NJSMA SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS Information and Application The Executive Board of the North Jersey School Music Association (NJSMA), Region I of the New Jersey Music Educators Association, has made provisions to award scholarship grants to graduating seniors from participating schools. Promising young musicians from the band, chorus or orchestra, who plan to major in music, meet the established criteria, and observe all procedures and time constraints as stated herein, may apply. Eligibility To be eligible for consideration for the North Jersey School Music Association Scholarship, the applicant must: A. Be a high school senior. B. Be a Region I Ensemble member during the current year and follow through with all membership criteria. C. By audition, demonstrate musical achievement, i.e., chorus members present a vocal audition, band and orchestra members audition on the instrument they play in the Region Ensemble. D. Declare the intention to enter a baccalaureate degree program as a Music Major. E. Complete the application/audition/interview process as stated herein. Payment of Scholarship Payment of the NJSMA Scholarships will be made directly to the college/university after the recipient has provided the scholarship committee with official verification of enrollment as a music/music education major. A letter to that effect from a music department chairperson or other appropriate college official will be sufficient. Should the recipient not fulfill all requirements necessary for payment within eight months after the award is presented, the scholarship will be revoked. Administration of the Scholarship Policies and Procedures The Executive Board of the North Jersey School Music Association is responsible for all decisions concerning the scholarship awards and all questions of policy and procedure that might arise. The decisions of the Executive Board are final and binding. The NJSMA Scholarship Committee is responsible for receiving and reviewing all applications, organizing and adjudicating the audition/interview process and recommending the scholarship candidates to the Executive Board of NJSMA.
Procedures 1. The applicants must write a comprehensive, descriptive letter to the chairperson of the scholarship committee stating their qualifications, background, musical accomplishments, musical interests, ultimate career goals and all other pertinent musical information. It is also appropriate to indicate non-musical awards, honors and activities, as well as a statement about their financial situations as it applies to their educational plans, including the attached scholarship application with their letters. Letters are to be sent via CERTIFIED MAIL to the address listed below. 2. Applicants are to request from their school music teacher a written statement nominating the applicant for the scholarship. This letter is to include detailed information about the applicant as a musician, an ensemble member, a student and a citizen. It is appropriate to include information about the student s future musical plans, scholarship ratings, financial circumstances, etc. A copy of the student s transcript must be included as part of the music teacher s packet to the scholarship committee. This packet is to be mailed directly to the chairman of the NJSMA Scholarship Committee by the due date listed below. 3. Letters and forms of application from the applicant and the packet from the teacher should be sent to: Mr. Peter Pettinelli NJSMA Scholarship Committee Brooklawn Middle School 250 Beachwood Road Parsippany, NJ 07054 All application materials for NJSMA Region Band, Chorus, Orchestra and Music Education/Music Industry/Related Music Area Scholarships, must be postmarked by March 11, 2011. 4. Applicants who have satisfactorily complied with all written criteria and procedures will be provided the opportunity to demonstrate their musical proficiency by audition Saturday, April 16, 2011, at Brooklawn Middle School in Parsippany, NJ. At the audition, the committee will interview the applicant to further assist in the selection process.
North Jersey School Music Association Audition Details/Guidelines 1. The auditions will take place Saturday, April 16, 2011 at Brooklawn Middle School, 250 Beachwood Road, Parsippany, NJ 07054. 2. The music to be performed for the audition should be comparable to the literature being prepared for a college audition. 3. All applicants must perform with accompaniment unless the solo was written as an unaccompanied work. Applicants must provide their own accompanist. Accompanists will not be provided by the committee. 4. The length of the audition is limited to ten (10) minutes. Vocal applicants are to perform from memory, and their repertoire is to consist of an art song and a folk song of a contrasting nature. Instrumental applicants are to prepare two pieces of contrasting style. Instrumentalists will perform selected sections of these pieces. 5. By Monday, April 11, 2011, each applicant will provide to the scholarship chairman, the final titles and composers of the compositions to be performed at the audition if they have not been provided at the time of application. Once this information has been submitted to the chairman, the selections to be performed cannot be changed. 6. During the week of April 11, 2011, the applicant will receive an email from the chairman stating that all materials have been received and that the applicant has been granted permission to audition. This letter will include the time and place of the audition, and directions to the audition site. 7. All winners are to perform at the Annual Membership Dinner Meeting, Monday May 2, 2011 at 7:00.
Scholarship Application Form PLEASE TYPE or PRINT CLEARLY NAME HOME PHONE HOME ADDRESS TOWN STATE ZIP E-MAIL ADDRESS SCHOOL SCHOOL PHONE SCHOOL ADDRESS SCHOOL TOWN STATE ZIP NAME OF SCHOOL MUSIC TEACHER/DIRECTOR AUDITION INSTRUMENT: or VOICE PART: Composition/Composer: Composition/Composer: Indicate your intended major (e.g., performance, music education, recording technology, etc.) Name and address of college/university you plan to attend What Region I performing group were you a member of in 2010? (Circle all that apply) Band Chorus Orchestra (Signature of applicant) (Signature of parent) (Date of application) APPLICANTS MUST RETURN THIS COMPLETED FORM WITH THEIR LETTER OF APPLICATION TO: Mr. Peter Pettinelli, NJSMA Scholarship Committee 250 Beachwood Road Parsippany, NJ 07054