Alberta International Band Festivals CALGARY EDMONTON
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JOHN K. NIKEL MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP north
APPLICATION Guidelines — 2012

SPECIFIC TO:
Current Grade 12 students or individuals who graduated from high school in 2011. Applicants MUST reside in the northern portion of the Province of Alberta. This includes all points north of the City of Red Deer.

AMOUNT, NUMBER AND TIMING OF SCHOLARSHIPS:
The John K Nikel Scholarship is valued at $2,500.00. One scholarship will be awarded annually in the South and one in the North of the province. The awards will be presented during the Alberta International Band Festival.

OVERVIEW:
In 1971, Mr. John Nikel had a vision for a band festival that would provide an opportunity for young Albertans to perform and learn in a positive, educational environment. This vision resulted in the first Alberta International Band Festival (then the Alberta Stage Band Festival) with 8 jazz bands performing in the first year. Now, some 40 years later, the Festival annually hosts more than 300 school and community concert and jazz bands in Edmonton and Calgary and is recognized for its commitment to education through world-class adjudicators and excellent performance venues. In keeping with the original vision of Mr. Nikel, the festival continues to be managed by volunteers, mostly band directors, in both Edmonton and Calgary as a not-for-profit venture.

Mr. Nikel passed away on January 11, 2008, leaving a huge legacy of support for the Arts in Alberta. Mr. Nikel continued to advocate tirelessly for music education, particularly band programs in schools until the end. The John K. Nikel Scholarship has been established as a legacy of this commitment. This scholarship will assist a young Albertan with aspirations of being a band director to pursue their post-secondary studies.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:
All applicants MUST meet the following criteria:

  1. Be a resident of Alberta and reside in Northern Alberta (including all points north of the City of Red Deer).
  2. Be a current grade 12 student or have graduated from high school in 2011.
  3. Demonstrate a strong desire to become a band director.
  4. Be entering a post-secondary institution in the fall of 2012 in a faculty and program appropriate for becoming a band director (most likely music)
  5. Submit a 250 – 500 word essay, clearly outlining why the applicant wishes to pursue a career as a band director.
  6. Have a strong academic record.
  7. Provide three letters of reference. At least one of these MUST be from a music teacher.
  8. Demonstrate potential for success, strong citizenship qualities and leadership ability through these reference letters.

APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCESS:
Each year, prior to the Alberta International Band Festival, application forms and related materials will be made available to band directors and potential candidates via email and on the AIBF website. Applicants will be required to submit their applications so they are received by the assigned deadline each year. For 2012, the deadline is Thursday, March 1.

The successful applicant will be selected based on the strength of his/her application by the AIBF Scholarship Selection Committee. The decision of the Committee will be final.

AWARD DISBURSEMENT:
The successful applicant will be notified by telephone and in writing. A certificate of acknowledgement will be presented to the recipient at the Feature Concert for the Alberta International Band Festival in Edmonton on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 at the TransAlta Arts Barns at 7 PM.

The scholarship itself will be paid when proof of registration in an appropriate post-secondary institution for the fall of 2012 has been received by the Alberta International Band Festival. The scholarship monies will be paid directly to the post-secondary institution towards tuition and fees. In all matters concerning the eligibility and payment, the decision of the AIBF Scholarship Committee shall be final.

DOWNLOAD 2012 John K. Nikel Memorial Scholarship North Application Form

residents of EDMONTON and area MUST remit applications NO LATER THAN thursday, march 1, 2012.

SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION TO:

The John K. Nikel Memorial Scholarship North
c/o Rob Speers
17939-57 Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta   T6M 1X6

or FAX to:

780-438-1465    
ATT: Rob Speers