Allen Family Senior Scholarships

The Allen Family Senior Scholarships are open to Central Coast Conservatorium of Music students (vocal and instrumental) aged between 14 and 22 years of age (on 31 December 2024) who are Grade 7 AMEB minimum standard or equivalent. 

An adjudication panel will assess applicants for the Allen Family Senior Scholarships from the Scholarship auditions on 9 November 2024 and determine the successful candidates that will proceed to the Scholarship Finals to be held in Robert Knox Hall on Sunday 24 November 2024. You must indicate on your application form that you wish to apply for this scholarship.

To audition for the Allen Family Scholarship you must present two contrasting solo pieces of 12 to 15 minutes duration in total (minimum of one accompanied work with piano). Piano students do not require an accompaniment. Please discuss this requirement with your teacher if you are unsure if you comply with the minimum standard. 

Successful applicants will be required to perform in the Allen Family Scholarship Finals Concert. The date of this performance is Sunday 24 November 2024.

Candidates generally perform the repertoire that is presented in the initial panel audition but this can be altered through negotiation with the student’s teacher and the Artistic Director.

Allen Family Junior Scholarships

The Allen Family Junior Scholarships are open to Central Coast Conservatorium of Music students aged 13 and under. 

The Competitive Scholarships adjudication panel will assess applicants for the Allen Family Junior Encouragement Scholarships on Saturday 9 November, 2024 and determine the successful candidate/s at this audition.

You must be under 14 years of age on 31 December 2024 to be eligible for this scholarship. You should have been studying your instrument/voice for at least 2 years and be of Grade 3 AMEB minimum standard or equivalent. Please discuss this requirement with your teacher if you are unsure if you comply with the minimum standard.

Richard Newton/Central Coast Philharmonia Choir Vocal Scholarship 

The Richard Newton Central Coast Philharmonia Choir Scholarship is open to vocal students aged 14-18 years of age.

The Competitive Scholarships adjudication panel will assess applicants for the Richard Newton Central Coast Philharmonia Choir Scholarship on Saturday 9 November, 2024 and determine the successful candidate/s at this audition.

You must indicate on your application form that you wish to apply for this scholarship. Applicants for this scholarship must prepare and present the Senior Vocal Audition requirements listed below.

You must be between 14 and 18 years of age on 31 December 2024 to be eligible for this scholarship.

You should have been studying voice for at least 3 years and be of Grade 7 AMEB minimum standard or equivalent. Please discuss this requirement with your teacher if you are unsure if you comply with the minimum standard.

Pearl Beach Association Senior Scholarships

The Pearl Beach Association Senior Scholarships are open to Central Coast Conservatorium students aged between 14 and 22 (as of 31 December 2024). 

The Competitive Scholarships adjudication panel will assess applicants for the Pearl Beach Association Senior Scholarships on Saturday 9 November, 2024 and determine the successful candidate/s at this audition, who will go through to the final public competition with adjudication.

The Pearl Beach Association Scholarships include the Pearl Beach Association Senior Scholarship and other runner-up awards, to be announced.

The Pearl Beach Senior Scholarship Concert will be held on Saturday 24 May 2025 at the Pearl Beach Progress Memorial Hall, 9 Diamond Avenue, Pearl Beach.

Irvine Family Piano Scholarship

The Irvine Family Piano Scholarship is open to any Central Coast Conservatorium of Music piano student (ages 10 – 22, Grade 5 or above).

The Competitive Scholarships adjudication panel will assess applicants for the Irvine Family Piano Scholarship/s on Saturday 9 November, 2024 and determine the successful candidate/s at this audition.

Recipients of the Irvine Family Piano Scholarship/s will be required to perform at the Pearl Beach Scholarship Concert on Saturday 24 May 2025  at the Pearl Beach Progress Memorial Hall, 9 Diamond Avenue, Pearl Beach.

Scholarship Expectations

Scholarship recipients are expected to participate in a 60 minute one-to-one weekly lesson for Senior students or a 30 minute one-to-one weekly lesson plus weekly ensemble for Junior students, for the full year of the Scholarship (four terms). Piano and vocal students may take the option of an additional related weekly activity with approval from the Artistic Director (for example, Vocal students may take piano lessons or join the Central Coast Children’s/Youth Choir, Piano students may join the Central Coast Children’s or Youth Choirs or enrol in Musicianship class)

Criteria for 2025 Scholarships

1. Scholarships will be applied to the students’ Fees Account as follows:
   1. The Allen Family Scholarships will be applied in Term 4 of 2024 although recipients are considered the 2025 scholarship holders. In some circumstances where the student has graduated (i.e. completed lessons at the Conservatorium), the prize will be paid by bank transfer after the finals in December. It is expected that the prize money be put towards their music education.
   2. Allen Family winners must submit a 250-word essay within 2 weeks after the Scholarship Finals thanking the sponsor.
2. Scholarship applicants must be:
   1. currently enrolled at Central Coast Conservatorium as one-to-one students or in an ensemble wanting to take up one-to-one lessons; and
   2. attending a minimum half hour weekly lessons; and
   3. Juniors should be aged 13 or under as at 31/12/24
   4. Seniors should be aged 14 to 22 as at 31/12/24
3. Professional musicians are not eligible.
4. Applicants must be Central Coast Conservatorium students. This includes students participating in the ensembles and musicianship classes.
5. Scholarships will not be awarded if the adjudicator or adjudication panel deems that there are no candidates of a sufficient standard.
6. Students with outstanding or overdue fees are ineligible to apply for the scholarship program.
7. Scholarships will not be awarded to students with outstanding fees.
8. Central Coast Conservatorium reserves the right to withdraw a scholarship at any time should a student fail to demonstrate commitment or if any of the scholarship conditions are not met.
9. Scholarship 1st place winners from the previous year are ineligible to apply for the same scholarship.
10. Auditions will be judged by a Central Coast Conservatorium adjudication panel.
11. The Conservatorium will notify you of your accompanist for the audition day. Central Coast Conservatorium will cover the cost of the accompanist for the audition. However, the student must pay the accompanist’s costs for rehearsals. All accompanist rehearsals must be paid for through the Administration office.
12. The decision of the adjudicator(s) will be final and no dialogue or correspondence will be entered into.
13. Requirements for scholarship auditions are listed above, are obtainable from instrumental teachers, and will also be displayed on the Conservatorium website.
14. Finalists for the Allen Family Scholarship will perform at the Allen Family Scholarship Finals and Supporters Concert on Sunday 24 November 2024 at Robert Knox Hall, 45 Mann Street, Gosford. The winners will be announced at the adjudication prior to the conclusion of the event.

How to apply

Auditions will be held on Saturday 9 November 2024 at Robert Knox Hall, Central Coast Conservatorium of Music, 45 Mann Street, Gosford.

To apply fill in this online SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION FORM.

Applications close Friday 1 November at 11.59pm.