained a scholarship application from their website and had a letter of recommendation from her award-winning school choir director. Scholarships, I was told, are only for new or existing students and my daughter was neither. We were invited to apply for financial aid which has the exact same status requirements, new or existing student, but the Conservatory would bend the rules for financial aid but not for a chance for a full scholarship. In 2015, my daughter competed and won both a Presidential Scholarship as well as a first-place scholarship in her age level. She performed for stakeholders and community members with these titles.

I want my daughter and other students to be allowed to pay and participate in the scholarship process. It is not fair to exclude students just because you want to. The Wisconsin Conservatory of Music has numerous funding sources that give money so students, like my daughter, can have music education. Businesses don't get to operate in the public, accept foundation money, acquire donations, accept grants and the discriminatively decide to do business with only the families they like.