Awards and Performance Scholarships

AWARDS

Each year the Music Department offers the following academic awards:

The Rufus Hallmark Writing Award - Named after the distinguished musicologist Rufus Hallmark, Davidson class of 1965, this award recognizes the best essay on a musical topic written in the previous year.

The Wilmer Hayden Welsh Prize in Composition  - Awarded for the best original music composition by a Davidson student. Established in 2006 in honor of Wilmer Hayden Welsh, Composer and Professor of Music from 1963-1991.

For a complete listing of past winners and their works  please click here.

SCHOLARSHIPS

The Department awards several scholarships annually, all of which are available irrespective of a student's major. Highlighting the awards is the annual competition for high school seniors. Based upon audition materials submitted, approximately 10 to 15 students are invited to the campus to audition for four merit scholarships, each of which awards $8,000 annually plus the cost of private lessons.

A. Scholarships for Incoming First-Year Students
The Plott and Millner Scholarships provide incoming first-year students with partial tuition remission. Plott and Millner scholars will also receive a Harper Lesson Scholarship that waives the fee for on-campus, 60-minute applied music lessons for credit.

PLEASE NOTE: Students wishing to apply for a music scholarship must complete the relevant components of the Special Application Scholarship Form. (pdf)

B. Scholarships for Continuing Students
Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors may audition for the Long and Vail Scholarships, which provide continuing students with partial tuition remission. Long and Vail scholars will also receive a Harper Lesson Scholarship that waives the fee for on-campus, 60-minute applied music lessons for credit.

Pending availability of funds, rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors may also audition for scholarships that subsidize half the cost of on-campus applied music lessons (MUS 55 or MUS 155–355).
 
In 2010, the competition will be held on April 9.
  • All students invited to the live competition receive Harper Scholarships which fully subsidize private lessons.
  • For more information: call 704-894-2357 or email  Christine Tabor, departmental assistant.
  • Upperclass students are also eligible to compete for a large number of scholarships at a separate annual spring audition.

Audition Information

Students wishing to apply for a music scholarship must submit an unedited audiocassette, CD or DVD by January 2.  Please do not send sound files as email attachments.

  • Recordings should be approximately 10 minutes in length.
  • The recording should not contain any exercises or scales.
  • For optimal evaluation, care should be given to the recording environment and quality.
  • Recordings of recitals or concerts are acceptable; however, the quality of the recording should be taken into consideration by the applicant before submission.

PIANO: Three selections performed from memory.

  • One movement or work from the Baroque era
  • One from a Classical sonata
  • One from the Romantic era

VOICE: Three contrasting songs or arias performed from memory.

  • One Italian art song or aria from the 17th or 18th centuries
  • One song in English from any period (excluding musical theater)
  • One work of the singer's choice.

All selections must be performed in their entirety, although long instrumental accompaniments may be shortened. Unless written for unaccompanied voice, the selections should be accompanied. The selections should demonstrate the singer's musical sensitivity and technical proficiency.

INSTRUMENTAL: Two selections from the standard repertoire of one's instrument.

  • One should be of moderate or fast tempo, demonstrating technical proficiency
  • One should be slower, demonstrating musical sensitivity.

Unless written as a concert piece for unaccompanied instrument, such as a Bach suite or a percussion solo, the selections should be accompanied.