Scholarships and  Details

• For information on qualifying for any of our scholarships, please contact Janelle Orr: festivaldirector@spmf.org  

• Every performer, excluding choir members, receives a certificate with a standing (not a mark)

• All marks are kept confidential between the adjudicator and members of the Festival Board

• All scholarships are handed out at the Grand Concert and Awards Ceremony

• All scholarships are subject to sponsorship availability

Standings at our Festival

Platinum Standing (90% +) Exceptional performance, thorough preparation, refined technical elements, insightful awareness of musical style, expressive musical interpretation, confident, and fluent throughout.

Gold Standing (86-89%) Engaging performance, thoughtful preparation, consistent technical elements, competent awareness of musical style, convincing musical interpretation, quick recovery from minor slips or lapses that did not affect continuity.

Silver Standing (83-85%) Fluent performance, careful preparation, inconsistent technical elements, developing awareness of musical style, appropriate musical interpretation, attention to musical details required, some slips or lapses that did not affect continuity.

Bronze Standing (80-82%) Basic level of preparation, undeveloped technical elements, minimal awareness of musical style, lacking musical interpretation, slips or lapses caused loss of continuity.

Scholarship Age Category Classifications

Competitive and Non-Competitive Classes

VIEW THE FLOW CHART

Registration in Competitive Classes is for: 

a. Solo Entrants 28 yrs. and under, that meet residency requirements.

b. Group Entrants (2+ performers) with no age limit.

Exception: Piano Duet Provincial Music Festival Nomination qualifying classes requires both entrants be 28 years and under.

c. Competition for scholarships (must enter minimum two (2) selections).

Exception: Music Composition and Group Classes where the syllabus allows for only ONE (1) class to enter.

d. Competition for an Alberta Provincial Music Festival Nomination.

*Music Composition, Musical Theatre, Piano Duet, Piano Concerto, Contemporary Vocal, and String and Keyboard Sonata. Only ONE (1) selection is required to receive a nomination, and entrant must  be registered in a Competitive Class.*

(See “Q & A: A Guide to Qualifying for the Alberta Provincial Music Festival,” in the Syllabus for details on how to receive a nomination).

e. Receiving an adjudication, certificate, and a standing.
f. Memorization requirements must be met.

Registration in Non-Competitive Classes is for: 

a. Solo and Group Entrants of ALL ages and ALL levels,no matter of residency location.

b. Solo performers who choose to enter ONLY (1) selection, in any discipline.

Exceptions: Music Composition and Group Classes where the syllabus allows for only ONE (1) class to enter to compete for scholarship. Entrant may enter in either register Competitive or Non-Competitive Classes.

c. NO competition for scholarships.

d. NO competition for an Alberta Provincial Music Festival Nomination.

e. Receiving an adjudication, certificate, and a standing.

f. Memorization is NOT required.

*All Non-Competitive Classes have “NCL” in the class title, in the syllabus*

*The class lists in the Non-Competitive portion of the syllabus, are not exhaustive.

*Any class that is in the Competitive portion, can be reproduced as a Non-Competitive class.

*If you do not see an appropriate class in the Non-Competitive portion of the Syllabus, please contact the festival director, festivaldirector@spmf.org, who will create one for you.

Scholarships

1. Adjudicator chosen, based on the average of all marks, in the same discipline.
   Exception: Family/Community/Group and Duet/Trio/Quartet - All Disciplines. These are SPMFA Board awarded, due to several disciplines being eligible for each award.

2. "Best Overall" means the winner obtained the highest average marks, in the same discipline.

3. "Most Promising" means the winner obtained the 2nd highest average marks, in the same discipline.

4. "Merit" means the winner obtained the 3rd highest average marks, in the same discipline.

5. Entrant may win in consecutive years.

6. Winners may be chosen to perform at the Grand Concert and Awards Ceremony.

7. Specialty Scholarships are marked with an *  (Winners of these scholarships may also win Best Overall, Most Promising, or Merit in their Discipline).

Criteria

1. SOLO entrants must have performed in at least two (2) solo selections, within the same discipline.
   Exception: Music Composition, as the syllabus only allows for one (1) composition to be entered.
   *Self-Accompanied Scholarship Eligibility - requires at least two (2) solo selections in Self-Accompanied classes.*
   *Contemporary Vocal Scholarship Eligibility- do not include performances in Self-Accompanied classes.*

2. GROUP entrants (Duet/Trio/Quartet/Quintet and Community/Group - All Disciplines) performs number of selections as the syllabus mandates.
   
   

Scholarships available

Rose Bowl Scholarship - $750.00

Rose Bowl Scholarship:

1. Best Senior Level Solo performer of the Festival Week.

2. Adjudicator recommended and SPMFA Board chosen.

3. The winner performs at the Grand Concert and Awards Ceremony.

Criteria:

1. Only Senior Level Solo entrant are eligible.

2. Must have performed in at least three (3) solo classes within the same discipline.

3. Must be awarded Platinum level marks in all three (3) classes.

4. Cannot win in two(2) consecutive years.

5. FPCAF Scholarship candidate performances are ineligible.

Factors (Considerations) by the SPMFA Board when choosing a winner

• • All marks received, in the nominated discipline.

  • Has entrant(s) entered in more than one discipline.

  • Has entrant(s) competed in this festival before.

  • Has competitor(s) competed in any group numbers (duet, trio, quartet).

President's Scholarship - $400.00

The President's Scholarship:

1. Outstanding Senior Level Solo, Choir, or Group performer of the Festival Week.

2. SPMFA Board chosen, based on adjudicator recommendations.

3. The winner performs at the Grand Concert and Awards Ceremony.

Criteria:

1. Soloist or Group must have performed in at least three (3) classes, or performed at least three (3) selections, within the same discipline.

2. Must be awarded Platinum or Gold standing marks.

3. Performers cannot win in two (2) consecutive years.

4. The winner of the Rose Bowl is ineligible.

5. FPCAF Scholarship candidate performances are ineligible.

Factors (Considerations) by the SPMFA Board when choosing a winner

• • All marks received, in the single discipline of consideration.

  • Has Solo Entrant entered in more than one discipline.

  • Has Entrant(s) competed in this festival before.

  • Has Solo Entrant competed in any group numbers (duet, trio, quartet).

  • Was there a recommendation for the Rose Bowl Scholarship, for Solo Entrants.

Wye String Ensemble Scholarship - $400.00

2025 Scholarship Discipline:  PIANO

Wye String Ensemble Scholarship:

1. Best SOLO Senior Level performer of the Festival, in a specific rotating discipline.
   2025 - Piano
   2026 - Woodwind
   2027 - Strings
   2028 - Vocal  - contemporary or classical

2. Adjudicator chosen.

3. The winner performs at the Grand Concert and Awards Ceremony.

4. The Winner performs as a featured guest with the Wye String Ensemble, at their Annual Year-End concert, the following year (not the current festival year).

Criteria:
1. Only Senior Level entrants are eligible.
2. Competitors must showcase their ability to perform 20 minutes of repertoire. This repertoire may be a stand-alone work or a combination of shorter works.
3. There are no specific classes a competitor must enter to be eligible for this scholarship.
4. FPCAF Scholarship candidate performances are ineligible.

See www.wyestringensemble.com for more information about the Wye String Ensemble

Festival Place Cultural Arts Foundation
Scholarship for the Performing Arts - $1000.00

"Most Likely to Become a Professional Performing Artist" 

1. Performers' repertoire from this class, is ineligible for all other scholarships.

2. Performers ARE eligible for other festival awards if they also enter as a regular festival participant.

3. The winner may/may not be chosen to perform at the Grand Concert and Awards Ceremony.
   
   

This Scholarship has an application form and has different age and residency requirements
than what is printed in the Sherwood Park Music Festival Rules.

Familiarize yourself with all the details of this class, the  Syllabus   (FPCAF class)

NO LATE APPLICATIONS OR REGISTRATIONS ACCEPTED
Application deadline: TBD for 2026