Rossini Club’s Music Scholarships

Scholarship Sponsored by Rossini Club’s

The Rossini Club of Portland organizes a scholarship contest for high school juniors and older individuals from Maine, aiming to financially support their advanced music education. The funds for these scholarships are gathered through various sources such as concert ticket sales, membership fees, investments, and primarily, your generous contributions.

Given the escalating cost of college education, the Rossini Club of Portland believes it's crucial to provide scholarships to Maine students aspiring to pursue advanced music education. The scholarship contest, which includes awards for voice, piano, and other instruments, is usually conducted biennially in June in Portland, Maine. A new award has been introduced for 2026, targeting a high school junior or senior who may not be college-bound yet but exhibits significant potential for a career in music.

We invite you to make a meaningful impact on the lives of Maine's music students by contributing to our scholarship fund, thereby helping these emerging musicians chase their dreams.

SCHOLARSHIP DETAILS

The Rossini Club’s yearly scholarship contest for music students comprises the following categories:

• Emily K. Rand Instrumental Scholarship
  • Established in 1932, this scholarship honors the memory of Emily K. Rand, the third president of the Portland Rossini Club, who served with distinction for 25 years as a vocalist.
• Lucia A. Wright Piano Scholarship
  • Initiated in 2001, this scholarship is a bequest from Lucia A. Wright, a pianist and a member in good standing for 55 years.
• Barbara C. Littlefield Vocal Scholarship
  • This scholarship was created in memory of Barbara Littlefield, a vocalist and the Club’s longtime treasurer.
• Marie Thomas Award
  • Established in 2023, this award is a bequest from a benefactor and arts advocate in the Greater Portland area. It is intended for a Maine high school junior or senior who demonstrates exceptional musical talent.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

• All residents of the State of Maine are eligible to participate in these scholarship contests.
• Applicants must be high school juniors or older and must be planning to pursue further musical study in the Fall of 2026 at any accredited music school, college, or university.
• The Marie Thomas Award is open to high school juniors and seniors.
• Previous first-place winners of the Rand, Wright, or Littlefield scholarships are not eligible to apply.

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

• Contestants in each category must perform at least two compositions or movements from two different periods, namely: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and/or 20th/21st Century. Candidates studying non-classical music must include one classical selection. A repertoire sheet detailing each work and/or movement along with composers’ dates must be submitted. Please specify the publisher and edition of each selection.
• The total performance duration should be a minimum of ten minutes but should not exceed fifteen minutes.
• Contestants must arrange for their own accompanists. The Rossini Club Scholarship Committee will provide a list of recommended local accompanists, who must be available to play on the yet-to-be-confirmed date in June 2026. Electronic accompaniment is allowed under certain conditions.
• Vocalists are required to perform ENTIRELY BY MEMORY.
• Pianists and Instrumentalists must perform AT LEAST ONE SELECTION FROM MEMORY.
• Contestants must provide one published edition of the music for the panel of three judges.

The competitions will be held on Saturday, June 20, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St. Luke’s Cathedral, 143 State Street, Portland ME 04101.

APPLICATION GUIDELINES

Applications for the Rossini Club Scholarship auditions must be submitted by MAY 15, 2026.

• All residents of the State of Maine are eligible to participate in these scholarship contests.
• Applicants must be 17 years or older and must be planning to pursue further musical study in the Fall of 2026 at any accredited music school, college, or university.
• Previous first-place winners of the scholarships are not eligible to apply.
• Contestants in each category must perform at least two compositions from two different periods, namely: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and/or 20th/21st Century.
• The total performance duration should be a minimum of ten minutes but should not exceed fifteen minutes.
• Contestants must arrange for their own accompanists.
• Vocalists are required to perform entirely from memory; Pianists and Instrumentalists must perform at least one selection from memory.
• Contestants must provide one published edition of the music for the panel of judges.