The Bettine McCaughan Scholarship will take place Saturday 29 August 2026 in Box Hill, Melbourne. Applications for entries are now open.
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 & 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.
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- 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, the ANATS Victoria Award ($500) will be given at the final.
All correspondence to bms@anats.org.au
