The Bill Verdier Irish Music Scholarship Application

The Bill Verdier Irish Music Scholarship is now accepting applications for 2025 from young musicians seeking financial assistance to advance their skill in and understanding of Irish traditional music. The award is to be used to help support costs related to tuition, travel, and lodging at a music school, festival, or workshop. A short list of suggested venues follows, but applicants may also propose a different venue or course of study.

USA and Canada

-- Baltimore Irish Trad Fest, Baltimore, MD

-- Catskills Irish Arts Week, East Durham, NY

-- Swannanoa Gathering Celtic Week, Swannanoa, NC

-- Boxwood Festival (Canada), Lunenburg, Nova Scotia

-- Fleadhs: Mid Atlantic, Midwest

-- Tionols: Northeast, Southeast, St. Louis, West Coast

Ireland

-- Willie Clancy Summer School, County Clare

-- South Sligo Summer School, County Sligo

-- Cruinniú na bhFliiúit, County Cork

-- Belfast Tradfest, Belfast

-- Joe Mooney Summer School, County Leitrim

-- Feakle Trad Festival, County Clare

-- O’Carolan Harp Festival and Summer School, County Roscommon

-- Féile Cheoil Larry Reynolds, County Galway

Eligibility

Applications will be accepted from legal residents of the U.S., aged 16 to 25 years old (as of March 1, 2025), who have been playing and studying an Irish traditional melody instrument for at least three years. In addition, applicants for an international educational opportunity must have a valid passport. Selection will be based on the expected benefit to the student and to the broader Irish music community.

Applications will be accepted until late winter 2025 or until an applicant has been selected, so applying early is recommended.

Please provide the following details (fields with * are required):

(Applicants not able to fill and sign this form online may download a PDF here and apply via email to billverdierscholarship@gmail.com. If you submit via email, be sure to attach a PDF for Question 6 and a scanned copy of the Terms and Conditions with signature. )

First Name *

Last Name *

Address *

Address (continued)

City *

State *

Zip Code *

Phone *

Email Address *

Your age on March 1 2025 (applicants must be 16 to 25 years old as of this date to qualify) *

Applicants for international educational venues must have a valid passport. If this applies, please provide the expiration date of your current passport below. Otherwise enter NA. *

Preferred way to contact *

Phone

Email

Any

1. Describe your interest and involvement in Irish traditional music (ITM). For example, how did you first become interested in ITM? Which musicians do you feel have had a large influence on your playing and your approach to ITM? (suggested max 3-4 paragraphs) *

0/4000 characters

2. What educational venue do you propose to attend and why? What do you hope to gain as a musician by attending? (suggested max 2 paragraphs) *

0/3000 characters

3. Please state the funding amount you are requesting (maximum $1500) and a list of expected expenses, including tuition, travel, and lodging. (suggested max 1 paragraph) *

0/2000 characters

4. How will your attendance benefit your local Irish music community? (suggested max 2 paragraphs) *

0/3000 characters

5. Please provide a short description of and a link to an online audio or video clip of you performing (could be on YouTube, Google Drive, or any other website). This can be informal and does not need to be anything beyond you playing your instrument. *

0/2000 characters

6. Please upload a PDF including a letter or letters of recommendation from someone who knows you well. This should ideally be someone who can comment on your musical history as well as your interest in Irish Music. Maximum file size 0.5 MB. *

Terms and Conditions

In submitting an application to the Bill Verdier Irish Music Scholarship (BVIMS), applicants agree to the following terms and conditions.

All funds received from BVIMS will be used exclusively for the purposes listed in the announcement. This includes tuition, travel, and lodging costs needed to attend the venue.
Receipts for authorized expenditures equaling or exceeding the amount received from BVIMS must be submitted to the BVIMS board via email or surface mail no later than one month after the venue.
If for any reason, the award recipient fails to attend the venue, all funds received from BVIMS must be returned no later than one month after the venue.
The successful applicant will provide proof of age, safety contact, signed release of liability, and other information as requested.
The successful applicant grants BVIMS permission to use, without payment or consideration and for the purpose of increasing awareness about the Scholarship, his/her likeness in a photograph, video, or other digital media, and a summary of his/her experience at the venue. (The BVIMS board also encourages, but does not require, the recipient to provide photos and videos while at the venue and to post about their experience on their own social media outlets.)

*

Yes, I consent to the terms and conditions described above.