Scholarships

2024 Scholarship Competition for Middle School Students

The application process for the 2024 Scholarships is open now. Please see below for more details regarding the latest news. We look forward to continuing support of our local young musicians!

Do you have, or know of, a middle school music student who could use $500 to further his/her musical studies? If so, please follow the instructions below and provide the application and any and all necessary documents.

Two $500 scholarships will be awarded to students playing an orchestral instrument. The Alfred Chavez Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a string player and the Jo Wisniewski Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a non-string orchestral instrumentalist. The scholarship may be used to pay for such music expenses as music lessons; the purchase, rental, or maintenance of an instrument; or attending a music camp. The winners will be introduced and given their awards at the Beach Cities Symphony’s opening concert in the Fall.

To be eligible, an applicant must be attending a South Bay public, private, or home school (6th, 7th, or 8th grade) at the time of application. Students of all ability levels will be considered.

THE SCHOLARSHIP FORM

Instructions – Scholarship Process Overview/Instructions – Scholarship Form Above

1. Only South Bay public, private, or home school (6th, 7th, or 8th grade at the time of application) students are eligible.
2. Only orchestral instrument students will be eligible.
3. SEE FORM at the highlighted links above or below. A recommendation letter from a music teacher (in an envelope sealed by the teacher) must be enclosed with your application. A second letter from a teacher or other adult (not a parent of the applicant) is optional and must be sealed in the same way.
4. SEE FORM at the highlighted links above or below. Write an essay of between 200 and 300 words, to be typed on a separate page. The essay should include answers to the following: Why are you applying? What are your goals regarding music? What do you hope to accomplish with this scholarship?
5. The application must be postmarked or electronically received by July 1st for the current year.
6. If you are selected as a finalist, you may be asked to appear for an interview/audition at a location and time to be announced later. A piano may be available, but if so, you must provide the accompanist.
7. You may submit a CD or video (can be taken with phone) of one or two selections, each under 2 minutes, OR you may submit a link to a video on social media (FB/IG or Youtube), but it is not required. Include your name, composer’s name(s), and work’s title(s).
8. If you are awarded this scholarship, you must appear for the presentation of the certificate at the Fall 2024, opening concert of the Beach Cities Symphony’s 2024-2025 season.
9. Mail the application and the accompanying items to the address listed in THE SCHOLARSHIP FORM or simply email all documents and links to inquiry@beachcitiessymphony.org.

Past “Artists of the Future” Soloists & Scholarship Winners