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Scholarships & Competitions

WMC Scholarships

The Women’s Musical Club of Winnipeg offers up to 6 scholarships (totalling $11,500) to aspiring instrumentalists and vocalists to further their musical training. The names of the winners and the amounts awarded are updated yearly and listed here.

  • WMC Scholarship - $3000

  • WMC Scholarship - $2500

  • Madeleine Gauvin Scholarship - $2000

  • Phyllis Ilavsky Scholarship - $1500

  • Holtby Scholarship - $1500

  • Berythe Birse Scholarship - $1000

Details

  • Dates
    Application Deadline Date TBA November 2025, 5:00 pm CST Semi-Finals: 2026 date TBA Location: TBA Time: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Finals: 2026 date TBA Location: Jubilee Place Auditorium, MBCI, 180 Riverton, Winnipeg, MB Time: 7:30 pm Application Dates/Fees: Early bird: Date TBA A non-refundable fee of $200 is payable between the above date/time to 5 pm CST, date TBA, Nov. 2025 Reference letters must arrive on or before the deadline by mail or email. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
  • Eligibility
    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, date TBA. · Be available two days prior to the Final Round concert in order to meet and confer with the conductor regarding performance details and rehearse with the orchestra. · Be available for the dress rehearsal with the WSO the day of the Final Round, date TBA. · Be prepared to pay their own expenses for travel, accommodation and collaborative pianist.
  • Competition Model
    Preliminary Round All applicants will submit audio files (MP3/WAV) with selections of their own choosing, by November 2025 (exact date TBA) 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 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 (conducted by Julian Pellicano) 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 JF Phaneuf, jfphaneuf@wso.mb.ca 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 two days before the Final Round (2026 date TBA) for an individual session with the conductor, as well as a rehearsal with the orchestra. 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.
  • Dates
    Application Deadline: April 2025, exact date TBA Scholarship Audition: May 2025, exact date TBA Fees: ALL components of the application must be completed by April 2025, exact date TBA. 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.
  • Eligibility
    These scholarships are intended for Manitoba students. All applicants must: be Canadian citizens or have permanent resident status. Documentation must be provided. be raised in Manitoba, or have received secondary education in Manitoba. be currently enrolled in a Manitoba music degree program (undergraduate or masters). 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.

Apply

Section 1: Performer Information
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These scholarships are intended for Manitoba Students. All applicants must be Canadian citizens or have permanent resident status, be a Manitoba resident, have studied for at least three consecutive years or be enrolled in a Manitoba degree program

Section 2: Curriculum Vitae

Upload a current CV, including:

- Education (primary, secondary, post-secondary)
- List of previous music scholarships/awards held.
- Music Examinations achieved – exam, date, grade/percentage
- Description of current academic program and expected outcome (i.e. level/degree and date of completion). If none, please indicate name of the institution last attended.
- A brief statement of your musical goals.

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Section 3: Selections/Criteria
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- List selections in order of performance, time of each in minutes/seconds, and total performance time.
- Provide composer’s complete name with dates.

Example:
Keyboard Sonata in C Major, Hob.XVI:50 (7:00) -  Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
English Suite No. 2 in A Minor, BWV 807 (3:30) - Johann S. Bach (1685-1750)
Phobos and Deimos, circling (5:08) - Jocelyn Morlock  (b. 1969)
Total time: 15:38

Criteria for music selection/performance:

  1. Music selection must be of diploma level.

  2. A single movement of a multi-movement piece is acceptable.

  3. Instrumentalists must prepare a minimum of three compositions of contrasting style and period with a total time of not less than fifteen minutes or more than twenty minutes.

  4. Vocalists must prepare a group of songs of contrasting style and language with a total time of not less than ten minutes and not more than fifteen minutes.

  5. Three sets of original scores must be provided for the adjudicators. Photocopying of copyright music is not allowed unless accompanied by written authorization from the publisher. Legal electronic downloads must be accompanied by a receipt. Selections taken directly from a public domain library (e.g. IMSLP) must indicate the file from which the selection is copied, and must be performed as appears in the edition submitted.

Section 4: Reference Letter

List the name, address and phone number of your present music teacher.

Provide a written letter from the current teacher or head of school of music in which the candidate is enrolled, stating that the candidate meets the music performance criteria.
Upload with the application form or email to scholarships@wmcwpg.ca.


This letter must be received before (date TBA) to ensure your application is complete.

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A non-refundable fee of $50 must be received by the application date. We accept credit cards, PayPal, bank transfers and offline payments via cheque. When you select "continue" below you will be redirected to our checkout page to choose a method of payment and complete your application.

Thank you!

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