2025 DONALD RUNNICLES MUSICAL ARTS SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITION
Grand Teton Music Festival will host the 8th Annual Scholarship Competition in honor of Music Director Donald Runnicles on July 26 & 27, 2025 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 be invited to perform for a panel of judges including Maestro Donald Runnicles at Walk Festival Hall. Three finalists will be chosen to compete for $50,000 in scholarship awards. The semi-finals and finals are free and open to the public.
Congratulations to the 2024 Scholarship Competition Award recipients!
- 1st Prize ($25K): Evan DePaolo (percussion) from Casper, WY; attending the University of Denver as a Music Performance Major
- 2nd Prize ($15K): Grace Meadows (mezzo-soprano) from Jackson, WY; attending the University of Utah as a Vocal Performance Major
- 3rd Prize ($10K): Ian Philip Cole (piano) from Pocatello, ID; attending the University of Idaho as a Music Performance Major
2024 Scholarship Competition: Stephanie Key, clarinet (GTMF & Dallas Symphony); Grace Meadows, mezzo-soprano (2nd prize); Music Director Sir Donald Runnicles; Evan DePaolo, percussion (1st prize); Ian Philip Cole, piano (3rd prize); Chiara Kingsley Dieguez (GTMF & Baltimore Chamber Orchestra/National Symphony Orchestra)
2025 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 next year.
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.
IMPORTANT DATES
Monday, March 3: Application period opens
Monday, May 5: Deadline to apply
Monday, June 2: Applicants notified of the first-round results
Saturday, July 26: Scholarship Competition Semi-Finals
Sunday, July 27: Scholarship Competition Finals
Click here for more information about video and personal narrative requirements.