Filene Music Scholarship Competition

Four to six Filene Scholarship winners are selected annually at the Filene Music Competition, each of whom receives $80,000 over four years, in addition to free private lessons. 

The scholarship package—$20,000 per year toward tuition, plus lesson fees—is awarded independent of any additional need-based aid. Financial aid applicants who demonstrate financial need will receive Skidmore grant aid in addition to their scholarships.

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Eligibility

The competition is open to high school seniors who meet the criteria for admission to Skidmore College and who apply for admission by January 15, 2023.* Students are allowed to compete only once. Children and dependents of Skidmore faculty and staff are not eligible for the competition.

Repertoire

• Repertoire should come from the Western classical tradition and should include at least two (for singers, three) selections representing contrasting historical or stylistic periods.  (Performances of jazz, original compositions, and musical theatre will not be considered for this competition but may be an asset to your Skidmore arts portfolio.)
• Selections should total approximately 10 minutes all together.
• Percussionists should choose appropriate recital material for mallet percussion (vibraphone, marimba, or xylophone).
• Recordings must be unedited, with no artificial enhancement or corrective software used.
• All competitors should select diverse works that demonstrate your highest level of technical proficiency and musicianship.
• Normally, the repertoire is the same for both rounds of the competition; however, with advance approval from the respective Skidmore teacher, you may change the repertoire you perform in the final round. All changes must be submitted by March 1, 2023.
• Memorization is required for voice submissions.

For repertoire suggestions, email Vicki Tremper. The administrative assistant will put you in contact with a teacher in your performance area.

Scholarship Payments

The annual scholarship of $20,000 is awarded to competition winners without consideration of financial need, and it is credited in $10,000 installments to the recipient's account in the fall and spring semesters. Financial aid applicants who demonstrate financial need will receive Skidmore grant aid in addition to their Filene Scholarships. For more information on Skidmore grant assistance, contact the Office of Financial Aid, 518-580-5750.  

Scholarship awards are renewed each year if the student continues in good academic standing and receives the recommendation of the Department of Music.

Important Dates:

• Sunday, January 15, 2024 - Skidmore College Common Application deadline (apply here)
• Monday, February 19, 2024 - Announcement of Finalists
• Saturday, March 23, 2024 - On-campus Competition Day

Apply

• You must submit recordings via audio or video upload at www.slideroom.com for the first round of the competition.  SlideRoom entries must be completed by Sunday, January 15, 2024.
• Submissions should include titles, movements, and composers' names.

About the Final Round

• Finalists will be notified by phone on or about Monday, February 19, 2024.
• Acceptance of finalist status indicates a commitment to compete in the final round at Skidmore College, on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
• Finalists must play with an accompanist in all works except those composed explicitly without accompaniment. You may bring your own accompanist, or the Skidmore Music Department can provide one at no charge.
• Finalist should arrive well before their assigned audition time.
• Finalists should email PDFs of their scores to vtremper@skidmore.edu, and furnish an actual copy for the collaborative pianist.
• Taping of the final round is prohibited. No recording equipment will be allowed in the recital hall.
• Following the competition, judges will select up to six winners. Four scholarship winners are sponsored by the Filene Foundation and the Ladd Charitable Trust, and two by Skidmore College. Additionally, judges will select a number of runners-up. If a winner does not accept admission to Skidmore, the scholarship will be offered to a runner-up. The two Skidmore-sponsored scholarships are offered only to those students awarded at the final round.
• Faculty of Skidmore's Department of Music oversee and participate in the judging of the competition. The judges' decisions are final, and we reserve the right to name fewer winners if six do not qualify.
• Announcement of the awards will be made within one week of the final round.
• The Department presents the scholarship winners in a concert at Skidmore in the fall of their first year.

Questions?

Michael Emery
Distinguished Artist in Residence
Music Department
Skidmore College
815 N. Broadway
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866-1632
518-580-5327