Skip to Content
find events + tickets support the music

Donald Runnicles Musical Arts Scholarship Competition

The Grand Teton Music Festival will host the 9th Annual Scholarship Competition in honor of Music Director Donald Runnicles on July 18 & 19, 2026 in Jackson, Wyoming.

The competition is open to graduating high school seniors from Wyoming, Idaho or Montana who are pursuing a music degree in college. The first round is a pre-screened video submitted online.

Six semi-finalists will perform for a panel of judges including Maestro Donald Runnicles at Walk Festival Hall. Three finalists will compete for $50,000 in scholarship awards and the first-prize winner will be invited to perform as a soloist with the Wyoming Symphony Orchestra (WSO) in its upcoming season. WSO performance details to be discussed following the conclusion of the competition. The semi-finals and finals are free to attend and open to the public.

  • 1st Prize: $25,000 & a soloist performance with the WSO
  • 2nd Prize: $15,000
  • 3rd Prize: $10,000

2025 Scholarship Competition: José González Granero, GTMF clarinet; Jennifer Ross, GTMF violin; Kimi Kawashima, GTMF piano/accompanist; Sir Donald Runnicles, music director; Shelby Cox, violin (1st place); Benjamin Zielinski, flute (2nd place); Charles Snellman, cello (3rd place)

2026 APPLICATION INFORMATION AND GUIDELINES:

The competition is open to graduating high school seniors from Wyoming, Idaho and Montana who will pursue music as their primary course of study at college, university or conservatory. Applications for the 2026 cycle will open on March 2, 2026.

APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS

To be eligible for inclusion in the competition, applicants must:

  • Be a high-school senior graduating this spring.
  • Have resided in either Wyoming, Montana or Idaho for at least two years prior to the application deadline.
  • Be accepted as a music major in either performance or education at an accredited four-year college recognized by the National Association of Schools of Music, or a conservatory with a widely recognized national profile, subject to approval by the Scholarship Committee, with plans to attend next school year. Any scholarship funds awarded may only be used towards tuition at such an institution for the student to pursue the advanced study of their chosen music major, including certain musical development programs included within that course of study.
  • Submit an audition video and personal narrative along with your application. View the video and narrative guidelines here.

IMPORTANT DATES

Monday, March 2: Application period opens

Monday, May 4: Deadline to apply

Monday, June 1: Applicants will be notified of first-round results

Saturday, July 18: Scholarship Competition Semi-Finals

Sunday, July 19: Scholarship Competition Finals

If you have any questions about the scholarship competition, please contact Ashley Hernandez-Salinas, Community Engagement Manager, at 307.732.9962 or ashley@gtmf.org.

The Donald Runnicles Musical Arts Scholarship Competition is generously funded by anonymous donors. We are profoundly grateful for their support.

Congratulations to the 2025 Scholarship Competition Award recipients!

  • 1st Prize ($25K): Shelby Cox (violin) from Laramie, WY
  • 2nd Prize ($15K): Benjamin Zielinski (flute) from Florence, MT
  • 3rd Prize ($10K): Charles Snellman (cello) from Helena, MT