The Opera Club of The Villages is encouraging graduating seniors in the tri-county area to apply for the club’s scholarships by March 1. 

The club sponsors the Harold Schwartz Music Scholarship, established in 1997 to fund the study of music for students in Lake, Marion and Sumter Counties. Applications have been sent to the music departments of 62 local schools. Instrumentalists, including brass, woodwind, piano, percussion, strings, etc., and singers are eligible if they meet the following criteria: 

  1. Must be graduating from a Lake, Marion or Sumter County high school or academy in Spring 2024 with a minimum grade point average of 3.0.  
  2. Must be majoring or minoring in music at the college or university of the student’s choice during the next academic year.  
  3. Must be available to audition on Saturday, April 6, in The Villages. Applicants will be expected to perform one piece of published music.  
  4. Winners must perform at an Opera Club meeting at the Laurel Manor Recreation Center in The Villages on the evening of Thursday, April 25, to claim their awards. 

Auditions will take place in the Lincoln Room of the Laurel Manor Pool & Recreation Center, located at 1985 Laurel Manor Drive. On April 6, a panel of professional judges will adjudicate the auditions. Winners will be awarded their scholarships at the Opera Club meeting, Thursday, April 25, at Laurel Manor.  

First place will receive up to $12,000, second up to $10,000, third up to $8,000 and fourth up to $6,000. Funds are for tuition, lab fees, books or sheet music for the next academic year after the award only. Scholarship disbursements will be made in two installments payable to the college or university of the student’s choice. 

In addition to the four major scholarships, Study Grant Awards valued at $1,000 each will also be given to four students who performed well but did not receive the scholarship. Interested parties can download the complete scholarship by going to www.operaclubofthevillages.com. 

Those interested are urged to apply early, as audition schedule positions are limited. Applications must be postmarked by Friday, March 1, but are already available through high school music teachers, guidance counselors or from the Opera Club of The Villages website: www.operaclubofthevillages.com. Submit applications to: Ms. Pearl Kosa, Scholarship Chair Opera Club of the Villages 333 Colony Blvd., #306 The Villages, FL 32162.