Scholarships & Competitions

Application Deadline Date: November 28, 2025, 5 pm CST Early bird ($150) deadline is November 21, 2025, 5 pm CST $200 is payable between Nov 21, 5 pm CST and Nov 28, 5 pm CST Semi-Finals: Saturday, February 28, 2026 Location: St. Andrew's River Heights United Church, 255 Oak St., Winnipeg MB. Time: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Note: Sound check is Feb 27, 12 - 4 pm at the church. Finals: Sunday, April 19, 2026 Location: Jubilee Place Auditorium, MBCI, 180 Riverton, Winnipeg, MB. Time: 7:30 pm Reference letters must arrive on or before the deadline by mail or email. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

To meet all the eligibility requirements for the Competition, the applicant must: · Be a Canadian citizen or have permanent resident status in Canada. Documentation must be provided. · Be raised/educated in Manitoba or have completed/are currently enrolled in a Music Degree Program (Undergraduate or Masters) in Manitoba. (Unique circumstances can be discussed.) · Meet age requirements as of April 30th of the competition year as follows: o Vocalists: 20 to 35 years o Instrumentalists: 18 to 30 years · Be performing at an advanced level, aiming toward a music performance career. · Previous first-place winners are not eligible. · Previous 2nd and 3rd place finalists who meet the age requirements may reapply in four years’ time. (For example: a 2nd or 3rd place finalist in 2024 is eligible to apply for the 2028 competition but not for the 2026 competition.) Otherwise, applicants may apply numerous times, provided age requirements are met. · Be available for the Semi-Final Round, February 28, 2026. · Be available on April 17, 2026 to meet and confer with the conductor regarding performance details and rehearse with the orchestra. · Be available the day of the Final Round, April 19, 2026, for the dress rehearsal with the WSO. · Be prepared to pay their own expenses for travel, accommodation and collaborative pianist. · Allow WMC to add their email addresses to our newsletter subscription list. (Applicants who prefer not to receive our newsletter can unsubscribe.)

Preliminary Round All applicants will submit audio files (MP3/WAV) with selections of their own choosing, by November 28, 2025, to be heard and ranked by jurors. The top twelve applicants will be chosen for the Semi-Final live auditions. Semi-Finalists will be notified in early January 2026. No adjudications are provided in the Preliminary Round. Instrumentalists are encouraged to play selections from different historical periods. Vocalists are encouraged to include a variety of languages. See the application form for expanded instructions. Semi-Final Round - Saturday, February 28, 2026 Semi-finalists will program repertoire of their choice; maximum performance time is 25 minutes. Instrumentalists are encouraged to play selections from different historical periods. Vocalists are encouraged to include a variety of languages. Candidates must provide full titles of works, composer’s full name and composer’s dates with exact times and performance order. There will be a sound-check slot for each competitor available in the venue the day before the Semi-Finals. Adjudicators will assess the performances, provide written adjudications, and choose three performers to move forward to the Final Round. The successful candidates will be contacted following the Semi Finals, and the results publicized. The recommendation of the adjudicators is final and not subject to appeal. Each competitor will be sent an MP3 recording along with their individual adjudication. No personal recording is permitted. Final Round with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra - Sunday, April 19, 2026 Finalists must perform either a concerto or vocal program no longer than 30 minutes, repertoire chosen from the available WSO repertoire list (see links below). Selections not on this list must be approved by the WSO prior to submitting repertoire for the Final Round, and rental charges may apply. Repertoire inquiries must be referred to the WSO Program Director. Instrumental repertoire list Instrumentalists will prepare to play a full concerto (30 min. max). Should the concerto require arranging to fit the time frame, the conductor will advise. Vocal repertoire list Vocalists will prepare a variety of arias or other selections in at least two languages, to be accompanied by full orchestra. Selections may be tailored to comply with the 30-minute performance time. Original copies for semi-final & final rounds: Three sets of original scores must be provided for the adjudicators, submitted upon arrival 30 minutes before the audition. For contemporary repertoire, photocopies will be permitted if accompanied by a letter of permission from the publisher or distributor. Printouts from public domain portals such as IMSLP will be permitted on a case-by-case basis and will require approval by the McLellan committee no less than two weeks prior to the performance. Scores purchased online must be accompanied by receipt of purchase specifically by the participant. Finalists must be available on Friday, April 17 for an individual session with the conductor, which will be held at the Centennial Concert Hall, time TBA. On the day of the Final Round, there will be a dress rehearsal time with the WSO. Participants will be advised of the schedule. All performers must arrive one hour before concert time. The finalists will perform in the order determined by the conductor. The finalists must remain in the building during the concert. The decision of the adjudicators is final and not subject to appeal.

Application Deadline: TBA for 2026 Scholarship Audition: TBA for 2026 Location: TBA for 2026 Fees: ALL components of the application must be completed TBA for 2026 The first 20 completed applications will be accepted. Reference letters must arrive on or before the deadline by mail or email. A non-refundable fee of $50 must be received by the application date. Payment can be made: by e transfer to wmcwinnipeg@outlook.com (Please include “WMC Scholarships” and your name in the note) PayPal cheque payable to Women’s Musical Club of Winnipeg and sent to WMC Scholarships c/o Lynne Anderson, 879 Kebir Place, Wpg, MB. R3T 1X1.

These scholarships are intended for Manitoba students. All applicants must: be Canadian citizens or have permanent resident status. Documentation must be provided. be raised/educated in Manitoba or have completed/are currently enrolled in a Music Degree Program (Undergraduate or Masters) in Manitoba. meet age requirements as of April 30th of the competition year as follows, without exception: Instrumentalists – 17 to 27 years Vocalists – 18 to 29 years not be a first-place winner or winner of three WMC scholarships. be available for the Scholarship Winners Concert in December of the same year, at which time the scholarships are presented. allow WMC to add their email addresses to our newsletter subscription list. (Applicants who prefer not to receive our newsletter can unsubscribe.)