The Margaret Schofield Memorial Scholarships are open to students who have completed their VCE at a government secondary school. They provide assistance to recipients to pursue further studies in music performance and composition.
The scholarship program was established in 2006 by the family of the late Margaret Schofield.
Applications for the 2024 scholarships are now closed.
Music Performance scholarship
Applications for this annual scholarship are invited from government school students of VCE Music Inquiry, VCE Music Contemporary Performance, VCE Music Repertoire Performance and/or VCE VET Music (Performance). Applicants must be soloists.
The selection panel will consider applicants who can demonstrate a commitment to music performance in recent years and to a future career in music performance. Students' study scores will be taken into consideration.
In 2024 the annual scholarship of $7000 will contribute towards the cost of tertiary education in music performance.
2022 recipients
Congratulations to Sujie Kim, Mia Robinson and Ava McDermott, the 2022 recipients of the Margaret Schofield Memorial Scholarship for Performance. Mia and Ava studied VCE Music Performance, VCE Music Investigation and VCE Music Style and Composition at the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School. Sujie studied VCE Music Performance and VCE Music Investigation at Virtual School Victoria; her home school was Glen Waverley Secondary College.
The scholarships were announced at the Top Class Music concerts held on Monday 21 March 2022 at Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank.
From Left: Sujie Kim, Fiona Cochrane, Margaret Schofield Memorial Scholarship Trustee, and Ava McDermott at Top Class Music 2022. Photo by Nicole Cleary.
Music Composition scholarship
Applications for this annual scholarship are invited from government school students of VCE Music Composition, VCE Music Inquiry, VCE Music Contemporary Performance, VCE Music Repertoire Performance and/or VCE VET Music.
The selection panel will consider applicants who can demonstrate a commitment to music composition in recent years and to a future career in music composition. Students' study scores will be taken into consideration.
In 2024 the annual scholarship of $7000 will contribute towards the cost of tertiary education in music composition.
2021 recipient
Congratulations to Lachlan Rae, the 2021 recipient of the Margaret Schofield Memorial Scholarship for Composition. Lachlan studied Music Style and Composition at Virtual School Victoria.
The scholarship was announced at the Top Class Sound concert held Friday 26 February 2021 at the Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne.
Fiona Cochrane, Margaret Schofield Memorial Scholarship Trustee, and Lachlan Rae at Top Class Sound
History of the Margaret Schofield Memorial Scholarships
Margaret Schofield
These scholarships were established by the family of the late Margaret Schofield in recognition of her achievements as a musician and her commitment to music education. The award of the scholarship is coordinated by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA).
Margaret Schofield's life and career are recognised through this scholarship which has been established by her family in recognition of her achievements and commitment to the provision of educational opportunities for all.
The scholarship is open to students who have completed their VCE at a government secondary school and provides assistance in funding ongoing music study at a tertiary institution.
Margaret Schofield was one of Australia's leading pianists. Her distinguished career included performances as a soloist, accompanist and actively teaching the piano for almost 60 years.
She studied music at the University of Melbourne and in London where she gave recitals for the BBC. During the 1950s and 1960s she had regular concert tours in Australia with visiting overseas musicians, such as violinist Jean-Pierre Wallez, cellist Edmund Kurtz and soprano Elisabeth Schwarzkopf.
In 1966 she was appointed Chief Study Teacher at the University of Melbourne Conservatorium. She lectured in accompanying and piano at the Melba Conservatorium, examined for the Australian Music Examinations Board and adjudicated at many eisteddfods and competitions.
In 1988 Margaret Schofield was awarded the OAM for her services to music and to the community. She continued to teach and play until almost 80 years of age.