2026 Portland Rossini Club Scholarship Competition
Winners of Lucia Wright Piano Scholarship:
First prize, Anthony Ayer; Second prize, Grant Kelly.
Winners of Emily K. Rand Instrumental Scholarship:
First prize Dakota Supana Jones; Second prize Soleil Huang-Dale.
Winners of the Marie Thomas Scholarship:
First prize for both Thea Dugas, viola and Phoebe Evans, flute; Honorable Mention, Nessa Sammuel, violin.
Winners of the Barbara Littlefield Scholarship:
First prize, Aberdeen Brickett, Honorable Mention, Hope Abbot Eaton and Antonia Grassi.
OVERVIEW
Deadline to apply was May 29th, 2026
Notification of audition time was given on June 12, 2026
Auditions took place June 20th, 2026.
Scholarship Overview Flyer {Please *note deadline date has been extended to May 29.} Please read or save this PDF, but do read the rest of the complete Scholarship page for detailed instructions, application choices and contact information if you have questions.
The Portland Rossini Club holds a scholarship competition for Maine high school juniors and older to assist them in funding their higher education in music.
With the cost of a college education exponentially increasing, the Portland Rossini Club feels it is important to award scholarships to assist Maine students in their pursuit of higher education in music. The scholarship competitions, with awards in voice, piano, and other instruments, is typically held every other year in June in Portland, Maine. A new award (Marie Thomas Awards) has been added in 2026 for a junior or senior who is not yet college bound, but shows great promise in a musical career.
To make a real difference in the lives of music students from Maine, please help these budding musicians pursue their dreams by donating to our scholarship fund. Funds are raised through concert ticket sales, member dues, investments, and predominantly from your generous donations. Please help by donating to this fund!
THE SCHOLARSHIPS
The Rossini Club’s annual scholarship competition for music students includes the following categories:
- Emily K. Rand Instrumental Scholarship
The Emily K. Rand Instrumental Scholarship was established in 1932 in memory of the Portland Rossini Club’s third president, a vocalist, who presided in a distinguished manner for 25 years. - Lucia A. Wright Piano Scholarship
The Lucia A. Wright Piano Scholarship was established in 2001 as a bequest of pianist Lucia A. Wright, a member in good standing for 55 years. - Barbara C. Littlefield Vocal Scholarship
The Barbara C. Littlefield Vocal Scholarship was created in memory of the Club’s longtime treasurer, vocalist Barbara Littlefield. - Marie Thomas Award
The Marie Thomas Award was established in 2023 as a bequest of a benefactor and advocate of the arts in the Greater Portland area. It is for a Maine junior or senior high school student who shows outstanding music promise. High school pianists, vocalists, and instrumentalists are eligible for this award.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
These scholarship competitions are open to all residents of the State of Maine.
Applicants must be high school juniors or older and be planning further musical study in the Fall of 2026 at any accredited music school, college, or university.
Juniors and Seniors in high school are eligible for the Marie Thomas Award.
Previous first place winners of the Rand, Wright, or Littlefield scholarships may not apply.
WHAT IS EXPECTED AT THE AUDITION?
- Applicants in each competition must perform at least two compositions or movements representing two different periods as follows: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and/or 20th/21st Century. Candidates studying other than classical music must perform one classical selection. A repertoire sheet, which lists each work and/or movement plus composers’ dates must be submitted. Please indicate the publisher and edition of each selection.
- The total performance should be at least ten minutes and is not to exceed fifteen minutes.
- Applicants must provide their own accompanists. The Rossini Club Scholarship Committee will furnish a list of suggestions for local accompanists, who must be available to play on Saturday, June 20, 2026. Electronic accompaniment is permitted under certain circumstances.
- Vocalists must perform ENTIRELY BY MEMORY.
- Pianists and Instrumentalists must perform AT LEAST ONE SELECTION FROM MEMORY.
- One published edition of the music must be provided for the panel of three judges
Competitions took place on Saturday, June 20, 2026 beginning at 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at St. Luke’s Cathedral, 143 State Street, Portland ME 04101.
APPLICATION RULES
Applications for Rossini Club Scholarship auditions were DUE ON MAY 29, 2026
- These scholarship competitions are open to all residents of the State of Maine.
- Applicants must be above the age of 17 who are planning further musical study in the Fall of 2026 at any accredited music school, college, or university.
- Previous first place winners of the scholarships may not apply.
- Applicants in each competition must perform at least two compositions representing two different periods as follows: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and/or 20th/21st Century.
- The total performance should be at least ten minutes and is not to exceed fifteen minutes.
- Applicants must provide their own accompanists.
- Vocalists must perform entirely from memory; Pianists and Instrumentalists must perform at least one selection from memory.
- One published edition of the music must be provided for the panel of judges.
SCHEDULE
The complete application packet, including teacher affidavit, and program selections, plus $30 non-refundable entry fee (check payable to Portland Rossini Club) must be postmarked by May 29, 2026.
Mail to:
Portland Rossini Club Scholarship Chair
27 Nicholas Ct.
Portland ME 04103.
The packet* can be scanned and submitted to Scholarship Chair’s Email: sabiolabow42@gmail.com by the deadline
(*NOTE: the original documents must be supplied on the day of the competition along with the $30 entry fee.)
Applicants will be ineligible to compete if the application packet is incomplete.
Special scheduling requests must be submitted in writing and will be honored if possible. Contestants will be notified of their performance time.
A total of $4,000 will be available for first and second prizes in each of the first three competitions.
$2,000 will be available for the Marie Thomas Award which will be awarded separately from the other three scholarships.
The judges reserve the right to distribute the prize money as they see fit, or not award a prize.
Please bring on audition day:
- Entry fee if it hasn’t been paid
- One published copy of your repertoire
- A short bio and a link to a head shot
APPLICATION FORM
The 2026 PRC Scholarship Applications are below for downloading.
(Please note, the deadline has been extended from May 22 to May 29, 2026) Please choose one Scholarship to apply for:
OR
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Contact Scholarship Chair: Susanna Adams
Contact Phone, Texting Preferred: (207)318-7465
Email: sabiolabow42@gmail.com
Deadline to apply is May 29nd, 2026.
Notification of audition time will be given on June 12, 2026.
Auditions will take place June 20th, 2026.
PAST WINNERS
View our Past Scholarship Winners, which can be found here.
DONATE TO THE SCHOLARSHIP
If you would like to donate to the Scholarship Fund, thank you so much. Click here to Donate.
