Performance Scholarships Competition

OVERVIEW

The Music Scholarship Series was inaugurated in 1948 through the Winnipeg Branch of the Manitoba Registered Music Teachers’ Association. For over seventy years the competition has provided performance opportunities for developing musicians, constructive adjudication from esteemed music professionals and financial awards.

In 2011 administration of the competition became the responsibility of the Provincial Executive. This change compelled the MRMTA to review the value of the scholarship series. The priorities included raising the profile of the competition, making it inclusive, accessible and fiscally viable. The restructured scholarship series allows for the addition of new competitions in the future.

In 2027, for the first time, the CFMTA National Competition will be a multi-discipline competition. The MRMTA will send up to two competitors, representing two different disciplines. All advanced students competing in this scholarship series should be aiming to compete at the National Competition. It is an opportunity to travel to a new destination, to grow a professional network, to perform for an international audience, to be adjudicated by some of Canada’s most influential musicians, and to compete for additional financial awards. For information on the CFMTA National Competitions go to their website www.cfmta.org and click on the link under Programs and Competitions.

2027 COMPETITION DATES:

The competition will take place the week of Jan. 25-29, 2027, with the Gala Concert taking place the evening of Sunday, Jan. 31st.

VENUE:

Fort Garry Mennonite Fellowship – 150 Bayridge Avenue, Wininipeg MB, R3T 5B5

SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED:

ONE PERSON MAY WIN IN EACH CATEGORY (PIANO, VOCAL, INSTRUMENTAL) PER LEVEL:

One Advanced Scholarship of $500 for students at the ARCT or Undergraduate level of study.
One Senior Scholarship of $400 for students at the Grade 9 or 10 level of study.
One Intermediate Scholarship of $300 for students at the Grade 7 or 8 level of study.
One Junior Scholarship of $200 for students at the Grade 5 or 6 level of study.
Runner up prizes will be half the amount of first place

AGE RESTRICTIONS:

There are no age restrictions except in the Advanced Level.

STUDENTS MUST SUBMIT:

Completed online application form by the closing date of November 15th.
Competition entrance fee:
- Advanced $75
- Senior $65
- Intermediate $50
- Junior $40
Please Note:
- Late applications will be accepted until 9pm Dec 1. A late fee of $20 per application will apply.
- All correspondence with the convenor MUST include full name (both the competitor and their teacher), discipline, and level of competition. Email correspondence to mrmtascholarships@gmail.com

ADJUDICATORS FOR 2027:

To Be Announced

REGULATIONS & ELIGIBILITY

APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY:

Be a resident of Manitoba;
Study with an MRMTA member at the time of application;
A scholarship winner in the junior, intermediate and senior categories will not be eligible to compete in the same scholarship level in subsequent competitions;
At the advanced level a competitor may win twice, making them eligible to compete a maximum of two times at the CFMTA national competition. If a student has won any award at the CFMTA national competition they may not compete at the MRMTA advanced level a 2nd time.
To be eligible to win the Advanced Piano category and be recommended to the CFMTA National Piano Competition, competitors must either be a Canadian citizen or legal resident of Canada. Having legal status means you are authorized to enter and remain in Canada as a temporary or permanent resident under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

STANDARDS:

Scholarship recipients must achieve a minimum of 85% to win their category. You do not automatically win if you are the only competitor. The awarding of scholarships is at the discretion of the adjudicator.
Recommendation for advancement to National competitions is at the discretion of the Scholarship Committee.

APPLICATIONS:

Must be received by 9pm November 15th.
Repertoire changes cannot be made after the application is submitted.
IF your application is rejected for any reason, you will receive a refund minus a $25 processing fee. In all other cases, fees are non-refundable.

REPERTOIRE APPROVAL:

For pieces not in the current RCM or CC syllabus: a copy of the piece must be emailed to the convenor for approval at the time of application. Music printed from IMSLP, or digital copies used by competitors and/or accompanists will only be permitted if documentation of copyright permission or digital purchase is scanned and emailed to the convenor.

MEMORY:

All competitors must perform from memory in the piano and vocal disciplines.
Competitors in the instrumental discipline are highly encouraged to perform from memory but it is not mandatory. In the event that two competitors score the same mark, preference may be given to the memorized performance.