Scholarships and prizes

Scholarships

Monash University, The Faculty of Arts and the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music and Performance offer an extensive scholarship and grants program to support both local and international students enrolled in degrees.

The Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music and Performance offers the following scholarships:

Anna Chmiel Clarinet Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship (in honour and memory of Anna Chmiel who was a clarinet student at the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music and Performance) is to support clarinet students. Further information.

Anna Chmiel Travel Grant
This grant (in honour and memory of Anna Chmiel who was a clarinet student at the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music and Performance) is aimed at supporting young students experiencing financial difficulty to engage in programs in New York and Prato, Italy. Further information

Eliezer Benedykt Scholarship in Music
The Eliezer Benedykt Scholarship in Music was established to support talented students within the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music and Performance at Monash University. Further information.

Freemasons Foundation Victoria Music Scholarship 
The Freemasons Foundation Victoria Music Scholarship was introduced to assist talented and deserving music students to access tertiary education and to provide them with opportunities which would not otherwise have been available to them due to their personal circumstances. Further information

Geoffrey Whitelaw Jazz Brass Scholarship
The Geoffrey Whitelaw Jazz Brass Scholarship is an annual merit-based scholarship provided to support full-time study of a first year Bachelor of Music student who is specialising in jazz at the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music and Performance. Further information.

Monash Academy of Performing Arts Orchestral Scholarship
Scholarships will be awarded to incoming students commencing 1st year at the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music and Performance. In addition to the monetary value of the scholarship, the recipients will be guaranteed a spot in the Monash Academy Orchestra. Further information.

Monash Jazz Music Scholarship
Scholarships will be awarded for outstanding undergraduate applicants in various instrumental and vocal disciplines in Jazz. Further information.

Monash-Pratt Musician Performance Scholarship
Scholarships will be awarded for outstanding undergraduate and postgraduate coursework applicants in various instrumental and vocal disciplines. In 2019 priority will be given to the bassoon as the specialist instrument. Further information .

Monash-Pratt Postgraduate Award for Research
Offered by the Pratt Foundation through the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music and Performance to a Monash APA or equivalent scholarship recipient of outstanding academic merit to pursue full-time PhD or research masters candidature.

Tess Hill and Bill Hawtin Jazz Music Scholarship
This scholarship was created through a bequest from Tess Hill and Bull Hawtin to financially support music students to further their careers. The scholarship is available to commencing low income students undertaking undergraduate degrees in music performance in the Sir Zelman Cowan School of Music and Performance, specialising in Jazz. Further information.

Tess Hill and Bill Hawtin Jazz Music Travel Grant
This scholarship is awarded to low income students who are enrolled in music performance in an undergraduate degree in the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music and Performance, specialising in Jazz, and have elected to participate in the New York or Prato music tour. Further information.

Vice-Chancellor’s Concertmaster/Orchestra
This prestigious scholarship, which has been awarded since 1992, is provided by the Vice-Chancellor to an outstanding violinist who is capable of providing strong leadership to the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music and Performance – Conservatorium Orchestra. It is available to students enrolled in an undergraduate or postgraduate degree. Further information.

Vice-Chancellor’s Ensemble Leader Scholarship
The Vice-Chancellor’s Music Leadership scholarship will be awarded to an outstanding musician who will have a leadership role in the Ensemble Program. It is available to students enrolled in an undergraduate or postgraduate degree. Further information.

Faculty of Arts scholarships

Arts Faculty Scholarships – Postgraduate Research

Prizes and Awards

All prizes comprise a certification and cash payment, unless otherwise stated.

Performance Achievements

Allan Zavod Performers' Award
Applications now open for 2023.  Access the application form via this link.
Awarded for outstanding performance of an original composition that fuses classical and improvisatory performance and compositional elements.  
Prize: $5000 (1st); $5000 (in total for runner-ups)

Australian Music Prize
Best performance of an Australian work.
Prize: $1000

CMT and Composition Prize
Best submission of a composition for solo instrument. The prize consists of a certificate, cash payment and a fee for the presentation of the winning work in a public concert. 
Prize: $1000

Concerto and Aria Competition Prize
Best performer of a concerto or aria based on competition.
Prize: $1000

Geoffrey Whitelaw Emerging Composer Grant
Awarded to enable the recipient to compose a work for the Monash Art Ensemble or Monash School of Music and Performance Big Band. 
Prize: $2000

Jazz and Improvisation Prize
Best notated composition and video performance.
Prize: $1000

Monash Animated Notation Ensemble (MANE) Emerging Composer Commission
Awarded for the creation of a new work of animated notation.
Prize: $2000, a high profile performance and a recording of the work of the commissioned composer.

Monash International Women’s Day Composition Commission Prize
Prize providing an opportunity for a woman composer located anywhere in the world, of any age, in any musical style to create a work for a school music ensemble of their choosing. Not open to undergraduate or honours students.  Further information.

Popular Music Prize
Best written song and video presentation.
Prize: $1000

Academic Achievements

Anna Chmiel Memorial Prizes
Best overall result in Classical Music Performance in the areas of Woodwind, Brass, Strings, Voice & Chamber Music.
Prize: $500

David Bornstein Jazz Prizes
Best performance result in Jazz Music Performance Studies in the areas of Bass, Brass, Drumkit, Guitar, Piano, Woodwind and Voice.
Prize: $350

Ernst Morawetz Prizes
Highest average marks across subjects in Context Studies units to the Bachelor of Music student in years 1, 2 and 3.
Prize: $100