S-JH and Quaver Foundation Music Scholarships
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Annual scholarships invest in local youth & in your orchestra’s future.
Sinfonia is offering separately funded scholarships in 2017 for the 2018 year. This is an important investment in the cultural diversity & quality of life in our mid north coast region. Since 2009 the Sinfonia–James Hannah (S-JH) Scholarship has been awarded to local youth & aged under 25 musicians from a generous donation by Sinfonia’s Emeritus Conductor James Hannah. Annually the S-JH & publicly funded Sinfonia Quaver Foundation Appeal awards are made to young local musicians to encourage them to continue their studies. |
James Hannah
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To achieve all of these worthy aims we really do need your help and ask you to please consider joining the Quaver Foundation Members as a family team, memorial, syndicate, individual or organisation and build your public fund Appeal for promoting good music and culture in our region.
Sinfonia Scholarships
Music Scholarships
General Information
Selection Criteria
Application Process and Key Dates
Audition and Award Process
General Information
- The James Hannah and Sinfonia Scholarship is $1000 cash. The Sinfonia Quaver Foundation Appeal Scholarship is $500 cash.
- At the discretion of the Board of the Association of Sinfonia one or more of these scholarships may be awarded annually.
- Use one application form to apply for one or both scholarships. Applicants must read the application carefully and understand their own obligations in relation to any award they may receive.
- The awarding of scholarships is determined by the judging panel following an audition and assessment of the application.
- The cash scholarship may be used by the recipient in any manner which furthers their musical development. For example, such purposes might include contributions towards the purchase of an instrument or music, for music lessons, university music studies, for travel expenses for music study purposes, for membership of Sinfonia, music camps.
- Orchestra needs in terms of instrumental balance will be a consideration in the judges’ decision
- The audition panel will make its decision in time to announce the winners and make presentations at Sinfonia’s final concert of the year.
- Payment of the James Hannah and Sinfonia Music Scholarship will be in two parts; the first at the announcement with a second payment before the end of the financial year in which the award was made.
- There are two conditions attached to these scholarships, namely: a. Each scholarship recipient is required to play in Sinfonia’s orchestra for one full year in the calendar year subsequent to their receiving the scholarship - i.e. attending regular rehearsals and performing at the scheduled concerts. b. Within three calendar months following the end of the year in which the scholarship was held each recipient is required to present to the Board of the Association of Sinfonia MNC a report of not less than 250 words addressing in detail: “How the scholarship helped my musical development”. Failure to comply with these conditions may result in Sinfonia MNC Inc seeking a full refund of the awarded scholarship
- At the discretion of the conductor recipients may be required to perform solo works at the scheduled concerts.
Selection Criteria
- Applicants must be an enrolled student aged no more than 25 years at the date of the award, and must have a minimum proficiency of AMEB Grade 4 or equivalent on their orchestral instrument – i.e. strings, woodwind, brass, or percussion (including piano).
- Applicants must be residents of the mid-north coast at the time of application.
Application Process and Key Dates
- Closing date for applications is 22nd September 2017.
- Please send application to Secretary Sinfonia MNC Inc PO Box 1282 Taree NSW 2430
Audition and Award Process
- Applicants selected for audition will be contacted week beginning 14th October 2017 by phone or email with an audition date and location.
- Applicants will be required to perform two contrasting pieces of music before a panel of judges headed by Sinfonia’s conductor. An aural and/or sight-reading test may also be required.
- All applicants will be notified by letter of the result of their audition.
- Scholarship presentations will be made during Sinfonia’s final concert of the year. Award recipients must be present for this presentation.
Abigail French - 2016 recipient of the S-JH scholarship
Abi French started playing the violin in Perth at the age of 4 and a half. Her main motivation at the time was to be able to join her mother who played flute in the local orchestra.
After moving to Laurieton age 7, she continued learning from local teacher Ensi Payne. She has won numerous major instrumental awards at both the Taree and Port Maquarie Eisteddfords over the last few years, including Junior Championships, Most Promising Instrumentalist and a Smile Scholarship.
In 2014 she won a Newcastle Conservatorium scholarship and has been travelling there for lessons with Chris Bearman for the last 2 years.
Last year she received honours for AMEB 6th grade performance and at 13 became the youngest winner of the James Hannah Scholarship. Sinfonia, the local orchestra of the Mid North Coast offers this and a Quaver fund scholarship to two young musicians to encourage their performance experience.
In the upcoming June Series concerts, Abi will be playing Czardas as a solo with the orchestra. A well known piece in the violin repertoire, Czardas showcases a gypsy style of playing from low romantic phrases to energetic fast passages which has fingers flying!
Abi has dreams of playing with a professional orchestra one day but for now is more than happy to have fulfilled her first dream to play alongside her Mum in an orchestra, and done one better, managing a few minutes on centre stage!
After moving to Laurieton age 7, she continued learning from local teacher Ensi Payne. She has won numerous major instrumental awards at both the Taree and Port Maquarie Eisteddfords over the last few years, including Junior Championships, Most Promising Instrumentalist and a Smile Scholarship.
In 2014 she won a Newcastle Conservatorium scholarship and has been travelling there for lessons with Chris Bearman for the last 2 years.
Last year she received honours for AMEB 6th grade performance and at 13 became the youngest winner of the James Hannah Scholarship. Sinfonia, the local orchestra of the Mid North Coast offers this and a Quaver fund scholarship to two young musicians to encourage their performance experience.
In the upcoming June Series concerts, Abi will be playing Czardas as a solo with the orchestra. A well known piece in the violin repertoire, Czardas showcases a gypsy style of playing from low romantic phrases to energetic fast passages which has fingers flying!
Abi has dreams of playing with a professional orchestra one day but for now is more than happy to have fulfilled her first dream to play alongside her Mum in an orchestra, and done one better, managing a few minutes on centre stage!
Nicholas Parsons - SQFA recipient for 2016
Nicholas initially learned the clarinet but switched to the cornet at 7 years of age. At the age of eight he started his Grade 1 AMEB exams. When he was nine he went on to do 2nd Grade and set a goal to reach and complete 6th Grade AMEB for trumpet.
Through the course of his exams Nicholas, was taught for a long time by a local brass teacher Mr Wilbur Cross OAM. Nicholas’ mother very much supports everything musical he does including his AMEB exams.
At the age of 10, Nicholas joined the local Great Lakes concert band and jazz band, which his mother ,Heidi Parsons, now conducts.At the age of 14 Nicholas achieved his goal of 6th Grade AMEB and passed with honours. He joined Sinfonia MNC later that year.
Nicholas loves the music he and the orchestra perform and very much enjoys playing with Sinfonia. As well as playing the trumpet Nicholas sings with the Year 10 Music Elective Class at St. Clare’s High school and also plays guitar and drums.
Through the course of his exams Nicholas, was taught for a long time by a local brass teacher Mr Wilbur Cross OAM. Nicholas’ mother very much supports everything musical he does including his AMEB exams.
At the age of 10, Nicholas joined the local Great Lakes concert band and jazz band, which his mother ,Heidi Parsons, now conducts.At the age of 14 Nicholas achieved his goal of 6th Grade AMEB and passed with honours. He joined Sinfonia MNC later that year.
Nicholas loves the music he and the orchestra perform and very much enjoys playing with Sinfonia. As well as playing the trumpet Nicholas sings with the Year 10 Music Elective Class at St. Clare’s High school and also plays guitar and drums.
Emeritus conductor and JH & SM Scholarship sponsor, James Hannah, and former Sinfonia president and SQFA management committee chair, Anne-Marie Barnett with 2013 scholarship awardees, Rebecca Cooper, Jackson Roche, and Isaac Bruggemann. |
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Ciara Halan,
the winner of the James Hannah and
Sinfonia Music Scholarship for 2012
Our previous Scholarship winners since it was founded in 2009.
From Left: Zac Murphy (trumpet, 2011 winner), Jara Stinson (violin, 2010 winner), Stephanie Hill (violin, 2011 winner) and Oliver Schermacher (clarinet/bass clarinet, 2009 winner).
