Music Scholarship - Springfield

The Illinois Symphony Guild of Springfield will hold its annual Music Scholarship Auditions at 1:00 PM on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Springfield. Auditions are open to all members of the Illinois Symphony Youth Orchestras (strings, woodwind, brass, or percussion)

Students auditioning should come prepared to play one selection of their own choosing up to 5 minutes in length. Students must provide their own accompanist unless the music was originally composed as an unaccompanied piece. Students must supply two complete copies of the music for the judges, as well as accompaniment. Number the measures of your composition to assist the judges in their comments. First-place winners from last year may not compete again this year with the same instrument unless the student is moving from the Junior Division to the Senior Division. Videotapes and other electronic media will not be accepted in place of this audition. 

Students may not participate in both the Springfield and Bloomington-Normal Symphony Guilds' scholarship auditions. Contestants will be notified by email of their audition times by Thursday, March 5, 2026.

The following awards may be used either for Youth Orchestra tuition, music lessons, or summer music camps:

Senior Division:  Grades 9-12  
1st place $400  |  2nd place $350  |  3rd place $300

Junior Division:  Grades 5-8
1st place $400  |  2nd place $350  |  3rd place $300  

2026 Scholarship Auditions
Saturday, March 7, 2026 | 1:00 PM

Westminster Presbyterian Church 
533 S. Walnut St. (Walnut at Edwards), Springfield, IL  62704

Application Deadline:  Monday, March 2, 2026

Applications should be submitted to Dee Dee Gain, Guild Member.
Email:  [email protected]
Phone: (217) 572-1372
2053 Cardinal Dr, Springfield, IL  62704