2024
Application Guidelines
Two Wilkinson Young Singers Awards — a first prize of $2,000 and a second prize of $1,000 — are awarded annually. Additionally, two first-prize winners will be invited to collaborate on a joint recital sponsored by WYSF. The recitals are held biennially in the Boston area, with the next one scheduled for the spring of 2025.
The deadline to apply for the 2024 competition is 11:59 pm EDT on April 1, 2024.
The application process is open to all singers between the ages of 20 and 30 who reside in the Boston area and are striving to make a career in music. Previous applicants who have not received awards from WYSF are welcome to reapply.
Applicants must submit the following to info@wilkinsonfund.org in a single email:
A brief current résumé and headshot
• Including address, phone number, and email address
Two video performances, totaling no longer than 10 minutes
Videos must be no more than one year old, cannot be edited for sound or video enhancement, but can be links or video files. These constitute 75 percent of each applicant’s score and should include:
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One selection in the Classical style (i.e., opera, operetta, oratorio, or art song)
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A second selection in a contrasting style (i.e., musical theater, the “modern” American songbook, or jazz)
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One of the two selections must be in a foreign language. This requirement must be met to be considered for the competition.
A thoughtful and reflective artistic statement
This portion of the application will contribute the remaining 25 percent of the total score and is crucial to the judging process. The statement, which has a limit of 400 words, should help adjudicators understand your personal musical story, mission, and passion. You can use these prompts or create your own with a similar theme:
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How and why you did you start singing?
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Why do you sing? What does it mean to you to perform?
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What was the most moving or rewarding musical experience of your life? Why?
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When did you know that singing was going to be your career path? What was the deciding factor?
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How do you define community in the context of your work as an artist? To what extent have you engaged community members as part of your singing career, and what impact have you seen?
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Based on what you’ve learned about Don Wilkinson, do you see parallels between your own path and vision and that of Don Wilkinson?
The WYSF Board of Directors will review all applications and select the awardees. All decisions made by the Board are final, including the decision not to make an award. Submission of an application does not guarantee receipt of an award. Winners of the 2024 competition will be notified by May 31, 2024.
For questions about the application process, please contact WYSF via email at info@wilkinsonfund.org. Thank you for your interest in the Wilkinson Young Singers Fund!