SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarships, Bursaries & Awards Available to Alberta Music Students
Scholarships Presented at ACRA
Piano Pedagogy!
MORNING MUSICALE SCHOLARSHIP Morning Musicale was a group of up to twenty ARMTA Calgary Branch members who gathered monthly for 50 years (1972 – 2023) for personal musical and educational advancement with regards to piano teaching and musical points of interest in many musical genres pertaining to teaching and musical development. When they were disbanding, they presented ARMTA Calgary with $5000 to be used for a Piano Pedagogy Scholarship of $250 over the next 20 years”. The donors of this $250 scholarship were all Piano Teachers, and their wish was that the scholarship be given for Piano Pedagogy. CLICK HERE for more information, including application and requirements.
THE PIANO PERFORMANCE COLLECTIVE SCHOLARSHIP Beginning with the 2024 ACRA, this $200 scholarship is open to piano students at Levels 9, 10, and ARCT. It is presented to the student with the highest aggregate score on a) the practical exam mark, b) the co-requisite Harmony exam mark and c) the co-requisite History exam mark. The scholarship continues a tradition that began with the Piano Diploma Association’s Scholarship of a similar nature.
EILEEN AND ELGAR HIGGIN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP The Eileen and Elgar Higgin Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a senior voice student (Level 10/ARCT). Eileen and Elgar were giants in the musical life of Calgary, and their legacy lives on in the teaching and performing careers of their daughters, Elaine Case and Jennifer Higgin. Starting in the 1930’s as soloists at Knox United Church, Eileen and Edgar were often heard in recitals throughout the city. In the late 1950’s, Eileen formed the Calgary Theatre Singers in order to give up and coming singers opportunities to perform in operas and musicals – produced to a very high artistic standard. She was also instrumental in the start of the Singing and Opera Division of the Banff School of Fine Arts, where she taught every summer for several years. In 1969, in the last year of his life, Elgar Higgin taught singing for that program. Eileen and Edgar donated trophies and scholarships to the Calgary Kiwanis Festival and were active with the Calgary Musicians’ Union, the Alberta Registered Music Teachers’ Association, and National Association of Singing. Their students have been heard at the Saddlers’ Wells Opera, Dusseldorf Opera, San Francisco Opera, Canadian Opera Company, and Metropolitan Opera. A life sized painting of Elgar Higgin, painted by noted artist H.G. Glyde, hangs in the National Music Centre. Each year the Banff Centre awards a scholarship in honour of Eileen Higgin. Elaine Case has donated the Eileen and Elgar Higgin Memorial Scholarship to ARMTA to honour her parents’ devotion to the development of young musical talent.
PETER TURNER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP The Peter Turner Memorial Scholarship is awarded to the student who has earned the highest mark in the ARCT Performance Examination during the past year. Peter Turner was a highly regarded teacher of piano for many years in Calgary. His students played at the highest level and were consistently successful not only in local but also national competitions. Peter Turner set a high standard for both his students and for other teachers, and he was also a senior examiner for the Royal Conservatory of Music. Peter passed away in 2008.
HAROLD SAKLOFSKE SCHOLARSHIPS Harold Saklofske was an instrumental force in the Calgary music scene since the 1940’s as a pianist and band leader. His big band was “the” sound used for all the big functions and visiting celebrities right through to the 1990’s. Harold always saw the importance of nurturing and inspiring students. With Harold’s passing in 2016, his family have committed $500.00 a year for seven more years to be gifted as scholarships to promising young musicians at the annual ARMTA Calgary Recital and Awards. There will be two scholarships of $250.00 each named after Harold and Frances Saklofske. Performers in Level 8 through ARCT who have received 85% or higher in any instrument or voice are eligible to apply for these scholarships. Applicants will apply in writing directly to Brent Saklofske detailing their musical background, why they love music, and what part music will play in their future. A copy of the most recent exam mark along with proof of theory co-requisite completion must be attached to verify eligibility for the scholarships. Application letters and supporting documentation should be sent via email to brentsaklofske@gmail.com with the words “scholarship application” in the subject line.
ENDOWMENT SOCIETY SCHOLARSHIPS The Endowment Society of the Calgary Registered Music Teachers sponsors the ACRA Scholarships and medals for students who have earned the top three practical examination marks (minimum 87%) in each discipline category during the past year. The fourth highest mark in each Piano category will also receive a scholarship. Levels 5 through Diploma in each discipline will also need to show documentation of completed theory co-requisites. Scholarships are also available for Advanced Theory. The Endowment Society receives funding for these scholarships from individual donors and from the ARMTA Recognition fund. Through the Endowment Society, ARMTA Calgary supports other awards and programs for students.