Paul McDermott Violin Scholarship 2023 – Sunday 18 June

Today young Victorian violinists are invited annually to apply for the scholarship that bears Paul McDermott’s name but few know the story behind the man and the scholarship.

The scholarship was created in 1980 by an anonymous local music lover and benefactor. Paul McDermott was chosen as the dedicatee for the scholarship as he was a much loved local violinist and conductor. He served as the chief conductor of the Zelman Memorial Symphony Orchestra from 1960 – 1973 and was founder and president of the Australian Musicians’ Guild.

The guild was established in 1971 and gave regular concerts including Music in the Round which became a fixture in the musical life of Melbourne from 1972 to 1985. It involved a whole weekend of music at an historic venue such as Werribee Mansion or the Abbotsford Convent. This also became the perfect event to showcase the talents of the annual recipient of the Paul McDermott scholarship where they had the chance to play alongside professional Australian chamber musicians and international guests.

The Music in the Round concerts unfortunately came to an end when Paul McDermott died in 1985. Until that year he had continued to work tirelessly as both artistic director and a busy performer. The Australian Musicians’ Guild also folded in 1996 at which time the running of the scholarship was entrusted to AUSTA.

In recent years there have been two resurrections of Music in the Round, one by oboist Jeff Crellin at Monash University, and another for the 10 year anniversary of the Abbotsford Convent Foundation in 2014 directed by Chris Howlett. The legacy lives on with a prestigious award to add to any young violinist’s biography, a prize of $1500 to aid further study, and a public performance at an AUSTA event. Violinists that reside in Victoria and are younger than 15 years on July 1st 2021 are invited to apply for this year’s scholarship.

Bibliography: Cooke, Max. The Australian Musicians’ Guild [online]. Australian Journal of Music Education, No. 9, Oct 1971: 47-48.

Cost to enter: $35

More details to follow