2024 Newcastle Scholarships
Proudly Sponsored by the University of Newcastle
The Music Teachers’ Association of NSW, Newcastle Committee, presents the 2024 Scholarships. Six scholarships are being awarded in 2024:
The Errol Collins Award for Violin or Viola
The Wendy Ireland Award for Cello
The Joyce Blewitt Award for Piano
The Nan Price Memorial Scholarship for Piano
The Hunter Art Music Scholarship
The Hunter Indigenous Scholarship
Closing date: Sunday 17th August 2024
Errol Collins Award (Violin and Viola)
Download Errol Collins Award Regulations
1. Open to violin and viola students residing in residing in the Newcastle, Hunter, Upper Hunter, Central Coast, Mid-North Coast or New England Regions of NSW.
2. Maximum age limit is 23 years (inclusive).
3. Maximum age will be determined at the official date of performance.
4. Repertoire presented must be within the requirements set out by the MTA NSW Newcastle Branch. For works requiring a collaborative artist, it is the responsibility of the entrant to arrange the artist. Backing tracks/recorded accompaniment will not be accepted.
5. Two contrasting works for violin or viola are to be presented and may include collaborative artists (piano, small ensemble where violin or viola is the soloist) by arrangement of the performer.
6. Maximum performance time for combined works is 15 minutes.
7. Prizes: $750 will be awarded to the 1st place award winner. A runner up prize of $250 may be awarded if there are 5 or more award entrants, and at the discretion of the adjudicator.
Wendy Ireland Award (Cello)
Download Wendy Ireland Award Regulations
1. Open to cello students residing in residing in the Newcastle, Hunter, Upper Hunter, Central Coast, Mid-North Coast or New England Regions of NSW.
2. Maximum age limit is 18 years (inclusive).
3. Maximum age will be determined at the official date of performance.
4. Repertoire presented must be within the requirements set out by MTA NSW Newcastle Branch. For works requiring a collaborative artist, it is the responsibility of the entrant to arrange the artist. Backing tracks/recorded accompaniment will not be accepted.
5. One or two own-choice works are to be presented, which must be for cello, and may include collaborative artists (piano, small ensemble where cello is the soloist) by arrangement of the cellist.
6. Maximum performance time is 12 minutes.
7. Prize: $750 will be awarded to the 1st place award winner.
Joyce Blewitt Award (Piano, Grades 6-8)
Download Joyce Blewitt Award Regulations
1. Open to piano students residing in residing in the Newcastle, Hunter, Upper Hunter, Central Coast, Mid-North Coast or New England Regions of NSW, at Grade 6 - 8 (or equivalent).
2. Maximum age limit is 18 years.
3. Maximum age will be determined at the official date of performance.
4. Repertoire presented must be within the requirements set out by MTA NSW Newcastle Branch. Works must be piano solo only. No works which require accompaniment, backing tapes or CDs will be accepted.
5. Two works of contrasting mood and style to be presented.
6. Combined maximum time limit is 8-10 minutes.
7. Prize: $250 will be awarded to the 1st place award winner.
Nan Price Memorial Scholarship (Piano, Certificate and Diploma)
Download Nan Price Memorial Scholarship Regulations
1. Open to piano students residing in residing in the Newcastle, Hunter, Upper Hunter, Central Coast, Mid-North Coast or New England Regions of NSW, at Certificate & Diploma level (or equivalent).
2. Maximum age limit is 23 years.
3. Maximum age will be determined at the official date of performance.
4. Repertoire presented must be within the requirements set out by MTA NSW Newcastle Branch. Works must be piano solo only. No works which require accompaniment, backing tapes or CDs will be accepted.
5. Two works of contrasting mood and style to be presented.
6. Combined maximum time limit is 12 minutes.
7. Prizes: $750 will be awarded to the 1st place winner. A runner up prize of $250 may be awarded if there are 5 or more entrants, at the discretion of the adjudicator.
The Hunter Art Music Scholarship
Download The Hunter Art Music Scholarship Regulations
1. Open to students residing in the Hunter & Upper Hunter Region.
2. The MTA invites applications from singers aged 12-18 years.
2. Hunter Art Music Scholarship: 12-15yrs Grade 2 or above 16-18yrs Grade 5 or above (documentation or equivalent/endorsement of skill level by qualified vocal teacher).
3. Age limit is determined by the competitor’s age at the 31st December of the year the award is presented.
4. Repertoire presented must be within the requirements set out by MTA NSW Newcastle Branch. For works requiring a collaborative artist, it is the responsibility of the entrant to arrange the artist. Backing tracks/recorded accompaniment will not be accepted.
5. Two contrasting works for voice are to be presented:
- One song from the Art Music genre (excluding popular song/musical theatre/jazz).
- One song by an Australian Composer (any genre).
6. Maximum performance time for combined works is 15 minutes.
7. Prizes: $500 will be awarded to the 1st place award winner. A runner up prize of $250 may be awarded if there are five or more entrants, and at the discretion of the adjudicator.
The Hunter Indigenous Scholarship
Download The Hunter Indigenous Scholarship Regulations
1. Open to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students residing in the Hunter & Upper Hunter Region.
2. The MTA invites applications applications from Indigenous singers aged 12-18 years.
3. Age limit is determined by the competitor’s age at the 31st December of the year the award is presented.
4. Repertoire presented must be within the requirements set out by MTA NSW Newcastle Branch. For works requiring a collaborative artist, it is the responsibility of the entrant to arrange the artist/s or provide backing tracks/recorded accompaniment where appropriate.
5. Two contrasting works for voice are to be presented:
- One song of Indigenous origin/composer.
- One own choice (any genre).
6. Maximum performance time for combined works is 15 minutes.
7. Prizes: $2000 will be awarded to the 1st place award winner.
General Requirements for All Scholarships
Registration
1. Winner of the previous year is NOT eligible to enter the following year, but may enter again the year after that.
2. Entrants who are or have been students of the adjudicator at any time during the last 12 months preceding this event, shall not be eligible to compete.
3. The MTA Newcastle Branch reserves the right to amend or refuse entry, to alter prizes, or cancel the event in the case of insufficient entries.
4. Entries must be submitted online via official registration website (i.e. TryBooking), with full details available from the website at www.mtansw.org.au.
5. Applicants must submit their registration by the due date. Late entries will not be accepted.
6. The decision of the MTA NSW Newcastle Branch in all questions of dispute arising out of, or not provided for by these regulations and conditions, will be final. No dispute will become the subject of any appeal by law.
Performance
7. These auditions are to be treated as a public performance and therefore are open to the public free of charge.
8. Entrants must present themselves at the door/desk at least 15 minutes prior to the starting time.
9. A copy of the music to be performed must be provided to the adjudicator. It should be handed in to the music coordinator on arrival. Original music must be collected by the competitor at the end of the adjudication. All care is taken, but no responsibility for music that is left behind. Photocopies will be destroyed.
10. Copyright laws will be strictly adhered to. The entrant must have an original copy (where available) in order to enter. The MTA NSW Newcastle Branch will not be liable for any copyright infringement.
11. Entrants should present themselves with a suitable standard of dress and stage manner.
12. Entrants must not be coached or prompted in any way while performing. This behaviour will result in immediate disqualification.
13. The use of recording devices is strictly prohibited and photography will not be allowed during performances. Failure to observe this may result in disqualification.
14. Any protest regarding a performer/interference etc. shall be lodged in writing with the convenor. The protest will be considered and decided upon within half an hour of the completion of these auditions and the decision will be final.
Adjudication
15. The decision of the adjudicator(s) will be final.
16. Entrants, or those associated with the entrant, will not communicate with the adjudicator(s) prior to or during the auditions.
17. The MTA NSW Newcastle Branch reserves the right to appoint a substitute adjudicator if necessary.