Triennial competition opens to celebrate talented young violinists
Australia’s finest young violinists will once again compete for a total prize pool of $55,000 in the country’s most generous violin scholarship, the University of Melbourne’s Dorcas McClean Travelling Scholarship.
This scholarship, Australia’s top bursary prize for young violinists, supports the education and training of outstanding musicians through the provision of travelling scholarships.
A first prize of $40,000 is awarded to the winner, enabling the recipient to pursue further overseas studies at leading conservatories worldwide. Second and third place receive $10,000 and $5,000 respectively.
Entrants, judged by a panel of prominent international violinists, will perform in two free public concerts in the stunning surrounds of The Ian Potter Southbank Centre in late January and early February 2025.
The final three entrants will perform solos with The University of Melbourne Camerata Orchestra.
Associate Professor of Violin and Head of Strings at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, Curt Thompson, says;
“This scholarship represents an incredible opportunity to celebrate the esteemed violinists who compete, and for audiences across the country to enjoy their extraordinary performances. We remain deeply grateful to Dorcas McLean for the generous gift that continues to support these promising young artists.”
The Dorcas McClean Travelling Scholarship was established to support the musical education of outstanding violinists at the beginning of their careers. It is open to violinists aged between 17 and 25 years of age who have been residents of Australia in the two years preceding the competition date.
One of Australia’s most gifted violinists, Dorcas McClean (1917–1981) began her musical studies at the age of three at the New South Wales Conservatorium. By the age of 12, Dorcas was hailed by critics as a child virtuoso after her performance of the Finale from the Concerto No. 2 in D minor by Wieniawski in Sydney.
Shortly before her death, Dorcas McClean expressed her wish to establish a scholarship to advance the musical education of young Australian violinists.
Following the bequest of her estate, the Travelling Scholarships for Violinists were established by the University of Melbourne in honour of the brilliant musician and dedicated patron of the arts.
Past recipients of the Dorcas McClean Travelling Scholarship are leading concert artists, members of top orchestras and chamber ensembles, and gifted teachers in Australia and abroad.
The 2022 winner of the award was Leanne McGowan. The Third Prize and prize for best performance of Recitative and Scherzo-Caprice by Fritz Kreisler were awarded to a violinist from the Faculty of Fine Arts and Music.
Applications close on 12 August 2024.