BMS Scholarship 2026

Bettine Patricia McCaughan OAM

13th June, 1926 - 15th August, 2016

BETTINE McCAUGHAN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP 2026

Key dates:

Applications must be received by Sunday 5 July 2026 at 11:59pm.

Finals will be held on Saturday 29 August 2026 in Box Hill, Melbourne

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The Bettine McCaughan Memorial Scholarship (BMS):

https://events.humanitix.com/bms-scholarship-2026

• Is administered by the Australian National Association of Teachers of Singing (ANATS Ltd).

• Is funded by the Bettine McCaughan Scholarship Trust.

• Is worth $6,000.

• Must be spent in the pursuit of excellence in Classical Voice performance.

• Is open to any Australian resident, aged 26 and under, as of 13 June 2026.

• Must be used within 18 months of receipt.

• Will be publicised through the ANATS newsletter, website and Facebook.

• The recipient must follow up with financial acquittals and details of activities paid for through the scholarship within 6 months of final activity or 2 years of scholarship receipt, whichever comes first.

• The entry fee (non-refundable) for the scholarship is $30.

Selection Process Stage 1:

• Applications must be made and paid for using this Humanitix link

https://events.humanitix.com/bms-scholarship-2026

• Submission of a Video recording (DVD, USB drive or streaming video) showing the performance of one aria (from opera or oratorio) and one Art Song/Lied (to be sung in original language) by the applicant; the two items shall be in different languages.

Please be aware that a high-quality recording is in your own best interest

Suggestions for making a successful video:

Make your video in a hall or large room that best represents a proper concert setting;
Avoid using a room in a house or a music studio;
If at all possible, collaborate with a live accompanist;
Use very good lighting;

Keep the camera far enough away so as to see the singer from head to toe

Avoid using videos from live costumed performances

In this performance the singer must sing either with live or recorded piano accompaniment

Please note: no unaccompanied performances will be accepted

• Submission of a Curriculum Vitae outlining previous musical/vocal training and experience.

• Submission of a Written Study Statement (of approximately 500 words) outlining how the scholarship money would be spent in the pursuit of voice training and/or language training (pertaining to Classical singing, i.e. Italian, French, German, Russian).

• The above is to be included in the Booking application or sent to bms@anats.org.au  or by post to Lucas de Jong, 15 Harold Keys Dr, Narre Warren South 3805.

  • Applications must be received by Sunday 5 July 2026 at 11:59pm.

  • Finals will be held on Saturday 29 August 2026 in Box Hill, Melbourne.

  • Finalists must be prepared to perform in Melbourne on Saturday 29 August 2026. Financial support for travel may be available through your State Chapter - please contact your State Chapter President to discuss what support is on offer https://www.anats.org.au/

  • Finalists will be selected by the BMS selection panel.

  • The BMS panel comprises three industry professionals as specified in the Deed which governs this scholarship.

  • For 2026 the adjudicators are David Ashton-Smith, Carole McKenzie and Dr Stephen Grant.

  • The applicant must not have had personal teaching contact with a member of the judging panel for a minimum period of six months prior to the competition.

  • Applicants will be assessed on singing ability, musicality, vocal potential and viability of the proposed study.

  • The decision of the selection panel will be final, and no discussion will be entered into.

  • All applicants will be notified of the outcome of Stage 1 by 12th July.

  • There is no pre-set number of finalists. The number of finalists chosen will be reflective of the quality of applications.

  • Finalists must confirm their appearance in the finals within 48 hours of being notified.

Selection Process Stage 2: Live Performance

• A live singing competition in the form of a public concert to be held at 7.30pm on Saturday 29th August 2026 at St Peter's Anglican Church, 1030 Whitehorse Rd, Box Hill, VIC 3128.

• Finalists must present three items: the two pieces from Stage 1 and one other, contrasting item from the classical voice repertoire.

• Finalists must submit their program by 22nd August and one copy of sheet music of each item for the adjudicators must be supplied on the day of the final.

• An official accompanist for the final will be provided at no expense to the finalists. Each performer will be allocated 20 minutes rehearsal on the day of the final.

• The accompanist for 2026 is Konrad Olszewski. Each finalist must send scans of their selections to Konrad no later than 7 days before the final.             konradfolszewski@gmail.com      0438 183 289

• If preferred, finalists are free to bring their own accompanist at their own expense.

• If finalists bring their own accompanist, they must advise this upon submitting their program.

• Singing ability, musicality, vocal potential and viability of the proposed study will be the criteria applied in the awarding of the BMS Scholarship.

• The decision of the selection panel will be final, and no discussion will be entered into.

• The winner of the scholarship will be announced on the night of the competition final concert.

Another award will be given at the final:

The ANATS Victoria Award of $500

All correspondence to bms@anats.org.au