Performance Scholarship – Music
Pymble Ladies’ College offers a number of Performance Scholarships – Music, providing full or part remission from academic tuition fees (excluding extras) to current (internal) and external students entering Year 7.
The awarding of scholarships is determined by portfolio submission, an audition, results in the scholarship examination and successful interview. All candidates must register and sit the Academic Assessment Services (AAS) examination.
Eligibility criteria
Candidates are required to:
- Be in Year 5 and younger than 12 years of age on 31 December of the examination year.
- Be Australian Citizens or International students who have a valid Australian visa. Overseas Student subclass 500 visa holders are not eligible to apply.
- Commence in Term 1 2029 if successful.
- Have completed the following AMEB Grades or equivalent:
- AMEB Grade 6 (or equivalent) or above for piano.
- AMEB Grade 6 (or equivalent) or above for violin/viola and cello.
- AMEB Grade 3 (or equivalent) or above for double bass, wind and brass.
Please note, vocal submissions are not accepted. Voice as a second instrument may be taken into consideration.
Additional information
How to apply — First round
Candidates are required to:
- Register (but not pay) for the Junior Academic Scholarship through Academic Assessment Services, in order to be considered for the Performance – Music scholarship.
- Submit a 300–500 word autobiographical essay indicating their special interests and the contribution they would make to the life of the College.
- If your daughter is only applying for the Performance Scholarship – Music (and not a Junior Academic Scholarship), wait until contacted by the Music Department about auditions before paying the registration fee to sit the exam.
Submissions must include:
- Completed online 2029 Performance Scholarship – Music form (including photo).
- Supporting evidence.
- Copies of the candidate’s Semester 2 2026 and Semester 1 2027 school reports and Year 3 NAPLAN results.
- Music teacher’s reference letter, emailed directly to the Enrolments Department at enrol@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au.
- Successful first-round candidates will receive an invitation to a second round, which includes an audition. Candidates invited to audition should then complete their registration through Academic Assessment Services and pay the registration fee if they have not already done so.
How to apply — Second round
Auditions will be conducted within two weeks of applications closing, and will be 10 minutes in duration.
Scholarship inclusions
The scholarship covers full or part remission of tuition fees (excluding extras) for the duration of the student’s enrolment at the College. All other expenses are to be met at the full rate. Expenses such as textbooks, music tuition, co-curricular sport and activities, uniforms and laptop levies are not covered under this scholarship.
Successful scholarship recipients who are not current Pymble students will be required to:
- Pay a $2,000 bond when accepting the scholarship within 48 hours of offer. This bond will be put towards the Term 2 Fee Instalment in 2029. The bond will be forfeited if the student does not commence at the College.
- Submit an online Enrolment Application form and pay the Application Fee of $440 within 48 hours of offer, and the Enrolment Acceptance and Entry Fee of $4,400 within two weeks of the scholarship acceptance. These fees are not refundable.
Expectations of recipients
- Successful candidates will be required to participate in Music Ensembles and will undertake Music as an elective subject through until the Higher School Certificate (HSC).
- Excellent pianists who are also willing to take on instrumental lessons in an ensemble instrument nominated by the school will also be seriously considered. The nominated instrument will be agreed prior to acceptance of any scholarship offered.
- We recommend scholarship applicants tour the College prior to sitting the scholarship examination, to assist with the decision to accept the scholarship within the 48-hour timeframe.
- Scholarship recipients are expected to uphold Pymble’s five core values (Care, Courage, Integrity, Respect and Responsibility) and represent the College with pride. Scholarships are reviewed annually, and it is the College’s expectation that students maintain their high-performance levels and represent the College as and when requested.
- The College Board reserves the right to withdraw a scholarship from any scholarship holder. Scholarships are awarded at the discretion of the College. The results of the Academic Scholarship test are not shared and feedback for unsuccessful applications will not be given.
Application dates
- Registrations for 2027 and 2028 Performance Scholarship – Music have closed.
- Applications open on 27 April 2027 for 2029 Performance Scholarship – Music.