Make a payment
You can pay for your tuition by going to the Member and Staff Portal page linked here.
Cost to participate:
around $1,000 (with option to apply for need-based aid)
$800 total cost paid to AmbitiousPA: $50 audition, and $750 membership fee
Can apply for need-based aid, possibly lowering total fees by up to 50%.
Transportation to rehearsals and competitions the Denver-metro area
Instrument and maintenance (bring your own, or coordinate with us to help find one to rent/borrow)
Meals will be on your own
IF we vote to attend qualify for and vote to attend the championships in Dayton, OH, then that will be in addition to your previous costs. If this happens, we will have hotel roommates and carpool to mitigate costs.
Payment Schedule:
Tuition can be paid either upfront, or in 2 payments. See options below.
ALL AT ONCE:
$50 audition fee due 7-days before the audition camp (which is on December 5, 2026)
$750 tuition due by Jan 12, 2027.
Includes a discount code on an AmbitiousPA jacket or backpack!
PAYMENT PLAN:
$50 audition fee due 7-days before the audition camp (which is on December 5, 2026)
$380 tuition partial-payment due by Jan 12, 2027 (includes $5 payment-plan fee).
$380 tuition partial payment due by Feb 20, 2027 (includes $5 payment-plan fee).
Need-Based Aid:
You can apply for financial aid to reduce your cost to participate.
Maximum aid offer is $375 (50% of tuition), but is often less.
Aid applications due by 11:59pm on December 10, 2026. Contracts will be offered on December 5th, before dismissal from the audition, so you will have 5 days to apply for aid.
Aid decisions will be announced on or before December 17, 2026. Please attend the December 12th rehearsal even if you applied for aid. This will not be billed, even if you withdraw.
To apply, follow these steps:
- Pay the audition fee, attend the audition, and be offered a contract. Email kilgroe@contact.ambitiouspa.org, with the subject line "Ambitious Winds - Aid Application" before the deadline.
- In the email, in no more than 750 words, make an argument for why you need aid in order to march, and how much aid you would need. Essentially, make a proposal on how and why we can/should support you financially. Send the email before the deadline above.
- DO NOT include any financial documents in the email. We do not want to see your assets or tax returns.
- Sign the contract and submit, and indicate that you are pending aid.
- Attend the next rehearsal, even if you indicated that you would withdraw without aid.
- You will receive an email with your aid offer within 7-days of the deadline.
- Acknowledge the aid offer, and compete with us following your individual payment plan.
No, we will not ask for any financial documents, tax returns, pay stubs, or other. The argument you make for your aid request should be based on your personal situation, not on the quantitative hourly rate you receive. Everyone's situation is different, so we want the personable side to the story.
Effective financial aid applications often include (but do not have to include):
- Why you want to participate / how it would benefit you professionally.
- How receiving financial aid would help you be successful in the ensemble and/or in your broader life.
- How much aid you hope to receive to be successful with how much you need to receive to participate.
- What you can do to contribute to the ensemble to supplement your reduced tuition (ie. organize a fundraiser).