SCHOLARSHIPS
Elementary – High School Pre-College Merit Awards
Application Deadline: Friday, January 29, 2010
Audition Date: Sunday, March 7, 2010 (unless otherwise noted)

Download an application

PIANO/ORGAN
WOODWIND
BRASS
STRING/HARP
PERCUSSION
VOICE

Pre-College Audition-Based Scholarship Information:
• If not specified, the student must attend school or reside in Berks County
• An audition of no more than 5 minutes for students in grades 1-6
• An audition of no more than 8 minutes for students in grades 7-12
• Adjudicators may stop the audition at any time
• Students must provide an accompanist (teachers may accompany their students in grades 1-6 ONLY). RMF does not require students to have an accompanist. Applicants should discuss using an accompanist with their music teacher. Students are advised not to use CD accompaniment.
• Students will audition in front of at least two adjudicators who are proficient in the student’s instrument or instrument family
• Individual scholarship listings detail information regarding number and type of music selections.
• If a scholarship listing does not mention required memorization, no memorization is necessary
• Taped auditions are not accepted
• The audition fee for students auditioning for merit-based scholarships is $20. Each additional sibling’s fee is $10. (Example, the total cost of two siblings auditioning would be $30). Requests to waive the application fee due to financial circumstances should be directed to our office at (610) 376-3395. The fee is applied once per year, regardless of the number of awards for which the student auditions.
• RMF does not release adjudicator information or award amounts prior to/the day of the audition. Recipients will be notified by mail of award amount.
• Awards are paid directly to the music teacher, institution or vendor for music related costs. RMF will reimburse parents who submit receipts for such purchases.
• Student will receive written evaluations from adjudicators in the week following the audition. Comments should be considered constructive and be shared with the student’s music teacher.

 

PIANO/ORGAN

For All Piano Auditions:
• Students must play two pieces of contrasting style
• One selection must be memorized
• Arrangements are not acceptable - click here for explanation
• Students may audition, but not win multiple awards from two different piano programs in the same audition year

Thomas W. & Marion Christman Balkcom Scholarship (Grades 1-6)
• Six awards available: three awards for students in grades 1-3, three awards for students in grades 4-6
• Open to piano students in grades 1-6 who attend Berks County Schools or reside in Berks County
• An audition of no more than 5 minutes

Robert R. Kreitz - Mark A. Hornberger Piano Scholarship (Grades 5-8)
• At least two awards available - one award for students in Grades 5-6 and one award for students in Grades 7-8
• Open to piano students in grades 5-8 who attend Berks County Schools and reside in Berks County
• An audition of no more than 5 minutes (Grades 5-6)
• An audition of no more than 8 minutes (Grades 7-8)

Runyeon Piano Scholarship Fund - Solo Proficiency (Grades 7-9)
• One award for solo piano proficiency
• Open to piano students in grades 7-9 who attend Berks County Schools and reside in Berks County
• An audition of no more than 8 minutes

Runyeon Piano Scholarship Fund - Accompanist Award (Grades 7-9)
• One award for proficiency in piano accompaniment
• Open to piano students in grades 7-9 who attend Berks County Schools and reside in Berks County
• An audition of no more than 8 minutes
• Accompanist applicants will receive audition music upon deadline
• Sight reading may be required

Ann W. Souders Piano Scholarship (Grades 7-9)
• At least three awards are given annually
• Open to piano students in grades 7-9 who attend Berks County Schools or reside in Berks County
• An audition of no more than 8 minutes

American Guild of Organists Fund of RMF (Grades 7-11)
• One award is given annually which provides the student with lessons during the year up to a total outlay of $500, assistance in finding an appropriate practice instrument (not limited to pipe organs), membership in the AGO and a performance arranged for Guild members.
• Organ teacher must be approved by the Executive Committee of the AGO Reading Chapter
• Open to students in grades 7-11 who attend Berks County or Schuylkill County Schools with at least intermediate piano proficiency and less than one year of organ instruction. Students should be able to reach the pedalboard comfortably.
• An audition of no more than 8 minutes
• Memorization is not necessary
• Students must have two selections, including one from the Baroque period and should be prepared to sight-read a hymn or chorale on the piano.

Atonement Bach Scholarship (Grades 10-12)
Audition Date: Saturday, April 17, 2010
Application Deadline: Friday, March 5, 2010
• Open to all students, regardless if the student placed in any other RMF scholarship program
• Click here for details

Bruce Bengtson Keyboard & Organ Scholarship (Grades 9-12)
• At least one award for High School I (Grades 9-10)
• At least one award for High School II (Grades 11-12)
• Open to piano & organ students in grades 9-12 who attend Berks County Schools and reside in Berks County
• An audition of no more than 8 minutes

Lee G. & Marian M. Kachel Organ Scholarship (Grade 9 - Adult)
• At least one award is given annually
• Open to pianists in grades 9 through adult who reside in Berks County and are interested in learning the organ
• Applicant must reside in Berks County
• An audition on piano or organ of no more than 8 minutes
• Applicants must have two selections, at least one of which is from the Baroque or the Classical period.

Application
 

WOODWIND

Thomas W. & Edna Garrett Balkcom Scholarship (Grades 5-6)
• Three awards for Woodwind
• Open to students in grades 5-6 who attend Berks County Schools and reside in Berks County. Must audition on piccolo, flute, oboe, English horn, clarinet, saxophone or bassoon.
• An audition of no more than 5 minutes
• Students must provide an accompanist (teachers may accompany students for this scholarship)

Work Family Woodwind Fund (Grades 7-9)
• As many as three awards are given annually
• Open to students in grades 7-9 who attend Berks County Schools and reside in Berks County. Must audition on piccolo, flute, oboe, English horn, clarinet, saxophone or bassoon.
• An audition of no more than 8 minutes
• Students must provide an accompanist
• Judges may require sight-reading
• Flute applicants (Grades 7-8) can win a Yamaha piccolo or the opportunity to use a Yamaha intermediate-level flute for two years in addition to a monetary award. Please click here for details.
• Flute applicants (Grade 9) can win the opportunity to use a Haynes "Classic" sterling silver flute for two years in addition to a monetary award. Please click here for details.
• Clarinet applicants can win the opportunity to use a Yamaha YCL450 Clarinet for two years in addition to a monetary award. Please click here for details.

Ann L. Cusano & Kim Webster Double Reed Scholarship (Grades 7-11)
• As many as three awards are given annually
• Open to students in grades 7-11 who attend Berks County Schools and reside in Berks County. Must audition on oboe, English horn, or bassoon.
• An audition of no more than 8 minutes
• Students must provide an accompanist
• Judges may require sight-reading
• Bassoon applicants can win the opportunity to use a Moosman 100A Bassoon for two years in addition to a monetary award. Please click here for details.

Atonement Bach Scholarship (Grades 10-12)
Audition Date: Saturday, April 17, 2010
Application Deadline: Friday, March 5, 2010
• Open to all students, regardless if the student placed in any other RMF scholarship program
• Click here for details

David Bilger Woodwind Scholarship (Grades 10-12)
• As many as three awards are given annually
• Open to students in grades 10-12 who attend Berks County Schools and reside in Berks County. Must audition on piccolo, flute, oboe, English horn, clarinet, saxophone or bassoon
• An audition of no more than 8 minutes
• Students must provide an accompanist
• Flute applicants can win the opportunity to use a Haynes "Classic" sterling silver flute for two years in addition to a monetary award. Please click here for details.
• Clarinet applicants can win the opportunity to use a Yamaha YCL450 Clarinet for two years in addition to a monetary award. Please click here for details.

BRASS

Thomas W. & Edna Garrett Balkcom Scholarship (Grades 5-6)
• Three awards for Brass
• Open to students in grades 5-6 who attend Berks County Schools or reside in Berks County. Must audition on trumpet, French horn, trombone, euphonium, baritone or tuba
• An audition of no more than 5 minutes
• Students must provide an accompanist (teachers may accompany students for this scholarship)

STRING/HARP

Katherine N. Quartner - Rita Quartner Herman Scholarship (Grades 1-12)
• Three awards for each category (Grades 1-3, 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12)
• Open to students in grades 1-12 who attend Berks County Schools or reside in Berks County. Must audition on violin, viola, cello or string bass.
• An audition of no more than 5 minutes (Grades 1-6)
• An audition of no more than 8 minutes (Grades 7-12)
• Students must provide an accompanist (teachers may accompany students in grades 1-6 only)

Atonement Bach Scholarship (Grades 10-12)
Audition Date: Saturday, April 17, 2010
Application Deadline: Friday, March 5, 2010
• Open to all students, regardless if the student placed in any other RMF scholarship program
• Click here for details

Application