Vocal Scholarship

The Maroondah Singers Memorial Scholarship assists promising and enthusiastic young singers to continue studying singing whilst gaining experience as a soloist in public performance with a large choir. The scholarship was established in 1991 in memory of three of the choir's founders, May and Mervyn Vagg and George Irvine. The prize is eagerly sought after and the success of previous winners is a testament to its worth.

The scholarship winner receives up to $1000 towards tuition fees for one year, paid on receipt of a satisfactory written report from their singing teacher and is expected to perform at Maroondah Singers concerts throughout the year.

For full conditions of the scholarship and an application form, please contact The Secretary at PO Box 1297 Croydon, 3136.

Closing date for applications is normally mid-October each year.

2010 Scholarship Holders

There were thirty applicants for Maroondah Singers Memorial Scholarship, eventually wittled down to a shortlist of three. Due to the high quality of the applicants, for the first time there are two holders of the scholarship in 2010.

One of the holders is Nathan Lay.

Nathan Lay has performed in many Eisteddfods over the past few years and he is currently one of the top three in 2010's Australian Scholars' Group. He was an Australian Scholars' Group finalist in the 2009 Liederfest.

He performed for Music Lover's Society and Lieder Society of Victoria and sang solos and duets at the Melba Festival Gala Opening this year as well as at Maroondah Carols in 2007. He also sang Papageno's aria Ein Vogelfänger bin ich ja (A bird catcher am I) from Mozart's The Magic Flute at Opera in the Market in March 2010.

He has successfully auditioned for a place at The Royal College of Music in London.

The other holder of the Maroondah Singers Memorial Scholarship for 2010 is Penelope Mason.

Penelope is a Bachelor of Music/Law and has been taking voice lessons since the age of 12. She has just completed her Bachelor of Music solo performance degree.

She is a regular performer at Eisteddfods, and has had roles with Victorian Opera, and The Monash Opera Ensemble.

Penelope is studying with Bettine McCaughan and is working towards auditioning for a masters degree in voice in Europe. Her goal is to be an opera singer.