SAMRO invites instrumentalists to compete in this year’s scholarships competition with a chance to win R200k to support overseas studies.
The Southern African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO) invites applications for the 2016 SAMRO Overseas Scholarships Competition for Instrumentalists. Musically gifted Southern Africans are encouraged to take this opportunity to compete for a scholarship to further their postgraduate studies or attend master classes overseas.
The SAMRO Foundation is an independently registered non-profit company that manages the Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programmes on behalf of SAMRO, including this competition which rotates between instrumentalists, composers, keyboard players and singers.
Over the past 54 years, the SAMRO Overseas Scholarships Competition has produced a gallery of illustrious alumni including internationally acclaimed performers and composers such as Abel Moeng, Magda de Vries, Kesivan Naidoo, Tutu Puoane, Ben Schoeman, Kesivan Naidoo, Vuyo Sotashe and Bokani Dyer.
The previous scholarships for instrumentalists (2012) were won by trumpeter Darren English (Jazz) and violinist Avigail Bushakevitz (Western Art Music).
Darren English is presently based in Atlanta, Georgia, where he is enjoying a flourishing career. He has been travelling all over Europe and recently launched his debut album Imagine Nation on Atlanta’s top jazz record label, Hot Shoe® Records. Darren has also been the youngest signed artist with this record label.
Avigail Bushakevitz, a Julliard graduate, continued her post-graduate studies in Tel Aviv and Berlin. She won several other competitions and continues to build an impressive career as soloist and orchestral player. She currently lives in Germany and is a member of the 1st violins of the Konzerthausorchester in Berlin. This exceptional violinist’s most recent accolade is receiving the 2016 Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Music.
What are the prizes?
The competition has two main awards, one for Jazz and one for Western Art Music (classical). These two awards are currently valued at R200 000 each, and there are a number of subsidiary prizes also available for exceptional candidates. The combined prizes amount to just under R600 000.
Who can compete?
To participate in the 2016 competition, you must be
– a music student or professional instrumentalist (excluding keyboards),
– between the ages of 20 and 32 (born after 15 May 1983), and
– a citizen of South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho or Swaziland.
How does the competition work?
To enter, aspiring candidates must download the regulations and the application form from the SAMRO Foundation website (www.samrofoundation.org.za). Applications should be emailed to anriette.chorn@samro.org.za on or before 16 May 2016.
The competition takes the format of three rounds which will culminate in a final round in the form of a public concert at the Linder Auditorium on Saturday, 20 August 2016. There, the two finalists for Jazz and for Western Art Music will perform a selection of prescribed and individually selected compositions accompanied by professional musicians.
