Scholarships

Nurturing the Next Generation of Local Musical Talent in Indian Classical Music
The Queensland Sangeet Mela Association (QSMA) is excited to announce our search for talented applicants and generous sponsors for our music scholarship program! This initiative aims to empower young, aspiring musicians to reach their full potential and further their journey in Indian Classical Music.

If you’re a budding vocalist, instrumentalist, dancer, or percussionist, we invite you to apply for this incredible opportunity. Our scholarship covers a diverse range of classical Indian music disciplines, including both Hindustani and Carnatic music.

We need sponsors to support this plan. By supporting this scholarship, you are not just helping individuals grow; you are investing in the future of Indian classical music and nurturing the next generation of local artists. This is a chance to make a lasting impact on our community’s musical landscape.

CONDITIONS OF ENTRY (2025):

As part of QSMA’s mission to foster Indian classical culture in Brisbane, several young artists will be granted scholarships supporting their lesson fees for the year up to $1800, and invited to perform at a QSMA event during the year. Each year one or two awards may be given in each of four categories (Vocal, Instrumental, Percussion and Dance), each in the two broad genres of Hindustani and Carnatic Sangeet.

Download the QSMA Scholarships Application Form (2025) here.
(Instructions on submitting your application are in the form.)

QSMA SCHOLARSHIPS – CONDITIONS

  • Two genres – Hindustani, Carnatic
    Four categories – Vocal, Instrumental, Percussion, Dance.
  • Applications close Friday 7th December, 2024. Winners will be informed by Friday 21st December, 2024.
  • Winners must be available to present 20 minutes performance at a QSMA event during 2025.
  • Winners in the Percussion category (eg Tabla, Pakhawaj, Miruthangam, Ghatam) may be requested to perform solo and/or accompaniment, hence must submit video evidence of both styles of performance.
  • Open to applicants born after 1st January 2000 (under 26 years old during 2025). Previous QSMA Scholarship winners are not eligible to apply in the same category. It is expected that applicants will be capable of performing at a high standard approaching professional level. We do not recommend that young children apply unless they are unusually talented.
  • Entrants must be Australian citizens or permanent residents for at least 5 years to be eligible.
  • Indian classical teachers are requested to choose just one student to apply for the scholarships each year.
  • Judging committee may not give an award in some categories if the quality of applications is deemed insufficient. The award may also be granted to any individual deemed worthy by the judging committee, although they may not have officially applied.
  • Past/planned study trips to India viewed favourably.
  • Applicants should submit the completed application form along with support material.
  • Compulsory support material – artist photo, biodata, and video file of applicant’s example performance.
  • Optional support material – press reviews, references from guru and/or other respected parties.
  • Entrants from outside the Brisbane region are eligible but must cover their own expenses to perform at our events.
  • Winners may choose their own accompaniment for the concert, or have accompanists arranged by the QSMA Committee. Please note there is no budget for paying these performers.

It is hoped that these annual awards will encourage young students of Indian classical arts to pursue their practice diligently year by year, practise regularly with other musicians, give classical performances at community events, visit India for the purposes of taleem and riaz, and aim to present themselves as artists with attractive photos, biodata and video. In so doing we hope to foster the development of Indian classical music broadly in the community – those who do not win may benefit more in the long term than those who do!

Requirements for 20 minutes performance

HINDUSTANI:

  • Vocal – minimum 1 Chhota Khyal or Dhrupad bandish; other pieces may be classical or semi-classical.
  • Instrumental – performance of one raga including alap and 1 or 2 gats.
  • Dance – Classical Kathak or Odissi performance including one item for laya component and one item for abhinaya component.  May use live accompaniment or CD, but preparation of live accompaniment will be viewed favourably.
  • Percussion – Winners in the Percussion category may be requested to perform solo and/or accompaniment, hence video should be submitted demonstrating both:
    : 10+ minutes solo with naghma
    : 10+ minutes demonstrating accompaniment of vocal or instrumental music

CARNATIC:

  • Vocal – 2-3 minute raga aalaap, rendition of a kriti, Niraval (2 rounds of slow tempo and 3 rounds of fast tempo and chauka kaalam, if capable) and Kalpana swaram. Optional Thillana to complete 20 minutes.
  • Instrumental – equivalent to Carnatic vocal repertoire above.
  • Dance – Classical Bharat Natyam, Kuchipudi or Mohiniyattam performance including one item for laya component and one item for abhinaya component.  May use live accompaniment or CD, but preparation of live accompaniment will be viewed favourably.
  • Percussion – Winners in the Percussion category may be requested to perform solo and/or accompaniment, hence video should be submitted demonstrating both:
    : 10 minute accompaniment of Carnatic classical vocal/instrumental, demonstrating capacity to accompany songs through a combination of basic nadais, copying of sangathis and playing appropriate theermanams.
    : 10 minute solo item structured as appropriate for the relevant school (potentially including different nadais) with a farans and mohora-korvai.

Video submitted in application should reflect these requirements.

Download the Rising Stars Application Form here.

For further information, please email awards@sangeetmela.org