Scholarships

The MTA offers various scholarships on a regular basis to encourage performance experience and further study opportunities for aspiring young musicians and vocalists.

These scholarships are offered in a variety of instrumental and vocal fields. Some scholarships are offered every year, and some are offered in alternate years.

The Music Teachers' Association of NSW Advanced Performer Award

• The Music Teachers’ Association of NSW Advanced Performer Award is an award to enable study in
  Australia or abroad, by a student of any instrument or voice.
• The Scholarship is established by means of Benevolent Fund of the Music Teachers’ Association of NSW Ltd.
• The Scholarship is open only to students of full FINANCIAL MEMBERS of the MTA of NSW Ltd.
• Up to TWO Scholarships may be awarded. The scholarship for Grade 7 to Certificate is $750 and the
  scholarship for the Associate to Licentiate category is $1000.
• One to three contrasting works may be presented within the timeframes listed above.
• Previous winners are ineligible to enter.
• To be eligible for this Scholarship, applicants must be a resident of NSW and 25 years of age or under as of 30 July and have not received the scholarship previously.

The Miriam Hyde Award

The Miriam Hyde Piano Award will be offered at the Junior Music Festival Burwood. The competitor must play a piece composed by Miriam Hyde and the time limit will be 5 minutes. This award is open to piano students only, beginners to 8th Grade, duets not permitted. A $150.00 cash prize and a trophy will be awarded to the winner. This section will be offered on the condition that 3 or more competitors have entered.

The Mark Matthews Australian Composer Award

Junior Award Regulations

• The winner of this Award may be invited to perform in the following year’s MTA Scholarship event
• Open to Cello students residing in the Newcastle, Hunter, Upper Hunter, Central Coast, Mid-North Coast or New England Regions of NSW.
• The Junior Award is open to students who are currently studying and presenting works from any early grade level up to and including Grade 6 AMEB level, or equivalent.
• Maximum age limit of 18 years at the time of the Award performance.
• Entrants are to present one or two works with a maximum combined time limit of 10 minutes.
• Entrants are expected to provide their own accompanist for works that include accompaniment. Works with no written accompaniment, written or transcribed specifically for solo cello (eg. a solo Bach work or a solo Study/Etude), are also acceptable.
• No recorded accompaniments (i.e. backing tracks or CDs) may be used.
• Entrants are encouraged to consider choosing pieces that demonstrate both musical and technical elements that can be demonstrated in their overall performance.
• Entrants must provide a copy of the music on the day for the adjudicator. Any photocopied music will not be returned to the entrant.
• Prizes: $150 will be awarded to the 1st place award winner. A runner up prize of $75 may be awarded if there are 4 or more entrants, and at the discretion of the adjudicator.

Senior Award Regulations

1. Open to Cello students residing in the Newcastle, Hunter, Upper Hunter, Central Coast, Mid-North Coast or New England
   Regions of NSW.
2. The Senior Award is open to students who are currently studying and presenting works from Grade 7 AMEB level (or
   equivalent) or above.
3. Maximum age limit of 21 years at the time of the Award performance.
4. Entrants are to present TWO contrasting works with a maximum combined time limit of 15 minutes.
5. Entrants are expected to provide their own accompanist for works that include accompaniment. Works with no written
   accompaniment, written or transcribed specifically for solo cello (e.g. a solo Bach work or a solo Study/Etude), are also
   acceptable.
6. Entrants must provide a copy of the music on the day for the adjudicator. Any photocopied music will not be returned to
   the entrant.
7. No recorded accompaniments (i.e. backing tracks or CDs) may be used.
8. Entrants should consider choosing pieces that demonstrate both musical and technical elements that can be
   demonstrated in their overall performance.
9. Prizes: $500 will be awarded to the 1st place award winner. A runner up prize of $150 may be awarded if there are 3 or
   more entrants, and at the discretion of the adjudicator.
10. The winner of this Award may be invited to perform in the following year’s MTA Scholarship event.

The Joyce Blewitt Award for Piano

Award Regulations

• The winner of this Award may be invited to perform in the following year’s MTA Scholarship event.
• Open to Piano students residing in the Newcastle, Hunter, Upper Hunter, Central Coast, Mid-North Coast or New England Regions of NSW.
• The Joyce Blewitt Award is open to students who are currently studying and presenting works from Grade 6 to 8 AMEB level, or equivalent.
• Maximum age limit is 18 years at the time of the Award performance.
• Entrants are to present TWO contrasting works with a combined time limit of 10 mins.
• Entrants are encouraged to consider choosing pieces that demonstrate both musical and technical elements that can be demonstrated in their overall performance.
• Entrants must be piano solo only. No works which require accompaniment, backing tracks or CDs will be accepted.
• Entrants must provide a copy of the music on the day for the adjudicator. Any photocopied music will not be returned to the entrant.
• Prizes: $300 will be awarded to the 1st place winner. A runner up prize of $100 may be awarded if there are 4 or more entrants, at the discretion of the adjudicator.

The Nan Price Memorial Scholarship for Piano

Award Regulations

• The winner of this Award may be invited to perform in the following year’s MTA Scholarship event.
• Open to Piano students residing in the Newcastle, Hunter, Upper Hunter, Central Coast, Mid-North Coast or New England Regions of NSW.
• The Nan Price Award is open to students who are currently studying and presenting works from AMEB Certificate of Performance or Diploma level, or equivalent.
• Maximum age limit is 21 years (at the time of the Award performance).
• Entrants are to present TWO contrasting works with a combined time limit of 15 mins.
• Entrants are encouraged to consider choosing pieces that demonstrate both musical and technical elements that can be demonstrated in their overall performance.
• Entrants must be piano solo only. No works which require accompaniment, backing tracks or CDs will be accepted.
• Entrants must provide a copy of the music on the day for the adjudicator. Any photocopied music will not be returned to the entrant.
• Prizes: $500 will be awarded to the 1st place winner. A runner up prize of $150 may be awarded if there are 3 or more entrants, at the discretion of the adjudicator.

The Hunter Art Music Vocal Scholarship

Junior Scholarship Regulations

• The winner of this Award may be invited to perform in the following year’s MTA Scholarship event.
• Open to Vocal students residing in the Newcastle, Hunter, Upper Hunter, Central Coast, Mid-North Coast or New England Regions of NSW.
• The Junior Scholarship is open to 12-15yrs up to Grade 4 AMEB level (or equivalent). Age is determined at the time of the Award performance.
• Entrants are expected to provide their own accompanist for works that include accompaniment.
• No recorded accompaniments (i.e. backing tracks or CDs) may be used.
• Two contrasting works for voice are to be presented. At least one song must be from the Art Music genre (excluding popular song/musical theatre/jazz).
• Maximum performance time for combined works is 10 minutes.
• Entrants must provide a copy of the music on the day for the adjudicator. Any photocopied music will not be returned to the entrant.
• Prizes: $150 will be awarded to the 1st place award winner. A runner up prize of $75 may be awarded if there are 4 or more entrants, and at the discretion of the adjudicator.

Senior Scholarship Regulations

• The winner of this Award may be invited to perform in the following year’s MTA Scholarship event.
• Open to Vocal students residing in the Newcastle, Hunter, Upper Hunter, Central Coast, Mid-North Coast or New England Regions of NSW.
• The Senior Scholarship is open to 16-21yrs, Grade 5 AMEB level or above (or equivalent). Age is determined at the time of the Scholarship performance.
• Entrants are expected to provide their own accompanist for works that include accompaniment.
• No recorded accompaniments (i.e. backing tracks or CDs) may be used.
• Two contrasting works for voice are to be presented. At least one song must be from the Art Music genre (excluding popular song/musical theatre/jazz).
• Maximum performance time for combined works is 15 minutes.
• Entrants must provide a copy of the music on the day for the adjudicator. Any photocopied music will not be returned to the entrant.
• Prizes: $500 will be awarded to the 1st place award winner. A runner up prize of $150 may be awarded if there are 3 or more entrants, and at the discretion of the adjudicator.