BRINDISI GRANT

VERA BRINDISI GRANT FOR 

ADVANCED STUDY IN PIANO AND VOICE

Application Deadline First Round  is 11:59 PM June 1, 2026.

Application Deadline second Round is 11:59 PM September 30, 2026.

Winners will be notified within two weeks of application deadline.

Application Deadline First Round  is 11:59 PM June 1, 2026.

Application Deadline Second Round is 11:59 PM September 31, 2026.

Winners will be notified within two weeks of application deadline.

This scholarship is made possible through the Vera S. Brindisi Fund at the Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties, which is dedicated to advancing musical studies for children and young adults. The scholarship is intended to provide financial assistance that allows students to pursue advanced study of piano and voice outside of Herkimer or Oneida counties. This can include support for individual study, attendance at summer programs/camps and/or higher education tuition assistance for private study. 

Applicants will ask for a specific amount of financial assistance, based on the costs of their program.

In order to ease the application process for you, instead of having you upload documents, we will ask you for links, so your documents must be stored online in the cloud service of your choice: Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud, Box, etc...Please be sure to set the permissions so that anyone with the link can access the files.

Alternatively, you may email the files to ttoglia@gmail.com, with "Brindisi Grant" in the subject line, but please only email as a last resort. Links are preferable.

1. high school or college transcript

2. promotional photo

3. performance video

Please see the complete instructions below, before beginning the application. 

1. Obtain the permission and the contact information (email and phone) of a music teacher or another arts-related professional who is wiling to provide a letter of recommendation on your behalf. You will have the option to copy the text of the letter into the form. Your teacher may also email the letter to ttoglia@gmail.com. If they  email the letter, please be sure to write "Brindisi Grant" in the subject line of the email.

2. Write a brief (3000 characters or less) written response about your musical plans and how this grant will help you accomplish your goals that you can copy into this application. Please answer the following in your essay: What is your inspiration?  Why do you want to study in your area of music? What are your goals both in and beyond your future education?  What are your plans for this grant and how will it help you achieve your goals?

3. A link to your current college or high school transcript.  The transcript does not need to be an official transcript. If you cannot provide a link please email the transcript to ttoglia@gmail.com. Be sure to write "Brindisi Grant" in the subject line of the email.

4. You  must record a 3-5 minute performance video of your choice of repertoire.  Please perform two selections that contrast greatly in style and technique.  The video should not exceed 5 minutes of music. NOTE:  The camera must be located so that your entire body is visible as you perform. You may upload the video to YouTube, Vimeo, Dropbox, Google Drive, or any other cloud service of your choice and provide the link in this application. It is very important that you set the permissions of the video to 'public' or  ‘anyone with the link.’ If we cannot easily access the video it may jeopardize your application.

5. OPTIONAL: Applicants may attach links to any other items to support your application, though you are not required to do so. They may also be emailed as an attachment to ttoglia@gmail.com and include "Brindisi Grant" in the subject line.

7. You will need to provide a link to a promotional photo. A 'head shot' is preferable, but a photo of you at the piano is also acceptable. Please provide a link or email as an attachment to ttoglia@gmail.com and include "Brindisi Grant" in the subject line.

8. Finally, you need to state how much money you are requesting from the fund. You will need to provide a general breakdown of your costs, so determine this before you begin.

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE APPLICATION