Bill Wells Memorial Scholarship for Youth 2024 APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED. About the 2024 Scholarships The S.C. Bluegrass and Traditional Music Association is in its ninth year of awarding scholarships to young musicians from across the state of South Carolina. Named in memory of Bill Wells, the awards encourage and honor youth as they learn to play bluegrass or other traditional music on acoustic string instruments. The SCBTMA is a nonprofit organization that depends on donations and fundraisers to make the awards. Applicants must play one of the six acoustic instruments listed on the attached application form. Applicants must be in grades 7 through 12 during the 2024-2025 academic year. (Please note that applications will no longer be accepted from students in lower grades.) Besides bluegrass, applicants may play styles of traditional music such as old time, Celtic-style tunes, classic country, gospel, and folk. Past applicants who did not receive a scholarship may reapply; previous winners are not eligible to apply again. Applicants must reside in South Carolina. The scholarships are cash awards. Award amounts will be based on the number of applications received, the applicants’ talents and potential, and the funds the SCBTMA has available this year. Winners are asked to spend their award money on music related activities and supplies. Please Note These Important Dates: * Friday, Nov. 8, 2024 – DEADLINE for electronic submission of student’s Application Form, Letter(s) of Support, Brief Biography, and Video of applicant performing two songs. (See further instructions.) * Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024 – All applicants will be notified of the status of their application by this date. * Saturday, December 7, 2024 – PRESENTATION of Scholarships, 1 p.m. at Bill’s Music Shop and Picking Parlor in West Columbia. All applicants are welcome to attend, along with their families and friends. APPLICATION PROCESS Applicants must submit all of the following by Nov. 8, 2024: 1. Application Form (single page). 2. One or more Letters of Support, including from your music instructor if possible, in PDF format. 3. A Brief Biography that addresses the 5 topics listed below, in PDF format. 4. A Video of you performing your two songs. Singing is optional. See further instructions below. If you have questions, please send an email to BillWellsScholarship@gmail.com. Or you may call 803-237-2682. Be sure to mention “scholarship” if you leave a voice message. TOPICS FOR YOUR BRIEF BIOGRAPHY The applicant’s “Brief Bio” should be typed. We suggest one paragraph for each of the 5 Topics below. A. Your Music Background. Please tell how you began playing your instrument and the music you like to play. What do you like about bluegrass or other traditional music? Which musicians do you admire? If you sing, tell us about that too. Do you play other instruments? Include other information that you think is appropriate or interesting about your musical activities. B. How You Share Your Music. Who do you play music with or for? This could include recitals and performances, or playing with your brothers and sisters. Do you play for your family? Do you jam with friends (or anyone) or play with a group? Playing at church is great experience, as well as school clubs and musical groups. We’ve had applicants tell us about busking. C. Helping Others to Learn. Describe if you have helped someone else to play a musical instrument or sing with you. This could be a sister, brother, another relative, or a friend or classmate. There are organizations that encourage students to teach others. Teaching can be formal or informal. D. Your Future Plans. Share any plans you have to keep playing music. Picture yourself in about two years, and what would you like to be doing musically? If you’re close to graduation, do you want to pursue music afterwards? Maybe you’d like to teach, learn other instruments, try out for a school or a group, or learn to play like a particular musician. E. Your Other Interests. What else would you like to tell the scholarship judges about you? Please share your interests, hobbies, hopes and dreams. If you think there is something especially interesting about you, please share! GUIDELINES FOR MAKING YOUR VIDEO Your video recording is an important part of your application. Here are some guidelines to follow. * Introduce yourself clearly at the beginning of your video, and announce the songs you will play. (Also state the song titles at the bottom of your Application Form.) Your choice of songs will be judged. Please do not perform music that is not bluegrass or another traditional style. * Songs must be complete, as you would perform them live. Submitting a portion of a song will result in lost points when your application is reviewed. * You may have one accompanist with you, if you’d like. But make sure your accompanist plays background that does not overpower your playing and singing. (Videos of you performing before an audience or as a member of a group will not be accepted.) * If you sing, take care that your playing does not overpower your singing – and vice versa. * Your video volume needs to be sufficient that we can clearly hear you play. It’s good if we can easily see your playing technique, too. * We will evaluate your intonation, technique, tempo, and “stage” presence. Try to relax and have fun! * Please review your video before submitting it, to make sure it meets these guidelines. Also, make sure you are submitting the exact recording you want the Selection Committee to review. EMAILING YOUR APPLICATION Submit your complete application, all four parts, in one email. Email it by Friday, Nov. 8, 2024, to: BillWellsScholarship@gmail.com An email confirmation of receipt will be sent to you within 48 hours. If you have not received a confirmation by Monday the 11th, please send an email pointing this out to the same email address shown above. Or you may call 803-237-2682 and leave a message. Please mention “scholarship” in your message. General questions may also be emailed or telephoned to the above. Thank you for your interest in the Bill Wells Memorial Scholarships for Youth!