With a few exceptions, prizes are awarded to students at the end of the academic year. Students are nominated by NZSM staff on evidence of the student’s work, attitude and contribution to the NZSM environment throughout that year. Winners are usually notified at the beginning of the following year.

General

Ariadne Danilow Music Prize

Awarded to the graduating 3rd year student continuing to BMus (Hons) with the highest cumulative GPA.

Composition and Sonic Arts

Susan Rhind Award

Awarded to composition students who demonstrate exceptional talent in writing 'serious' music. Funds are used to commission works from postgraduate students in composition or sonic arts.

David Farquhar Composition Award

Awarded for excellence in composition for chamber ensemble or other small-scale forces.

Jenny McLeod Orchestral Competition Award

Awarded for excellence in excellence in composition for orchestra or other large ensembles.

John Young Award for Electroacoustic Composition

Awarded for excellence in electroacoustic composition.

Matthew Marshall Prize for Classical Guitar Composition

Awarded to an NZSM student enrolled in Composition papers at any level who submits the best composition for classical guitar by the end of Trimester One. The winning work will be prepared for and premiered at the annual NZSM Composers Competition (September).

Niland Prize in Jazz Composition

Awarded to an NZSM student enrolled in Jazz papers at any level who submits the best portfolio of Jazz compositions. Preference will be given to a student who is also a performer.

Ross Harris Award for Live Electronic Music

Awarded for excellence in live electronic music.

Music Studies / Ethnomusicology

New Zealand Indonesia Association Gamelan Prizes

Open to NZSM student performers in the Javanese ‘Padhang Moncar’ and Balinese ‘Taniwha Jaya’ gamelan orchestras. Awarded to the most outstanding student at introductory and advanced levels.

Music Therapy

Sir Roy McKenzie Music Therapy Scholarship

The New Zealand Society for Music Therapy (Music Therapy New Zealand) honours the late Sir Roy McKenzie, a long term benefactor to music therapy in New Zealand, by offering at least two annual scholarships for students studying for a Master of Music Therapy or PhD degree through NZSM.

Performance

Luis and Clark Cello Award

This Award was established in 2018 by the New Zealand School of Music to assist a gifted cellist studying at the New Zealand School of Music who is in need of an instrument and who shows promise for a professional career in cello. The recipient and cello will be featured annually in a public concert.

Expressions Piano Trust Prize

This prize is an annual award for a full-time, second year or above, performance student progressing to further study in classical piano.

New Zealand School of Music (NZSM) Performance Excellence Award

This prize was established by a private donor, via the Victoria University of Wellington Foundation in 2019, to recognise an exceptional postgraduate student at the New Zealand School of Music, Victoria University of Wellington. The prize recognises and rewards a postgraduate student who demonstrates excellence in performance by supporting a public concert or recital project. This award is designed to help students gain experience and exposure through the presentation of a public concert. Prize funds are to assist the student with a performance or recital project undertaken during their studies.

New Zealand School of Music Postgraduate Award in Cello Performance

This prize was established by a private donor, via the University of Wellington Foundation in 2018, to recognise excellence in cello performance by postgraduate students at the New Zealand School of Music, Victoria University of Wellington.

New Zealand School of Music Award in Woodwind Performance (Postgrad)

This prize was established by a private donor, via the University of Wellington Foundation in 2020, to recognise excellence in woodwind performance by postgraduate students at the New Zealand School of Music, Victoria University of Wellington

Galambos-Winter Violin Award

Clare Galambos-Winter endowed NZSM with two fine violins: one to be given to a promising undergraduate violinist and the other to a promising postgraduate violinist to support their performance studies. This is in addition to the two scholarships also in her name [see under 'Music Scholarships: Second Round'

Kapiti Chorale Award in Vocal Performance

Awarded to the most deserving voice student progressing from second to third year of study in classical performance. Consideration will be given to academic merit and sustained effort

Mona Ross Prize for Excellence in Singing

This prize rewards and encourages a student of demonstrably outstanding vocal and academic ability who is completing a BMus, PGDip, or BMusHons degree. The winner must demonstrate a marked potential for opera performance and must present definite plans for overseas postgraduate study in vocal performance. The prize is for a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident.

Rere Beckway Pianoforte Performance Award

Awarded for merit in pianoforte performance to a student completing a BMus.

Roy Jack Prize for String Players

Awarded for merit in performance to a student enrolled in a performance course on a bowed string instrument.

Therle Drake Undergraduate Award for Excellence in Music

Awarded to the top performance student auditioning for a BMus in Classical Performance at the New Zealand School of Music on the basis of musical ability and academic merit.

Victoria University of Wellington Ensemble Music Performance Award

This prize was established by a private donor, via the Victoria University of Wellington Foundation, in 2016, to recognise excellence in ensemble playing and to cultivate a love of classical chamber music by undergraduate students at Victoria University of Wellington's Te Koki New Zealand School of Music. The award will be made annually to an ensemble (or, when funds allow, to more than one ensemble) that demonstrates excellence in classical music ensemble playing, with the available funds split equally between the student members of the winning ensemble.

Further enquiries

For more information on scholarships available to NZSM students, contact the chair of the scholarships committee, Inbal Megiddo.