1 HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM GUIDELINES Eligibility Violin, viola, cello and bass are the only instruments eligible for these scholarships. You must be a current member of the AHHS Strings Program, intending to continue in the AH Strings program for the 2011-2012 school year. (Exempt: graduating seniors.) To qualify for the (3) graduating senior scholarships, you must be a graduating senior (by June 2011). Eligibility for the other (5) available scholarships will be based on orchestra group, as determined by class period. Online Application The application is available online at http://friendsofstrings.wordpress.com/ as a downloadable Microsoft Word pdf document. Submitting your application Please print out three (3) copies and submit the three (3) completed application forms no later than Tuesday, February, 15, 2011. Please mail (or hand deliver) those to the address below or you may return the 3 completed applications directly to Mr. Johnson (by the above deadline). Lisa Ham Friends of Strings Vice President 720 Wiltshire San Antonio, TX 78209 Performance Auditions Auditions will be held at the AHHS Music Building on Thursday, April 7, 2011 from 4:45pm - 7:45pm. You will be notified of your specific audition time by email or letter at the end of February, 2011. You will need to bring three (3) copies of your music for the judges in addition to your own copy. Judging Judging will be divided into three (3) sections: Leadership/Extracurricular (15%), Inquiry Responses (15%) and Performance Audition (70%). The total of these will be used in deciding the winners of the scholarships. Scholarships will be awarded based on the information provided in the written sections of the application and the audition performance. The written sections will be judged prior (see dates for application submission) to the performance audition and factored into the total after the audition. As always, the applicant s anonymity will be maintained and the judges will not see the page that contains the personal information. Students will perform their auditions for a panel of three judges, (orchestra teachers selected from outside the AHISD school district), and will be rated on the following criteria: posture; instrument position; bow grip/control; tone; technique; intonation; vibrato; shifting; poise; stage appearance & musicality. Each participant will receive a sheet of written comments and constructive criticisms from each evaluator within a few days after the audition. Scholarship Winners Winners will be notified by phone (the same evening) after all applicants have performed and the complete list of winners has been determined. Graduating Senior Scholarship winners will also be announced at the Senior Awards Ceremony. Showcase Recital In acceptance of these scholarships, all eight (8) scholarship winners will be required to play at the Showcase Recital to be held at the Junior School Little Theatre on Tues. evening, April 12, 2011 at 6:30 pm. FOS will underwrite a portion of the accompanists fee for this recital (up to $40), for each winner performing. Please be sure to notify your accompanist of the recital date. Questions Please direct any questions to: Lisa Ham, Friends of Strings Vice President Lmomhome@swbell.net
2 Available scholarships: For Graduating Seniors: Elizabeth Steinberg / Mary Ruth Leonard Scholarship - $1000 Orchestral Achievement Scholarship - $750 Friends of Strings Scholarship - $500 Five (5) scholarships will also be available to any HS orchestra member not eligible from the Graduating Seniors group. There will be only one (1) scholarship per category: Freshman Sinfonietta Scholarship - $150 Junior Varsity Sinfonietta Scholarship - $150 Varsity Sinfonietta Scholarship - $150 Advanced Sinfonietta Scholarship - $150 Bravura Scholarship (may be awarded from any of the 4 above groups) - $150 Please complete all sections of the application. You must save this form to your computer before it will allow you to type in your responses. The deadline for submission of the written application is: Tuesday, February 15, 2011. Please check the appropriate category: Graduating Seniors Freshman Sinfonietta Junior Varsity Sinfonietta Varsity Sinfonietta Advanced Sinfonietta PERSONAL INFORMATION Name (as you would want it to appear on the program): Email address: Date: Instrument: Address: Cell Phone: Home Phone:
3 LEADERSHIP / EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES (15%) LEADERSHIP INFORMATION List your leadership experience in the AHISD Orchestra (or other school experience if you transferred into AHISD). Examples: orchestra positions or offices held; principal /section leader, jazz strings or other ensembles; participant in the musical s orchestra; helping with Orchestra fundraisers (poinsettia and plant sale); orchestra mentoring program, etc You may make brief comments about your dates of involvement or comment on pertinent information. If you are applying for the Freshman Sinfonietta Scholarship, you may include your 8 th grade and freshman activities. All others should begin with their freshman year activities. Complete details for all applicable areas: Leadership Information: Dates & Position held (if applicable): Comments: Participation in Orchestra fundraisers Member of Jazz Strings or another ensemble Principal or Section Leader Member of the Orchestra Council Other: Please Specify EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: PERTAINING TO ORCHESTRA & MUSIC List your extracurricular activities from church or other community organizations, pertaining to orchestra, music, and / or choir. This may include awards or honors you ve received. If you play any other instruments, please include that information as well. Private instruction may be listed here. If you are applying for the Freshman Sinfonietta Scholarship, you may include your 8 th grade and freshman activities. All others should begin with their freshman year activities. Complete details for all applicable areas: Extracurricular Activity: Involvement / Date (specify): Comments: Honors/Awards (Ex: UIL, TMEA, Solo/Ensemble, All-Region, All-state) Private Lessons / Instruction Helping teachers by tuning instruments for elementary students Mentoring (in music) a younger student (outside of school events)
4 Playing other musical instruments or arranging /composing music Participating in choir/band/yosa, other community/church orchestra or musical groups (be specific) Other: Please specify INQUIRY RESPONSE (15%) INQUIRY RESPONSE Using a paragraph format, please respond to the following inquiry, in five (5) to seven (7) sentences. Judging of the response will be based on the following criteria: use of complete sentences; well written; provides insight into the individual; answers the inquiry. All scholarship applicants: Explain how music affects your everyday life. Graduating Seniors Only: Using a paragraph format, please respond to the following inquiry, in five (5) to seven (7) sentences. Judging of the response will be based on the following criteria: use of complete sentences; well written; provides insight into the individual; answers the inquiry. Describe your plans to include music in your life after high school.
5 PERFORMANCE AUDITION (70%) PERFORMANCE AUDITION See Mr. Johnson for approval of the work you plan to use for the audition. He will tell you the maximum time allowed for each scholarship level. Use of an accompanist is required, unless the approved piece of music was written specifically to be performed without an accompanist. Please dress appropriately, as for an interview. Performers will be rated on the following criteria: posture; instrument position; bow grip/control; tone; technique; intonation; vibrato; shifting; poise; stage appearance & musicality. You will need to provide three (3) copies of your chosen music for the judges (be sure that your name is not shown anywhere on the music), in addition to your own copy. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (REQUIRED) Please complete #1 through #8: Student signature is required for #5. Parent signatures are required for #6, #7 & #8. 1. Instrument: 2. Title of the work you will perform for your audition: 3. Composer s name: 4. Approximate length of work: minutes 5. I have read and understand the rules of the FOS Scholarships and do hereby state my intention to be a participating member of the AHHS Strings program for the 2011-2012 school years (exempt: graduating seniors). Signature of student date 6. I have read the guidelines, I understand the rules, and I give permission for my child to apply for a 2011 Friends of Strings Scholarship on Thursday, April 7, 2011 at the Alamo Heights High School Music Building. 7. I acknowledge that in acceptance of one of these (8) scholarships, my child will be required to play at the Showcase Recital to be held at the Junior School Little Theatre on Tues. evening, April 12, 2011 at 6:30 pm. WEBSITE RELEASE FORM 8. If my child is a winner of one of the Friends of Strings scholarships, I give permission for his/her first name and last initial to appear on the Scholarship results link on the ahstrings.org web site. I accept full responsibility for this action and release Friends of Strings, and the Alamo Heights Independent School District, from all liability.