Admissions
Prizes
Travel and Research Awards
Both the Faculty of Music, and many of the Oxford colleges offer travel grants to both undergraduates and postgraduates. These can be to help with the costs of attending an academic conference, a research trip, or to help with the cost of a 'worthy' holiday (for example, a trip to Venice in preparation for studying the music of St. Mark's might well be considered favourably by a college grant-making committee).
- John Lowell Osgood Fund (music postgraduates only). The Osgood fund has the object of encouraging the composition of chamber music and research in the history and aesthetics of music.
- John Betts Fund (music undergraduates and music postgraduates). The Betts Fund was established to facilitate the study of organs, for example for visits to particular places to see organs or libraries, or to obtain source materials related to the study of the organ, such as microfilms.
- Segovia Fund (postgraduates only). The Segovia Fund was established for the promotion of the study and performance of music in the University.
Awards will normally be up to £90 for travel within the UK and up to £175 for travel outside the UK. Application forms are available from the Faculty's Finance & Research Officer (christopher.waite@music.ox.ac.uk)
John Lowell Osgood Memorial Prizes 2012 - Dissertation
The prize was established with a view to encouraging Chamber Music compositions, as well as research in the history and aesthetics of Music. The prize is offered during Trinity Term of each year, alternately either for a chamber music composition or for a dissertation (5000 words) involving serious research.
In 2012 the prize will be for the second category, dissertation.
Dissertation
The Dissertation should involve serious research on some subject, approved by the Heather Professor of Music, and which deals with Music from the historical or aesthetic aspect. The dissertation may not have been, not be about to be, submitted for a degree of this or any other university. Applications should include: The applicant's curriculum viatel The original work (dissertation). Applications should be sent to administrator@music.ox.ac.uk
Two judges will assess all applications and the Faculty Board will determine the value of the prizes in the light of the judges' report. The prize is normally of the order of £550.
PERFORMANCE FUND
The Board of the Faculty of Music, through its Performance Committee, administers a departmental fund (the Performance Fund) established to assist musical performances in the University involving junior members. Applications to the Fund are invited for activities planned for academic year 2011-12. The maximum awarded is normally £150. Applications must be made on the standard application form available from the Events Manager, and must provide full details of the event (date, venue, artists, programme, budget). Forms must be returned no later than 10am on Monday of 7th Week in any given term for consideration at the Performance Committee meeting in 7th Week. Applications received after the closing date will be deferred until the next Committee meeting. Retrospective applications may be considered.
Successful applications are required to acknowledge the funding received from the Faculty on all publicity material for the event.
It is recommended that in the first instance College Music Societies apply for funding from their respective colleges, rather than the Performance Committee.
Contact: The Events Manager.
Tel: 01865 276141 Email: aloise.fiala-murphy@music.ox.ac.uk
JOAN CONWAY SCHOLARSHIPS IN PERFORMANCE STUDIES
The Board of Management of the Conway Fund intends to award up to five Joan Conway Scholarships in Performance Studies, to be granted in 2011/12, to students of music at Oxford (undergraduates and postgraduates) wishing to undertake advanced studies in musical performance, historical performance practice or the study of musical instruments.The scholarships, normally up to a maximum of £600, are intended to cover specific costs incurred by students for special performance tuition fees (instrumentalists and singers are encouraged to apply), registration in advanced courses or masterclasses, travel expenses or any other costs directly related to the study and research of musical performance.
The Fund is not intended to support regular tuition or purchase of instruments, music, books, equipment or materials (strings, reeds etc).
Application by email is acceptable. Applications should be submitted by Friday in 7th Week of Hilary Term (2 March 2012), and should include:
1) the applicant’s Curriculum Vitae;
2) a plan of expenditure and details of other funds applied for;
3) full vacation contact details in the event that you may be contacted after the end of term.
The Board reserves the right to audition applicants.
It is expected that applicants will be informed of the Board’s decisions by the beginning of Trinity Term 2012. Successful candidates are required to provide receipts and a brief written report for the Board. In the following academic year Conway Scholars may also be required to participate in the annual Conway Recital, a public concert in Oxford, held during Hilary Term 2012. Expenses incurred by the participation in this concert will be met from the Fund, but no performing fee will be payable.
Applications should be sent to:
Aloise Fiala-Murphy, Events Manager, Faculty of Music,
St Aldates’, Oxford OX1 1DB
OXFORD PHILOMUSICA ORCHESTRAL APPRENTICESHIP AWARDS
All students of the Faculty of Music are eligible to apply for the Oxford Philomusica Orchestral Apprenticeship Awards offered by the Oxford Philomusica, the Professional Orchestra in Residence at the University of Oxford.The Oxford Philomusica offers, in the academic year 2011-12, up to five awards of £400 each for players of string instruments. These awards are disbursed in recompense for active participation in the Philomusica’s public concerts. The concerts take place in Oxford and elsewhere as practicable for the student. Award-holders are obliged to appear in four concerts and the respective rehearsals.
Applicants will be put forward by the Faculty of Music and will be expected to have reached a high level of performance expertise including previous experience of orchestral work (as in Youth Orchestras or University Orchestras). Applicants will have to show that they are currently pursuing active study of their instrument. Final acceptance will be in consultation and after audition with the Music Director and/or the relevant section principal of the Philomusica Orchestra. Each award-holder will receive guidance and advice from a delegated member of the Oxford Philomusica.
If you would like to be considered, please write a cover letter stating your instrument and qualifications, as well as a CV including the name of your instrumental teacher and your orchestral experience, to Philomusica Awards‚ c/o Aloise Fiala-Murphy, Faculty of Music, St Aldate’s, Oxford OX1 1DB (tel. 01865 276141). E-mail is also acceptable: aloise.fiala-murphy@music.ox.ac.uk
Please do not forget to give contact addresses (college, e-mail, telephone). The letter should reach Aloise by Friday 7th October (0th week); applications received after that date may not be considered this time round.
Auditions will be held on Friday 14th October (1st week) in the Denis Arnold Hall. Audition time will be 15 minutes. Candidates should prepare two contrasting works of their own. Candidates will also be asked to read an orchestral excerpt prepared half an hour prior to their audition. Candidates are therefore asked to be at the Faculty of Music at least half an hour prior to their audition. Candidates are asked to provide their own accompanist if they wish to have one.
The audition panel will be Dr Marios Papadopoulos (Music Director of the Oxford Philomusica), Dr Stephen Darlington (Choragus) and the Leader of the Philomusica.
Organ Scholarships and Choral Scholarships
Many colleges appoint undergraduates to assist in the music of college chapel, offering choral and organ scholarships. Auditions are held at the end of September each year.
Find out more about this on the Undergraduate Admissions pages.
Repetiteur Scholarship
New Chamber Opera, in conjunction with St Catherine's College Oxford, offers a Repetiteur Scholarship for pianists wishing to make a career as a Repetiteur, accompanist or conductor. It is intended that the successful applicant will divide his/her scholarship time between St Catherine's College and New Chamber Opera, assisting in rehearsals, performances and with the training of singers for New Chamber Opera. Links:
New Chamber Opera Website Scholarship Page
St Catherine's College Website Scholarship Page
Applications are invited from suitable candidates at Oxford, who will normally, but not necessarily, be intending to read Music. Candidates should present a strong academic profile and be able to satisfy the standard Oxford entry requirements of three A-levels at grades AAA; they should also be pianists with a high standard of solo performance and proven accompanying ability. Applicants interested in applying for the Scholarship are asked to indicate this by writing "Repetiteur Scholarship" in the 'further details' section of the online UCAS application. Assessment will take place in the form of an audition. either during the December admissions procedure or at the candidate's convenience in early January - once academic offers have been made.
For further information, please contact either:Professor Michael Burden, Director of Productions, New Chamber Opera, and Professor of Opera Studies, New College, Oxford OX1 3BN (email: michael.burden@new.ox.ac.uk)
or:
Professor Peter Franklin, Tutor in Music, St Catherine's College, Oxford, OX1 3UJ (email: peter.franklin@stcatz.ox.ac.uk)
Gibbs Prize in Music
The Gibbs Prize in Music is awarded to one or more undergraduates for outstanding performance in their final examinations. The annual value of the prize is in the order of £700.
DONALD TOVEY MEMORIAL PRIZE
The Board of the Faculty of Music proposes to award the Donald Tovey Memorial Prize in 2012. The prize (which will be of the value of £2,000 but may be augmented should the need arise, at the discretion of the Board) is open to men and women without regard to nationality, age, or membership of a university. It may be awarded either:
(a) to assist in the furtherance of research in the philosophy, history, or understanding of music. In this case, candidates must satisfy the judges that their programme of research lies within this field, and should provide: a brief statement of proposed research; two testimonials; and two examples of original work (essays, articles, book chapters, etc., whether published or not) which demonstrate their fitness to undertake it. Nine-tenths of the prize-money will be paid to the prize-winner at the time of the award, and the remaining one-tenth on approval by the judges of a brief report indicating fulfilment of the programme;
or
(b) to assist in the publication of a work already completed in one of the subjects mentioned above. In this case, candidates should submit one copy of the work concerned and explain why the prize is needed in order to ensure publication.
In either case, it is hoped that the prize-winner will agree to deliver a lecture in the Faculty of Music disseminating the findings of the research.
Entries, which should clearly state whether they are made in category (a) or (b), and should include a list of expenses associated with the project for which the prize is sought, should be addressed to Mr David Hyland, Faculty Administrator and Board Secretary, Faculty of Music, St Aldate's, Oxford OX1 1DB, and must arrive no later than Friday 24 February 2012.
Entries may also be emailed to administrator@music.ox.ac.uk.
It is envisaged that the prizewinner will be announced in May 2012.
TWO NEW PRIZES FOR 2012
Informal enquiries about both of these prizes may be made to addressed to the Manager of the Bate Collection (andrew.lamb@music.ox.ac.uk)
The closing date for applications for both prizes is Friday in Week 5, Hilary Term (17 February 2012).
Bate Essay Prize
The Board of the Faculty of Music proposes to award a prize of £250 to the author of the best essay (of about 5,000 words in length) concerning the study of musical instruments, which might address aspects of their history, construction, development and use.
The prize is open to undergraduate members of the University who are reading Music. The prize will be judged by the Manager of the Bate Collection of Musical Instruments and a nominee of the Board of the Faculty of Music. The prize will be awarded providing there is an entry of sufficient merit.
Essays should be sent to: Mr David Hyland, Faculty Administrator and Board Secretary, Faculty of Music, St Aldates', Oxford OX1 1DB (administrator@music.ox.ac.uk).
Bate Recording Prize
The Board of the Faculty of Music proposes to award a prize of £250 to the musical instrumentalist or group of instrumentalists who produce the best sound recording of a historically-informed performance on an instrument or consort of instruments of a type found in the Bate Collection.
The prize is open to undergraduate members of the University who are reading Music. The prize will be judged by the Manager of the Bate Collection of Musical Instruments and a nominee of the Board of the Faculty of Music. The prize will be awarded providing there is an entry of sufficient merit.
Recordings should be submitted either in CD format to Mr David Hyland, Faculty Administrator and Board Secretary, Faculty of Music, St Aldates', Oxford OX1 1DB or as audio files to (administrator@music.ox.ac.uk)