Description of Aiken Singers Music Scholarship
Aiken Singers is proud to announce applications are currently being taken for the 2023 Music Scholarship. The scholarship was established in December, 2010, by the Aiken Singers Board, and is intended to benefit high school seniors living in Aiken County, South Carolina, who are current students of a local vocal or performance teacher, and who are committed to the study of vocal or instrumental studies at the college level. Seniors of public schools, private schools, or home-school programs are eligible to apply. The amount of the scholarship may vary from year to year based on available funds. The 2023 scholarship award is $2,000.
The Scholarship Committee will engage three neutral professional vocal and performance judges to select winners based upon a combination of the applicant’s high school marks, talent and recommendations from music teachers, school representatives and other professionals. Evidence of “giving back” to the community will also play a role in the decision. Students singing in a community choir, church choir, participating in Iocal musicals, playing in local groups or performing with a local orchestra or band, will be given special consideration. High school teachers and local community vocal and performance instructors may wish to encourage their most talented students to apply for this scholarship.
The complete application packet’s deadline for submission is Sunday, April 30, 2023. In addition to the documents, applicants are required to submit a video audition of two selections from their vocal or performance repertoire. If vocal, at least one of the selections must be sung in English. The Scholarship Committee members will choose finalists based on the applications received. The finalists will have an “in person” audition with the professional judges and committee members on Saturday, May 20, 2023. That audition will determine the winner of the scholarship. The scholarship will be awarded mid-June, 2023.
The scholarship is renewable for one year for $1,000 based on available funds. For renewal, the student must show evidence of maintaining a minimum “B” average in his/her first year of academic studies, as well as evidence that they will continue to major or minor in vocal or performance studies in their second year. Also required for renewal is a written communication from a teacher or director of a local group in the area where the applicant is studying that shows evidence of the student’s support of vocal or instrumental music in that community.
Applicants for the 2023 Aiken Singers Music Scholarship should save THE APPLICATION FORM to their computer, complete and submit it, along with the supporting documentation and the performance video, as specified on the application, by Sunday, April 30, 2023.