Next Offered: Annual Deadline is February 28, 11:59pm PST
Elektra Youth Scholarship Application Guidelines
Click Here To Submit Your Online Application
This annual $500 scholarship is awarded to support a young musician in her musical development. This award may be used to pay for private lessons, choir fees, purchase of music or instruments, travel to a music program, participation in music festivals, post-secondary tuition or any other item relating to music education.
Eligibility
- the applicant’s primary residence is in Metro Vancouver or the applicant has graduated from a Metro Vancouver high school. For a list of eligible municipalities, see this link.
- the applicant identifies as a woman and is between the ages of 15 and 20 on the application deadline
- the applicant has been involved in a school or community choral program
- the applicant does not have to be pursuing a career in music
- previous winners of Elektra’s Youth Scholarship may not apply again
In selecting the winner, the following areas will be considered with these approximate weightings:
- 30% musical background, personal achievements, and participation in choirs
- 35% proposed use of funds and scholarship impact
- 35% written letter of recommendation from music teacher or choir conductor
Note that a letter of recommendation from a music teacher or choir director is a requirement of the application process. Both the online application and the letter must be received separately by Elektra by 11:59pm Monday, February 28.
Elektra Women’s Choir is pleased to announce Meruert Bestybay as this year’s Youth Scholarship winner.
Meruert is a singer who began piano studies with her father at the age of seven. A few years later, she enrolled in the Sarah McLachlan School of Music, where her love for choir developed. She has sung with the White Rock Children’s Choir, Crescent Youth Choir, Luna Vocal Ensemble, Vancouver Youth Choir and British Columbia Youth Choir. She has also participated in two stage productions, Little Shop of Horrors in high school and the Elixir of Love organized by the Young People’s Opera Society. Meruert has recently been accepted to the Voice program at the UBC School of Music and plans to continue her path in performing and eventually teaching. According to VYC Artistic Director Carrie Tennant, “Meruert is an invaluable member of Vancouver Youth Choir. She has a beautiful and clear soprano sound, outstanding intonation and is a strong sight-reader. Despite her natural talent, she is always humble and eager to learn more. She is currently a ‘mentor’ for the VYC Kids and responsible for monitoring morale and motivation, working with the kids in small groups and sectional rehearsals and acting as a vocal and behavioural role model for youth singers in the choir.”
Elektra is thrilled to support such a strong, determined, and skilled musician!
Our sincere thanks to the Youth Scholarship Committee for their thoughtful consideration of all our 2022 applications. We wish all applicants success in their musical endeavours.