Wisconsin Conservatory of Music

All applicants (or parents/guardians for minors) must complete the required application form and return it with the application fee ($15.00 non-refundable) by Friday, March 26, 2010 to Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, 1584 N. Prospect Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53202-6501. Current Conservatory students must request an application from their instructor.

Only complete and legible applications will be accepted. Incomplete or illegible applications will be returned along with the entry fee. Deadlines will not be extended for these applicants.

A separate application form and fee must be submitted for each student and each category.

For New Conservatory Students only: participants must submit an application and the following materials: (1) a written paragraph indicating why he or she wants to study at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, and (2) a letter of recommendation from a music teacher. All materials should be sent by Friday, March 26, 2010: Registration, Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, 1584 N. Prospect Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53202-6501

• When and Where

The annual competition for scholarships will be held on Sunday, April 25 and Sunday, May 2, 2010, at our main location, 1584 N. Prospect Ave. The Conservatory will schedule the auditions. Please reserve the day until you receive your audition time. As judges are specifically chosen for each category, students will not be permitted to audition out of scheduled category time. Each applicant will be notified by mail with the day and time of his/her audition. Once times are assigned, changes cannot be made.

There are nine categories for students to choose from for the auditions, spread out over two weeks:

Sunday, April 25, 2010

- 9:00 Strings

- 10:00 New Student

- 10:00 Guitar: Classical, Flamenco and Fingerstyle

- 1:00 Guitar: Rock/Blues and Bass

- 1:00 Voice

- 1:00 Woodwinds and Brass

- 1:30 Mary Horwitt

Sunday, May 2, 2010

- 9:00 Piano: Early Elementary, Late Elementary, and Intermediate

- 9:00 Piano: Advanced and Adult

- 11:00 Recording and Music Technology

- 11:30 Percussion

- 1:00 Jazz

• What the scholarships are for

Scholarship awards of $100 to $500 dollars are applied to full semesters of individual instruction. This is a credit which is applied toward the total tuition cost for the semester beginning fall 2010. The full award is divided equally between the fall and spring semesters. In addition, Piano, Guitar, Woodwind and Brass, Jazz and String players at the intermediate and advanced levels are eligible to receive additional scholarship money to be applied toward tuition when they register for a Conservatory ensemble.

• Who can apply

Scholarships are based on merit and are awarded to promising students of any age who demonstrate talent and achievement. Qualified judges are selected by each department head for the auditions.

For current Conservatory students:
all participants must have the approval of their instructor along with his/her signature on the application form. Applications will not be processed without instructor’s signature. Each department provides audition requirements appropriate to the department. These requirements include criteria based on age or length of study. The requirements are attached to the application.

For New Conservatory students:
a new Conservatory student is one who has not previously taken lessons at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music in the area for which he/she is auditioning. (Recording and Music Technology applicants please follow the requirements that are specific to that category.) Ten minutes are allotted for each participant in this category however the duration of the audition is at the judge’s discretion. Each participant must perform two pieces, one fast and one slow. The two works must be different in style and by different composers. The pieces should demonstrate technical proficiency and lyrical style. Memorization is optional. Participants are allowed to bring their own accompanists. Accompaniment is not provided by the WCM. Any amplifiers or other equipment needed for the audition should also be provided by the participant. Family members and friends are not allowed to sit in on the audition. Judges will have a brief conversation with each applicant following his/her audition. The department heads in consultation with the Director of Education hear the auditions and make recommendations for scholarship awards. All participants who receive a scholarship are required to sign a contract outlining their responsibilities. Scholarship recipients who fulfill these conditions and responsibilities, along with the recommendation from their Conservatory teacher, will have a full range of additional scholarship or financial aid opportunities available to them for study at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music during the fall and spring semesters of 2010-2011. Participants may only audition two times on their instrument in the New Student category. New Student Application

• What to expect

Only the authorized judge(s) and audition officials will hear the audition. Family members and friends are not allowed to sit in on the audition. Contestants will be judged on musical qualities, technique and performance skills. Contestants will be notified by mail of their results and will receive copies of the judges’ comments. Representative winners from the current Conservatory student categories may be invited to perform at the Honors Recital held on Sunday, May 16, 2010 at 3 p.m.

Students with past due balances as of March 30, 2010 will not be allowed to participate in the auditions.

The Wisconsin Conservatory of Music is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in admissions, financial aid, scholarship, and employment, regardless of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, veteran’s status, national origin, or other legally protected characteristics.

All applicants will be contacted with results by mail. No phone calls please.

• Thanks and gratitude

Contributions from people who care about opportunities to learn and perform music make a difference in the quality and scope of music programs the Conservatory can offer. We are grateful to the donors whose generous contributions make these scholarships available. Award Recipients are encouraged to send a thank you letter to the donor responsible for their scholarship and to perform at a Conservatory or community event during the year in addition to the WCM Honors Recital. Scholarship winners may also apply and receive financial aid if qualified.

Applications
Current Conservatory students must request an application from their instructor.

Mary Horwitt Piano Scholarship

Application Deadline: Friday, March 1, 2010, at 5 p.m
Audition Date: Sunday, April 25, 2010

Requirements For Scholarships

Guitar
Application Deadline: Friday, March 26, 2010, at 5 p.m
Audition Date: Sunday, April 25, 2010

Jazz
Application Deadline: Friday, March 26, 2010, at 5 p.m
Audition Date: Sunday, May 2, 2010

Percussion
Application Deadline: Friday, March 26, 2010, at 5 p.m
Audition Date: Sunday, May 2, 2010

Piano
Application Deadline: Friday, March 26, 2010, at 5 p.m
Audition Date: Sunday, May 2, 2010

Click Here for Mary Horwitt Piano Scholarship Application

Recording & Music Technology
Application Deadline: Friday, March 26, 2010, at 5 p.m
Audition Date: Sunday, May 2, 2010

Strings
Application Deadline: Friday, March 26, 2010, at 5 p.m
Audition Date: Sunday, April 25, 2010

Woodwind & Brass
Application Deadline: Friday, March 26, 2010, at 5 p.m
Audition Date: Sunday, April 25, 2010

Voice
Application Deadline: Friday, March 26, 2010, at 5 p.m
Audition Date: Sunday, April 25, 2010