Awards Terms & Conditions

The Theme & Variations Foundation has been formed to encourage and support exceptional young Australian pianists to realise their potential.

All applicants should read the whole of these terms and conditions carefully.

1. Awards

The 2024 awards may include grants of up to $10,000 which may go towards:

• tuition fees with a recognised tertiary institution travel and/or accommodation costs to attend an event which will further their development as a performance pianist, such as, but not limited to, piano competitions, performance opportunities or master classes
• funds not used within two years of being awarded may be withdrawn at the discretion of the board. Those funds will then be applied to future awards

2. Scholarship information

2.1 The Theme & Variations Foundation Scholarship Fund for young pianists is for the sole purpose of providing money for eligible scholarships, bursaries and awards for Australian citizens or permanent residents of Australia.

Theme and Variations Foundation Scholarships: 

• are awarded on merit and potential
• are for applicants enrolled in approved courses in any of the following:
  • Australian secondary or tertiary educational institutions
  • educational institutions overseas, by way of study of a component of an Australian course
• are to promote excellence in piano studies and performance

The awards are currently made annually. This will continue as long as there are sufficient suitable high standard applicants to present to our adjudication panel, and also that we have funds available.

2.2 As and when required we will apply NSW Public Health Orders as they relate to concerts and performing to maintain a COVID-19 safe environment.

Initial application performances will be assessed online. The awards short list will be based entirely on videos which must be submitted no later than Friday 27 September 2024, 5pm AEST. Unless covid-19 regulations dictate otherwise, final assessment for awards will be conducted in live performance auditions at the showrooms of Theme & Variations Piano Services, 451 Willoughby Road, Willoughby NSW 2068.

3. Eligibility

3.1 Applicants must:

• have Australian citizenship or be a permanent resident of Australia
• be enrolled in an approved course of musical study with a recognised Australian or overseas secondary or tertiary institution. Evidence of ongoing exceptional achievement will be required. 

Within the terms of our deed this is a prescribed clause set by the ATO and ACNC for funds with DGR1 status

• be between the ages of 16 and 25 years at close of entry date, 27 September 2024. Proof of age will be a requirement
• go through a formal application and audition process as prescribed by the Foundation’s board and artistic assessment panel
• have their applications signed by a parent or legal guardian if they are under the age of 18
• be actively pursuing a career as a solo professional or collaborative pianist
• give permission to the Theme & Variations Foundation to use their name and photographic likeness in all forms of media for advertising, promotions, trade and any other lawful purpose

3.2 An application form and associated documents together with a recital YouTube link(s), must be lodged by the close of entry date. The performance must be a piano solo by the applicant and not with an orchestra or any other musicians. There are no exceptions to this rule.

3.3 Eligibility is based entirely on material submitted by the applicant by the close of entry date. No additional material will be accepted after this date. Please note that insufficient or incomplete applications will not be eligible. The Foundation board reserves the right to refuse applications which are not considered eligible for entry.

3.4 In making this application each applicant must read and understand the terms and conditions of the Theme & Variations Foundation Awards and agree to be bound by them.

3.5 Recipients of previous Theme & Variations Foundation awards may not reapply for a period of four years after their award was granted. However, the Foundation encourages unsuccessful applicants from one year to reapply in subsequent years.

3.6 The repertoire for the final audition must be different from the initial application program.

4. Close of entries

4.1 The closing date for applications is Friday 27 September 2024 at 5pm AEST. All application documents must be received by this time. Where documents have been omitted or are late, candidates may be disqualified.

4.2 Completed application forms and associated documents must be submitted online, together with a video of fifteen to twenty minutes, by YouTube link or online file. This will show the applicant playing a solo performance of his or her choice (not with an orchestra or any other musicians), demonstrating his or her abilities with different composers and styles.

Application forms may be downloaded at: www.tandvfoundation.com.au

5. Submissions checklist

For a valid entry, applicants are required to submit the following, by the close of entry date:

5.1 an application form completed online

5.2 a copy of the applicant’s birth certificate or passport signed by a JP, accountant, doctor or solicitor as a true and valid copy. The JP, accountant, doctor or solicitor may not be a family member.

5.3 a brief letter of recommendation from the applicant’s current music teacher, together with a signed statement from the applicant’s music teacher confirming the student’s name and that the video is all the student’s own work, plus a character reference from a person outside the applicant’s family

5.4 a character reference from a person outside the applicant’s family

5.5 a fifteen-to-twenty minute video performance:

• The video will show the applicant playing a solo piano performance of his or her choice (not with an orchestra or any other musicians), demonstrating his or her abilities with different composers and styles. Only solo piano works will be accepted. No duo piano, no trio, quartet, quintet or orchestra will be permitted.
• The video will be dated and certified by the applicant as being an unedited performance by the performer. It must be made within 4 months of the submission of the application.
• The video must be a single unedited recording of the applicant.
• The applicant will clearly state his or her full name at the beginning of the recording.
• The performer’s face, hands and body, along with the piano keyboard must be continually visible in the application video to confirm the identity of the applicant.
• The applicant will provide a written program together with the approximate duration of each piece.
• The video should be submitted as an online file to the Foundation or via a YouTube link. Security settings should allow access with permissions set so that files can be viewed and downloaded without requiring login details.

5.6 Recipients of a Theme & Variations Foundation award will subsequently need to provide receipts and tax invoices to support evidence of how funds were spent in accordance with the scholarship award requirements.

6. Judges and judging process

6.1 Applications will be reviewed by an independent judging panel.

6.2 The decision of the board and artistic assessment panel shall be final and legally binding, and no correspondence will be entered into with regard to the judges’ decisions.

6.3 All information must be accurate and subject to verification. If at any time after the awards have been granted to any applicant, a majority of judges determines that the entry did not comply with the conditions of entry or eligibility, the award may be withdrawn. In the event that this occurs, other entries submitted may be reconsidered for the award; otherwise no award will be made in respect of that year.

6.4 Whilst it is expected that these conditions will be strictly observed, the Foundation reserves the right to waive compliance with or alter any conditions.

6.5 Providing NSW Public Health Orders for COVID-19 regulations can be complied with, a shortlist of pianists will be invited to give a thirty minute final audition recital on Sunday 3 November 2024 at the Theme & Variations Piano Services showroom, 451 Willoughby Road, Willoughby NSW 2068.

6.6 There may be an audience at this event. Finalists may be accompanied by a guest.

6.7 If it is decided that we are unable to comply with NSW Public Health Orders as they relate to concerts and performing to maintain a COVID-19 safe environment, final auditions will be submitted by 2pm AEDT on Sunday 3 November 2024 as a thirty minute final audition video performance. All conditions will be as in clause 5.5 above.

7. Publicity and promotion

7.1 By applying for this award, the applicant agrees that the Foundation may use any material or image/s from any entry to further advertise, support and in other ways publicise the Theme & Variations Foundation Awards.

7.2 It is expected that the recipient/s of the award will be announced by the end of November 2024. As soon as practicable after the announcement, all applicants will receive notification to their email address.

8. Award enquiries

Award enquiries should be directed to: info@tandvfoundation.com.au

Personal information provided during the course of the application and interview process may be held by the Foundation and used in connection with the judging of the application.

As part of its privacy policy, the Foundation ensures that all information pertaining to applicants is held securely and in strict confidence.