Performance Scholarship – Music

Pymble Ladies’ College offers a number of Performance Scholarships – Music providing full or part remission from academic tuition fees (excluding extras) to students entering Year 7. The awarding of scholarships is determined by portfolio submission, an audition, results in the scholarship examination and successful interview.

All candidates must sit the Academic Assessment Services (AAS) examination.

Before registering to sit the scholarship examination candidates should complete the Performance Scholarship – Music form and request a reference from their music teacher. The form including supporting documents (portfolio) should be uploaded when registering. The music reference should be emailed from candidate’s teacher directly to the College. The application will be assessed by the scholarship panel who will then select candidates to audition.

Please note that the scholarship selection process is competitive and not all candidates who meet the basic criteria will be judged eligible for an audition or proceed to interview in order to be considered for a scholarship.

Criteria and Steps to Apply

Candidates are to be in Year 5 and less than 12 years of age on 31 December of the examination year.

Candidates must be Australian Citizens or International students who have a valid Australian visa. Overseas Student subclass 500 visa holders are not eligible to apply.

Candidates must first register for the Junior Academic Scholarship through Academic Assessment Services in order to register for the Performance- Music scholarship.

Candidates’ online registration must include a 300 to 500 word autobiographical essay indicating their special interests and the contribution they would make to the life of the College. Successful candidates must commence in Year 7 2027 and will be expected to participate fully in the musical life of the College, including performing in appropriate musical ensembles.

Supporting documentation must be submitted along with the application form. These will be reviewed, and all candidates will be contacted advising if their daughter has been selected to audition.

Candidates invited to audition should then complete their registration through Academic Assessment Services and pay the registration fee if they have not already done so.

If your daughter is only applying for the Performance Scholarship – Music (and not applying for a Junior Academic Scholarship) should wait until after you have been contacted by the Music Department before paying the registration fee to sit the exam.

Candidates must have completed the following AMEB Grades or equivalent:

• AMEB Grade 6 (or equivalent) or above for piano.
• AMEB Grade 6 (or equivalent) or above for violin/viola and cello
• AMEB Grade 3 (or equivalent) or above for double bass, wind and brass

We do not accept vocal submissions. Voice as a 2nd instrument may be taken into consideration.

Successful candidates will be required to participate in Music ensembles and will undertake Music as an elective subject through until the Higher School Certificate (HSC).

Musicians who are excellent pianists who are also willing to take on instrumental lessons in an ensemble instrument nominated by the school will also be seriously considered. The nominated instrument will be agreed prior to acceptance of any scholarship offered.

The Scholarship covers full or part remission of tuition fees (excluding extras) for the duration of the student’s enrolment at the College. All other expenses are to be met at the full rate. Expenses such as textbooks, music tuition, co-curricular sport and activities, uniforms and laptop levies are not covered under this scholarship.

Successful scholarship recipients who are not a current Pymble student will be required to pay a $2000 bond when accepting the scholarship within 48 hours of offer. This Bond will be put towards the Term 2 Fee Instalment in 2027. The Bond will be forfeited if the student does not commence at the College.

Successful scholarship recipients who are not a current Pymble student are also required to submit an online Enrolment Application form and pay the Application fee of $440 within 48 hours of offer and the Enrolment Entry Fee of $4400 within two weeks of the scholarship acceptance. These fees are not refundable.

Scholarship recipients are expected to uphold Pymble’s five core values (Care, Courage, Integrity, Respect and Responsibility) and represent the College with pride.

Scholarships will be reviewed on an annual basis and it is the College’s expectation that students maintain their high performance levels and represent the College as and when requested.

The College Board reserves the right to withdraw a scholarship from any scholarship holder. Scholarships are awarded at the discretion of the College. The results of the Academic scholarship test are not shared and feedback for unsuccessful applications will not be given.

Audition Preparation

Your daughter must be suitably prepared for audition. She can audition on one instrument only and will be required to play two contrasting pieces; each piece no more than five minutes in length. The audition will also include aural tests (intervals, rhythm, triads and pitch) appropriate for her grade (AMEB standard), sight reading and singing unaccompanied to a short song of her choice (appropriate examples would be Advance Australia Fair, or an English/Australian folk song or nursery rhyme).

Supporting Documentation

If your daughter is applying for the Performance Scholarship – Music, she must complete the Performance Scholarship – Music form and upload it along with her supporting documents when registering.

Your daughter’s portfolio should include:

• completed Performance Scholarship – Music form
• supporting evidence
• Semester 2, 2024 and Semester 1, 2025 and last available NAPLAN test results.

The music teacher’s reference letter should be emailed directly to the Enrolments Department at enrol@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au

Important Dates

Registrations for a 2026 Performance Scholarship – Music have closed.

Registrations for a 2027 Performance Scholarship – Music open in April 2025