Scholarships, Awards, & Bursaries
Judith McIvor Memorial Scholarship
Background: The David Walden Memorial Scholarship was begun in 2011 and continued through 2019. Paused during Covid, and later renamed The Judith McIvor Memorial Scholarship, this $650 Scholarship is offered each year to one successful applicant. Please direct inquiries to: Ann Mendenhall: annmend2014@outlook.com.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Applicants must be Canadian citizens/residents with a home address in the Cowichan Valley, who are graduating students expecting to pursue post-secondary studies in music.
- The applicant must be a Grade 12 student whose primary instrument (the one planning to be pursued) has been taught by a member of the CVMTA in good standing. (CVMTA Membership is open to all Cowichan Valley music teachers. Current yearly dues are $30. Please email Ann Mendenhall for more information.)
- Assuming more than one applicant, a competition for the Scholarship will be held at a time available to all applicants. For all categories except composition/improvisation, two contrasting pieces/songs should be performed. Total audition time should not exceed 20 minutes. Composition students must submit original score(s) and recording(s) along with their application; they are also expected to attend the audition, and may be asked to improvise.
- Applicants will be notified no later than the day after the competition.
- Applicants must submit this completed form, along with any supporting documents (which may include recommendations from teacher(s), family members, and others, as well as proof of admittance to a post-secondary music program if this is available) and the $20 application fee* on or before the application deadline, to: Ann Mendenhall, CVMTA President, annmend2014@outlook.com. Application deadline June 15 each year.
- Note: No applicant will barred from applying or auditioning if the fee causes financial
hardship. Please inquire. - The scholarship may not be awarded in a given year if no applicant meets the suitability criteria. Conversely, if there is only one qualified applicant, winning is automatic, and instead of auditioning, the candidate may be asked to perform at a CVMTA meeting or function.)
CVMTA BURSARIES: GUIDELINES and INFORMATION for Teachers and APPLICANTS
CVMTA BURSARIES: INFORMATION for TEACHERS and APPLICANTS
WHO MAY APPLY? Any music student, age 18 and under, currently enrolled in vocal or instrumental studies with a teacher who is a member in good standing of the CVMTA. Note: Membership is open to all music teachers in the Cowichan Valley. If your private or school music teacher is not currently an active member, please encourage him or her to join.
PURPOSE: CVMTA Bursaries are intended to aid families of limited means in their pursuit of quality music educations for their children. In no case will the amount be sufficient to cover all the costs of lessons.
DECISIONS: All applications will be reviewed by a committee of impartial teachers who do not have students submitting applications for that season. Absolute confidentiality is guaranteed.
FUNDING: Availability of funding is limited and is dependent upon the financial health of the CVMTA. Some applications may be declined or only partially funded. Students are encouraged to reapply the following year.
NOTIFICATION: In cases of successful applications, a letter will be sent to the student informing him or her of the amount, and a cheque will be sent in that amount to the teacher. At the teacher’s discretion, it may be applied toward any given month(s) in the season, or pro-rated to reduce monthly tuition for the student throughout the entire season. Alternatively, in consultation with the parent, it might be applied toward the student’s cost of books, supplies, exams, festival entries, instrument rental or purchase, etc.
IMPORTANT: Each bursary is specific to the student to whom it has been allocated, and therefore non-transferrable. If a student who has received a bursary is unable to use it, or any portion of it, the money must be returned to the CVMTA.
Students and Parents are encouraged to become active participants in the CVMTA’s Fundraising activities. Please come to our concerts! We also welcome volunteers (for example, encouraging others to come to concerts and/or to donate) and donations of goods and services for our silent auctions. We also hope that one day, if financial circumstances should improve, families who have received bursaries might consider cash donations to help future music students in need.
Please note: The CVMTA is not a registered charity; however, 100% of monies earned through fundraising events and donations go directly to our Awards and Bursaries account and are disbursed to music students in one of three forms: 1) Bursaries, 2) Awards for excellence in Performance at the Cowichan Music Festival, and 3) the Judith McIvor Memorial Scholarship, awarded yearly to a graduating senior going on to study music.
The CVMTA gratefully acknowledges the support of our sponsors and those who attend our concerts and other fundraising events, making these bursaries possible.
Please direct any questions or comments you may have to CVMTA President Ann Mendenhall
annmend2014@outlook.com or 250-748-8196.
Donations to the CVMTA bursaries fund may be made by Interac e-Transfer to: cvmta.bursaries.fund@mail.com. (note: mail.com is correct; no g.) This is a direct deposit account.
CVMTA BURSARY APPLICATION FORM GUIDELINES
- Bursary applications to assist with lesson fees will be accepted each year between August 15th and October 1st.
- Your teacher (please note name on envelope) will receive immediate confirmation of receipt.
- Review by an impartial committee will occur during October.
- You and your teacher will be notified of the results no later than November 1st.
- here are a Student Form and a Parent or Guardian Form. Please fill out both completely.
- Supporting letters from the music teacher and from a respected member of the community affirming financial need will strengthen your application.
Your completed application must be received by October 1st. Please mail, or deliver in a sealed envelope, to:
CVMTA, c/o Ann Mendenhall, 3790 Glenora Road, Duncan, BC, V9L 6S5
Festival Award Winners
Cowichan Music Festival Awards 2025 - Piano Section Awards
Congratulations to all the winners of the piano awards at the 2025 Cowichan Music Festival!
Provincial Representative at the BC Performing Arts festival - Sadie Wood
Alternate provincial rep - Nita Qui
MacFarlane Family Scholarship for outstanding Senior Student ($200) - Nita Qui
Corporation of the District of North Cowichan for senior student ($200) - Sadie Wood
Marilyn Atkinson Senior Award ($100) - Ashley Pepper
Marilyn Atkinson Junior Award ($100) - Tyler Astleford
Marilyn Atkinson young pianist award ($50) - Olivia Phan
CVMTA Award - Level 9 & up ($200) - William Yang
CVMTA Award level 7 & 8 ($50)- Malcolm Blackburn
CVMTA Award level 4-6 ($50)- Erica Zhang
Cowichan Valley Performing Arts Foundation ($200) - Anna Williams
Warmland Dental - Outstanding Senior Student ($200) Sadie Wood
Warmland Dental - Composition Award ($200) - Zachary Kuo
Warmland Dental - Canadian or 20 &21st Century ($100) - Marina Xie
Newington Family - Canadian work -($50) Rachel Brittain
Cowichan Music Festival own Compostion - ($50) Zachary Kuo
Edwin J. Schuckel Memorial Award - ($100) Nina Douglas-Ortiz
Judith McIvor Memorial award for duet or trio donated by Ann Mendenhall ($150) - Raleigh Rodney, Ashley Pepper
McFarlane Family Junior awards ($50 each) - Sayer Handley, Gemma Wright, Bridget Woernle, Carolina Vasquez
Cowichan Music Festival - Sight Reading Award - ($50) Sadie Wood
