Michael Pilaar Memorial Music Scholarship
Applications for 2025 open 1 June and close midnight 30 June.
FOUR Scholarships with a value of $500 each will be available in 2025.
The purpose of the Michael Pilaar Memorial Music Scholarship is to encourage young musicians to pursue their interest and enjoyment in music performance, both vocal and instrumental, and to help them reach their potential. The focus is on classical music.
Criteria for applicants:
- The funds are to be used to support the development of an applicant’s musical skills. This could include a contribution towards instrument costs, a music camp, tuition, exam fees, etc.
- Applicants must be aged between 10 and 18 years of age as at 1 January of the year in which application is made, and currently reside in the Rotorua or Taupō District communities.
- Applicants must be New Zealand citizens or permanent residents.
Other important Information:
- Late applications will not be accepted.
- Donations must be used for the charitable purpose for which they were gifted.
- Successful applicants will be selected by the Geyser Community Foundation. The decision will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
- Successful recipients may be required to be available for interviews and to participate in promotional activities agreed with the donors. Information about the gifts and the way in which they have been spent may be used by the Geyser Community Foundation for promotional purposes.
- Successful applicants are encouraged to acknowledge the Geyser Community Foundation in their promotional activities and on social media. #geysergifts
- Scholarship certificates will be presented to the successful applicants at the Gift of Music Concert, to be held at Western Heights High School, in September each year. Successful applicants may also be invited to perform at this concert.
- Successful applicants may also be invited to perform at special awards functions to be held in Rotorua and Taupo.
- The gift may be revoked if the recipient’s behaviour is inappropriate or the recipient has breached conditions of the gift.
- It is expected that the recipient will use the gift within 12 months of receipt.
Reporting:
The successful applicants will be required to provide a written report about how they spent the grants and outline the impact it has made on their lives. Reports must be received by the Geyser Community Foundation within six months of receiving the grant.
Important Dates:
Applications open: 1 June 2025
Applications close: Midnight 30 June 2025
Review and decision-making: July / August
Notification of decisions: August / September
Celebration of Giving Awards: 11 September 2025, Rotorua & 9 September 2025, Taupō
Grant payment: 20 September 2025
Accountability Reports: 31 March 2026
For queries regarding your application please contact our Community Engagement Officer,
Leanne Rankin leanne@geysercf.org.nz
Apply here:
As our forms do not auto-save or be saved, we recommend completing your application in our Application Guide below, then coping this into our online form.
Michael Pilaar Memorial Music Fund – Application Guide
Applications are currently closed.
Please note: Once you have submitted your application you will receive a confirmation email ‘Thank you for your application’.
If you do not receive this, your application has not been successfully submitted. Please resubmit or email us at geyseradmin@geysercf.org.nz