Filene Music Scholarship Information

You can get some idea of how your musical interests might develop at Skidmore, along with all of the information about the Filene competition, in the on-line PDF of the full Filene Scholarship Brochure.

At least four scholarships are awarded for each incoming class, with three of the awards being made solely on the basis of musical excellence, without regard to area of specialization. The fourth scholarship will be awarded to help meet the department's current ensemble needs.

The annual scholarship of $12,000 is awarded to competition winners without consideration of financial need, and it is credited in $6,000 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. Filene Scholars are not required to major in music; they are expected, however, to continue to develop their skills through private instruction in the Music Department each semester and to participate in department ensembles each semester as determined by the department chair.

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, 2012. Students are allowed to compete only once. Children and dependents of Skidmore College faculty and staff are not eligible for the competition.

Repertoire

Repertoire for the competition should be chosen from the Western classical tradition. There are no specific repertoire requirements, but performances of jazz and original compositions will not be considered.  For singers, performances of musical theater repertoire will not be considered.
 
Instrumentalists should choose at least two selections representing different historical or stylistic periods.
 
Percussionists should choose appropriate recital material for mallet percussion (vibraphone, marimba, or xylophone).

Singers should choose at least three selections representing different periods, including at least one in a foreign language.

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 chair of the Music Department, you may change the repertoire you perform in the final round.

Scores may be used in all areas of performance except voice.

Judges may request performance of any portion of the music and may terminate the audition after they have heard a representative amount of material.

For repertoire suggestions contact Michele Koskinen, Secretary Department of Music, who will put you in contact with the appropriate performance faculty.  518-580-5320

Important Dates and Entry Procedure

Preliminary Round - January 15, 2012

Contestants will submit a CD to the Skidmore College Department of Music postmarked by 15 January 2012.  Send to:
Skidmore College Music Department
Attn: Filene Scholarship Competition
815 No. Broadway
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

NOTE: Recordings must be in jewel cases and labeled as follows:

• The Skidmore College Department of Music will retain all recordings.
• You should contact the department if the receipt of your tape has not been acknowledged by 1 February 2012.
• The Department will notify finalists by phone by March 8, 2012.
• Acceptance of finalist status indicates a commitment to compete in the final round at Skidmore College on March 31, 2012.

Final Round - Saturday, March 31, 2012** revised date

Finalists selected from the Preliminary Round of auditions must appear in person at Skidmore for the Final Round.

Competition Procedure

The chair will notify finalists of their eligibility for the Final Round by telephone on March 8, 2012. Finalists must indicate their intention to participate in the competition within a week, in order to compete in the Final Round at Skidmore College on March 31, 2012.

The final round of the competition is on one day only (Mar. 31st). No finalist will be judged on any other day. Only finalists who perform in the hall that day will be judged. This is an "open" competition and we invite all finalists and their families into the hall to hear and to observe. Neither recording nor photography of the competition is allowed .

Following the Final Round of the competition, the judges will select up to four winners. Additionally, judges will select a number of finalists for honorable mention. In the event that a winner does not accept a scholarship, it will be offered it to a student who received an honorable mention rating.

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 four do not qualify.

Announcement of the awards is usually made directly following the auditions, otherwise it 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 freshman year.

Regulations for Final Round

• Arrive well before your assigned audition time. Only finalists performing on the day of the competition at their prescribed times will be considered for the scholarships.
• Furnish two published copies of scores for judges.
• Finalists must play with an accompanist in all works except those composed explicitly without accompaniment. You may bring your own accompanist, but the Skidmore Department of Music will provide one at no charge.
• Taping and photography of the Final Round is prohibited. No recording equipment will be allowed in the recital hall.
• We invite finalists and their families to listen to the competition. We only ask that they refrain from talking and/or exiting or entering the hall during performances.

Questions?

For more information about the Filene Scholarship Program or the Music Department, contact:

Joel Brown
Senior Artist-In-Residence and Chair Department of Music
Skidmore College
Saratoga Springs, New York
12866-1632
518-580-5320 or 5324