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Eligibility Requirements:

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1. The application is open to members of the MTAC Alameda County Branch.

2. Teachers must be the members of the Alameda County Branch for at least one year and in good standing.

3. All applicants must be current students of eligible teachers. Instrumental students are required to have studied with their current teacher for at least one year prior to the interview/Audition date. Voice students are required to have studied with their voice teacher for a period of at least two years AND to have studied with their current

teacher for a period of at least one year prior to the Interview/Audition date.

3. Applications are open to piano, strings and winds students up to and including age18, and vocal students up to and including age 21 by interview date.

 

Application Requirements updated for 2023-2024:

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1. An eligible teacher may submit no more than three (3) students for applications per year.

2. Completed application form.

3. A NOTARIZED Xerox copy of the first TWO pages of the Current Year’s 1040 Tax Return.

This notarized copy must clearly INDICATE the same amount of the Annual Gross

Income as shown on Form 1040. No exceptions accepted.

4. A letter from a parent, signed by the parent, including (a) description and reasons for

fnancial need and assistance, and (b) family’s motivation and student’s commitment to

continue private music study.

5. A letter from the student, signed by the applicant, regarding motivation and goals for

continuing private music study.

6. The applicants and recipients must commit to 42 regular weekly lessons between

September and August every year. The length of each lesson must be adequate to the

student’s level.

7. The intentional applicant must perform in TWO of the Teacher’s Studio Student

Recitals in the Fall Semester of 2023 and the Spring Semester of 2024. These two recital

programs are needed for the application.

8. Fall Semester is defined as September to January; Spring Semester, from February to June.

Some teachers will continue to teach in the summer months.

9. The Two Studio Recitals must be completed in a timely manner as copies of both

programs from these two Recitals are required for applying to Discovery Scholarship before

the application deadline on June 15 every year. Late submission will not be accepted.

10. Since the deadline for DS application is always on June 15 every year, it is strongly

recommended that participating teachers hold these two required Studio Recitals in or

before January, and the other one in or before May. Therefore, the students interested in

applying for DS can be eligible for the application before the deadline.

11. The Current Recipients & Repeat Applicants of the Discovery Scholarship must also

perform in at least ONE of the Alameda County Branch Formal Recitals during the 2023-24

year.

12. There are six Formal Recitals held in October, November, January, February, April, and

May, respectively. The DS students must choose at least one of the six Formal Recitals to

perform and save the copy of the program to submit for application later on. PLEASE

NOTE: THE LAST FORMAL RECITAL IS ON MAY 11, 2024. The Committee strongly

suggests that DS students NOT wait until later Formal Recitals since they are easily filled up

and leave no slot for latecomers. Failure to do so will result in the disqualification of the

applicant.

13. Applicant familes must contribute $20 for each lesson before the beginning of each

semester.

14. Incomplete forms, missing documentation, or not meeting any of the above mentioned

requirements will result in disqualification of the application.

15. Applications must be sent by the U.S. Postal Service, and postmarked between 5/15/2024

and 6/15/2024. See address below.

16. Note: No drop-off applications will be accepted.

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Interview/Audition Requirements

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1. When the applicant’s application qualifies for financial need, they will then be invited to

the interview/audition at Berkeley Piano Club on Sunday, October 6, 2024, between 9:00

AM and 12:00 PM.

2. Both audition selections must be SOLO pieces and memorized.

3. Applicants must audition with two contrasting solo pieces, from two different musical

eras, that are from or comparable to Certificate of Merit Level II or higher. Refer to MTAC

CM Syllabus for specific repertoires. There is a change repertoire deadline of August 15,

2024, to adjust audition piece submissions.

4. The repertoire information should be filled out only by the Teacher, NOT by the

students, parents, or guardians.

5. Due to the Copyright Laws, applicants must provide original copyrighted scores for the

judges at the auditions. Without providing the scores, the applicant will NOT be allowed to

audition.

6. The auditions are closed to parents and teachers.

7. The Scholarship Committee will base their selection of Scholarship recipients (first) on

financial need as well as musical performance.

8. This Scholarship may be reapplied for yearly as long as students: (1) meet the fnancial

requirements; (2) make steady progress; (3) take regular 42 lessons throughout the year;

and (4) participate in both Fall and Spring Teacher’s Studio Recitals and a Branch

Formal Recital. See previous Requirements for specifications.

9. Audition results will be sent to participating teachers approximately one week after the

interviews/auditions.

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DISCOVERY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM PROCESS FOR

APPLICATIONS & INTERVIEWS/AUDITIONS:

 

Deadline:

The application envelope must be postmarked by USPS between May 15 and June 15,

2024.  The DS Committee will NOT accept any registered mail or personal delivery for the applications.

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Mail the completed application materials to:

Yvonne Donnelley

Discovery Scholarship Committee

2835 Benvenue Ave. 

Berkeley, CA 94705 

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Interview/Audition date:

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Sunday, October 6, 2024 between 9:00 A.M. and 12:00 P.M. Applicant must arrive 15 minutes prior to the assigned audition time. Failure to do so will result in disqualification.

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Location: Berkeley Piano Club 2724 Haste Street, Berkeley, CA 94704

 

The Scholarship Committee will base their selection of recipients on financial need as well as musical interest and talent. All information will be kept strictly confidential. Scholarships are for one school year (42 lessons). Scholarships begin in October and may be renewed yearly as long as Students (1) meet the financial requirements, (2) make steady progress, and (3) participate each year in two Teacher’s Studio Recitals and a Branch Formal Recital. See Requirements for specifics.

Click here to download the application.