Melba's Gift

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 32, 15 February 1935, Page 16

Melba's Gift

Scholarship for Promising Singers THIS month the first competition for _ the Dame Nellie Melba Bequest Scholarship for woman singers over the age of 17 years was hel@ at the Albert Street Conservatorium, Melbourne. The scholarship, derived from an income on £8000, is to be awarded annually, and ‘will be tenable for a period of 12 months, with: the possibility of an extension for a further two years at the discretion of the’ director, Mr. Fritz Hart, F.R.C.M‘In addition to the nominal valué of the scholarship of £109 for tuition, emoluments may be granted-the successful candidate towards reasonable travelling expenses, board, residence and maintenance and the purchase of books and musie for study. The competition is ‘open to women only, not necessarily of Australian ‘birth. There is no particular work set for applicants. Voice and general musical promise are looked for,. but choice of song or songs is left to. the candidates. A most intensive course of. study has been planned, including four lessons a week in singing, two lessons a week in second study, also languages, physical training, lectures on musical form and analysis, the history and aesthetics of music and other subjects likely to be of assistance to scholarship holders, Singing will be under the persona! tuition of Miss Mary Campbell, the chief study teached of the Melba School of Singing. The scholarship was made available in the hope that another Melba may arise. Dame Nellie Melba once wrote: "I. leave all my pupils at the Albert Street Conservatorium in the hands of my lieutenants in whom I have absolute confidence, and I wish it to be recognised that the vocal tuition they receive.is completely in accordance with my own methods." . So this greatest Australian singer of all time has left behind. her the chance of distinction, perhaps fame, for somebody of the hundreds whose voices are 2 little better than ordinarily "promisng,"*