The MTA regularly offers a range of scholarships designed to foster performance experience and support further study for aspiring young instrumentalists and vocalists. Available across a variety of musical fields, these opportunities run on different schedules across the state.
The Music Teachers' Association of NSW Advanced Scholarship Challenge
The Music Teachers’ Association of NSW Advanced Scholarship Challenge is an award established through the Benevolent Fund of the Music Teachers’ Association of NSW Ltd to enable study in Australia or abroad for a student of any instrument or voice. Open to all students across New South Wales, the competition explicitly welcomes and permits entries from rural and regional areas. Up to two scholarships may be awarded, with the prize for the Grade 7 to Certificate category set at $750, and the award for the Associate to Licentiate category valued at $1000. To be eligible for this opportunity, applicants must be a resident of NSW, aged 25 years or under as of 30 July, and must not have received this scholarship previously, as past winners are ineligible to enter. Candidates may present one to three contrasting works within the required timeframes. For full terms & conditions visit https://mtansw.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/MTANSW-Advanced-Scholship-Challenge-TsCs.pdf
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
The Mark Matthews Australian Composer Award will be featured at the Junior Music Festival Wollongong, offering a unique opportunity for solo piano students from the beginner level up to 6th Grade, though duets are not permitted. To participate, competitors must perform a piece composed by Mark Matthews within a five-minute time limit, and sheet music for these eligible compositions can be found at remarkablemusic.net. As a prerequisite, all entrants must also register and perform in a standard Junior Music Festival Wollongong section on any instrument or voice that matches their current grade or ability level. This dedicated award section will run provided a minimum of three competitors enter. Successful performers will be recognized with cash prizes and trophies across two divisions: the Beginners to Grade 2 category awards $25.00 for first place, $15.00 for second, and $10.00 for third, while the Grade 3 to Grade 6 category awards $50.00 for first place, $30.00 for second, and $20.00 for third. For any Mark Mathews compositions in the Beginners to 6th grade range - visit remarkablemusic.net
MTA Newcastle Errol Collins Award
The Errol Collins Awards are open to violin and viola students residing in the Newcastle, Hunter, Upper Hunter, Central Coast, Mid-North Coast, or New England regions of NSW. The Junior Award is for students up to age 17 playing up to Grade 6 AMEB (1–2 pieces, 8-minute limit, $250 first prize), while the Senior Award is for students up to age 21 playing Grade 7 AMEB and above (2 contrasting pieces, 15-minute limit, $500 first prize). For both categories, entrants must provide their own live accompanist for accompanied works—no backing tracks are permitted—though unaccompanied solo works are accepted. Competitors must bring a sheet music copy for the adjudicator on the day, and previous winners are ineligible to enter the same award the following year. Runner-up prizes ($100 for Junior with 4+ entrants; $200 for Senior with 3+ entrants) and all final prize distributions remain at the discretion of the adjudicator and the MTA committee based on entry numbers and performance standards. For full rules & regulations visit https://mtansw.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2026-ERROL-COLLINS-Awards.docx.pdf
MTA Newcastle Wendy Ireland Award
The 2026 Wendy Ireland Cello Awards are 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 up to age 17 playing up to Grade 6 AMEB level (1–2 pieces, 8-minute limit, $250 first prize), while the Senior Award caters to students up to age 21 playing Grade 7 AMEB and above (2 contrasting pieces, 15-minute limit, $500 first prize). For both divisions, backing tracks are strictly prohibited; entrants must provide their own live accompanist for accompanied pieces, though unaccompanied solo works are also accepted. Competitors must bring a sheet music copy for the adjudicator on the day, and previous winners are ineligible to enter the same category the following year. Runner-up prizes ($100 for Junior with 4+ entrants; $200 for Senior with 3+ entrants) and all final prize distributions remain at the discretion of the adjudicator and the MTA committee based on entry numbers and performance standards. For full rules & regulations visit https://mtansw.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2026-WENDY-IRELAND-Awards.docx.pdf
MTA Newcastle Piano Scholarship
The 2026 Newcastle MTA Piano Scholarships are open to solo piano students residing in the Newcastle, Hunter, Upper Hunter, Central Coast, Mid-North Coast, or New England regions of NSW. The program is split into three divisions: the Junior Scholarship for students up to age 15 playing 3rd to 4th Grade AMEB ($150 first prize, 6-minute limit), the Intermediate Scholarship for students up to age 18 playing 5th to 7th Grade AMEB ($300 first prize, 12-minute limit), and the Senior Scholarship for students up to age 21 playing 8th Grade up to Diploma level ($500 first prize, 15-minute limit). Across all categories, entrants must perform two solo works (contrasting for Intermediate and Senior) that demonstrate their musical and technical development; accompaniments and backing tracks are not permitted. Competitors must bring a sheet music copy for the adjudicator on the day, and previous winners are ineligible to enter the same division the following year. Runner-up prizes ($75 for Junior with 4+ entrants; $100 for Intermediate with 4+ entrants; $200 for Senior with 3+ entrants) and all final prize awards remain at the discretion of the adjudicator and the MTA committee based on entry numbers and performance standards. For full rules and regulations visit https://mtansw.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2026-Newcastle-MTA-PIANO-Scholarships.docx.pdf
MTA Newcastle Hunter Art Vocal Scholarship
The 2026 Hunter Art Music Vocal Scholarships are open to singing students residing in the Newcastle, Hunter, Upper Hunter, Central Coast, Mid-North Coast, or New England regions of NSW. The Junior Scholarship targets singers aged 12 to 15 up to Grade 4 AMEB level (two contrasting works, 8-minute limit, $250 first prize), while the Senior Scholarship is for singers aged 15 to 21 at Grade 5 AMEB and above (two contrasting works, 15-minute limit, $500 first prize). For both categories, entrants must perform at least one song from the Art Music genre—explicitly excluding popular music, musical theatre, and jazz. Recorded backing tracks are prohibited; contestants must provide their own live accompanist for accompanied works and bring a copy of the sheet music for the adjudicator on the day. Previous winners are ineligible to enter the same division the following year. Runner-up prizes ($100 for Junior with 4+ entrants; $200 for Senior with 3+ entrants) and final prize distributions remain at the discretion of the adjudicator and the MTA committee based on entry numbers and performance standards. For full rules & regulations visit https://mtansw.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2026-Hunter-Art-Music-VOCAL-Scholarship.docx.pdf