The Mary Elizabeth McComas Piano Awards are provided to enable high achieving students specialising in piano, to undertake overseas educational activity at major piano-teaching academies, festivals or universities in Europe. This scholarship is open to all piano graduates from BMus or equivalent courses provided at Australian Universities.
Strongest preference is for Master of Music Performance Research (Keyboard) students as well as PhD Performance Research (Keyboard) students, particularly those in the early stages of candidacy. Exceptionally high achieving Bachelor of Music Honours (Keyboard) students with strong graduate research potential can also be considered. Students enrolled in the Master of Music Performance Teaching (Keyboard) may also apply.
Value
The value of the scholarship offered in 2025 will be approximately $10,000 per recipient, depending on the proposal provided by the applicant and at the discretion of the Trustees. A thankyou letter and, subsequent to the travel, a completion statement will be required for the information to the McComas family.
Criteria & eligibility
Candidates for the scholarship must:
- be an Australian citizen;
- have graduated or be eligible to graduate, in any undergraduate or postgraduate course in Music at an Australian University OR be currently enrolled in a course of Music as postgraduate student at an Australian University, with preference for current student of Bachelor of Music Honours (keyboard) or Research Master (Keyboard);
- be intending to undertake activity associated with a European piano-teaching institution, attend a piano festival in Europe, OR intend to secure private tuition with an approved piano teacher in Europe (consideration will be given to non-European countries as the discretion of the selection panel);
- be of high academic standard as determined by the selection panel.
Selection process
Applications will be assessed by the selection committee on the basis of:
- Exceptional academic results with strong research potential as determined by the selection panel;
- travel purpose (outlining teacher/masterclass/outcome intentions; detailed budget requirements).
The Dean, on the recommendation of the graduate committee, will approve the recipients, who will be notified via email of the outcome. All other unsuccessful recipients will be emailed.
Please contact fineartsmusic-scholarships@unimelb.edu.au with any questions.
This application consists of the following questions:
- Personal details
- Academic details
- Project details
- Document uploads
- Agreement and submission
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