For Excellence in Music
Developing Townsville's Most Talented Young Musicians

Background

The Townsville City Council has a long history of supporting arts and cultural events in the city. One of the City's signature events is the Australian Festival of Chamber Music (AFCM). Commencing in 1990, through the vision of Theodore Kuchar, the AFCM has developed into one of Australia's most significant cultural events.

The Townsville City Council has supported the AFCM from the Festival's inception and assisted Theodore Kuchar in developing his vision for the event. Theodore retired as Artistic Director in 2006 and in recognition of his outstanding contribution, the Townsville City Council in partnership with the AFCM, has initiated this unique scholarship as part of the Council's Youth Opportunity Fund.

Theodore Kuchar's contribution has enhanced and developed Townsville's cultural identity both nationally and internationally.

The Scholarship

The Theodore Kuchar Scholarship has been developed to support young emerging Townsville orchestral musicians with the costs of tuition and professional development. The Townsville City Council in partnership with the AFCM is offering a Year Eleven student $4,000, over two years, to be used to pay for instrumental tuition and/or professional development. The scholarship will be $2,000 per year for two years, paid during Years Eleven and Twelve.

Objectives

The program's main objectives are to:

• Support a young emerging Townsville artist by offering a scholarship.
• Increase opportunities for creative and skills development at an advanced level.

Key Dates

• 14th October 2011 - Closing date for application forms. (Extended closing date)
  
• 17th October 2011 - Successful applicants notified of audition time and venue.
• 29th October 2011 - Auditions.
• 31st October 2011 - Successful applicant announced.

Assessment Criteria

Applicants will be assessed against the following criteria:

1. Standard of performance at an audition where the applicant performs two pieces of contrasting styles.  Applicant's performance to be no longer than 10 minutes. 

2. The quality of submitted resume (maximum three pages) including results and full examiners' reports from the past two years and any prizes and associated adjudication reports.

3. Recommendations of two referees, one of whom must be the applicant's current instrumental music teacher.

Applicants will be invited to audition based on the strength of their application.  Applicants are welcome to engage an accompanist for their audition. 

Applicant Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for the scholarship the applicant must be:

• An Australian citizen or permanent resident of Australia.
• A resident in the Townsville City Council local government area.
• Learning an orchestral instrument.
• Achieved a minimum Grade Four practical level from AMEB, ANZCA or Trinity College syllabi.
• Entering Year Eleven in 2012.

Frequency of Scholarship

A new scholarship will be awarded each year.  Each year there will be two scholarship recipients - one being from the year before and a new recipient for the current year.

How to Apply

1. Download the application form.

2. Complete the application form.

3. Post your completed application with the supporting material to:

Theodore Kuchar Scholarship
Australian Festival of Chamber Music
PO Box 5871
TOWNSVILLE QLD 4810

Applications close 14th October 2011(Extended by one week). Posted applications must be date stamped no later than this date.

For more information please contact the Festival Office:

Australian Festival of Chamber Music
PO Box 5871
Townsville QLD 4810

Phone: 07 4771 4144
Fax: 07 4771 4122
Email: info@afcm.com.au