ESO, ECC offer scholarships to young musicians

Talented young musicians are encouraged to seek the Jean Hove Young Musician Scholarship offered by Elgin Community College and the Elgin Symphony Orchestra. Nominations must be made by a student’s teacher and received at ECC by Friday, April 1.

The institutions award the scholarship each year to develop the talent of a young musician, especially helping to nurture students of underrepresented backgrounds in the field of classical music.

The chosen student receives six semesters of free private instruction at ECC (one credit hour per term); free instrument rental for the duration of the scholarship period; and season subscriptions for three people to the Elgin Symphony Orchestra’s Classic Series for the duration of the scholarship period.

The student is also awarded a musical instrument upon successful completion of the scholarship program.

The scholarship is named after Jean Hove, a public school music teacher who helped found the ESO in 1950 and was a longtime supporter of music education in Elgin. The scholarship was created to honor Hove’s contributions to the development of area musicians.

Nominations must be completed by music instructors and band directors. Nominees must demonstrate outstanding musical and leadership potential; be currently enrolled in sixth to ninth grade within Elgin Community College District 509; have completed two years of musical training in their school band or orchestra; and have no more than one year of private music instruction.

Students with financial need are given additional consideration.

Instruments covered by this scholarship include the cello, clarinet, flute, French horn, oboe, trumpet, viola and violin.

Find brochure and nomination forms on the Elgin Symphony Orchestra website at elginsymphony.org, click on the “education and community engagement link. A new form must be used to nominate each student.

Send forms to: Jean Hove Young Musician Scholarship, Attn: Lisa Mola, Visual and Performing Arts Center, Room VPA 268M, Elgin Community College, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin, IL 60123-7193. Forms also can be faxed to (847) 608-5469.

After nominations are submitted, a scholarship committee reviews them and selects up to seven finalists. Those finalists are invited to an audition and interview in May. Finalists must also bring a 100-word essay explaining why they deserve or need the scholarship. The winning recipient is selected after this round.

For details, call (847) 214-7188.