The 2012 Scholarship

Applications are invited for this scholarship offered by the Wagner Society of Scotland in association with the Richard Wagner Scholarship Foundation [Richard-Wagner-Stipedienstiftung] in Bayreuth.

About the Scholarship

This annual scholarship is offered by the Wagner Society of Scotland, in association with the Richard Wagner Scholarship Foundation [Richard-Wagner-Stipedienstiftung] in Bayreuth, to a singer, instrumentalist, conductor or a student of those subjects, or of theatre studies including design and stage management, aged between 18 and 35 years old. Candidates must be professional musicians (or persons with a career in an aspect of theatre production) resident in Scotland, or Scottish-born students of any of the above subjects still at college or university, or full-time students (of any nationality) at a Scottish educational establishment. The successful applicant receives tickets for the Bayreuth Festival, a programme of tours and events there, and funds to defray the cost of travel expenses.

What are the aims of the Scholarship?

Wagner conceived of his festival in Bayreuth as a people's festival along the lines of those that took place in ancient Greece. Thus he wanted to make attendance completely free as had then been the case. Since this was not possible for understandable reasons, in 1882, a year before his death, he established a new fund that should facilitate "free attendance, if necessary including travel and accommodation costs for friends of my art" who visit the festival. Thus the Richard Wagner Scholarship Fund was established. It aims to broaden and deepen the notion of the Bayreuth Festival. To achieve this it enables attendance at several performances for "gifted up-and-coming musicians, singers or other artists, who might come into consideration in due course for the orchestra or stage at the Bayreuth Festival". Today this is financed with contributions from Wagner Societies around the world who are affiliated to the International Association of Wagner Societies [Richard-Wagner-Verband-International]. The Gesellschaft der Freunde von Bayreuth also gives a subsidy.

The 2012 Scholarship

What are the benefits of the Scholarship?

A fund has been established to enable a young artist to attend the Bayreuth Festival in 2012. The successful applicant will receive £900 to defray the cost of travel expenses, meals & accommodation. The winner will also receive tickets for Lohengrin 08/08/2012, Tannhäuser 09/08/2012 and Parsifal 11/08/2012. In addition the Richard Wagner Scholarship Foundation will arrange lectures, a tour of the Festival Theatre, visits to the Wagner and Liszt museums and other sightseeing and social events commencing on 7/08/2012.

Who can apply?

  • The Wagner Society of Scotland Scholarship is open to singers, instrumentalists, conductors, & students of theatre studies including design and stage management.
  • Candidates must be between 18 and 35 years old at 1st August 2012.
  • Candidates must be either Scottish born, resident in Scotland or enrolled as full-time students at a Scottish educational establishment.
  • Proof of talent is required in the form of a written endorsement from a theatre, college, academy, school, etc.

Interviews & Auditions

Dependent on the number of applications received and candidates' vocations, it may be necessary to audition or interview applicants, or to make further inquiries of their tutors/employers.

Rules & Conditions

  1. Applications for the 2012 Scholarship must be received by 30th November 2011 and will be acknowledged within three days of receipt.
  2. A Candidate can receive a Scholarship only once.
  3. The successful applicant is required to submit a short report to the Wagner Society of Scotland on their Bayreuth visit within a month of return. Singers and instrumentalists may be offered a recital opportunity by the Society.
  4. Tickets allocated for Bayreuth Festival performances will be issued on a strictly personal basis; i.e. they can neither be sold nor transferred to a third party. If for any reason the candidate cannot attend a performance, the ticket must promptly be returned to the Richard Wagner Scholarship Foundation.
  5. If the candidate cannot for any reason take up the Scholarship, the Society must be informed without delay. This will enable us to offer the place to another applicant.

Word documentApplications, on the form provided, should be sent to:
Iain Millar, 46 Easter Hermitage, Edinburgh EH6 8DR (iain.millar@leith46.plus.com).

The winner of the 2012 Scholarship will be announced in early February.