Education & Scholarships
Nurturing the next generation of artistic talent has been a goal of the Sunriver Music Festival ever since it was launched four decades ago. This goal is continually met in multiple ways:
Below are details for the Festival’s programs that help strengthen music education in our community.
Free Young Artists Scholarship Concert
Friday, June 6, 2025, 7 PM
Community Bible Church at Sunriver
1 Theater Drive
Featuring the 2025 Young Artists Scholarship recipients. All are invited; tickets are not required. Just show up and be inspired by the future of music.
Raise the Baton!
Raise the Baton is the annual fundraising party raising the vital funds for the Young Artists Scholarships. Click here to learn more about Raise the Baton and to reserve your seat; read on to learn more about the Young Artists Scholarships program.
Young Artists Scholarship Program
Throughout its 29-year history, Sunriver Music Festival’s Young Artists Scholarship program has awarded over $750,000 in scholarships to 172 exceptional young classical music students from throughout Central Oregon. In 2024 alone, 15 musicians aged 13-24 were awarded a combined total of $35,800 in scholarships to aid with expenses related to college tuition or private music lessons.
Types of scholarships available:
- College level, conservatory tuition, or one Masters program – up to $5,000 per year
- Advanced private studies with an approved teacher – up to $2,000 per year
- Approved music camp scholarship to be used in the summer of 2024 – up to $2,000
Click here for more about Young Artists Scholarships and to apply.
Bravo to the 2024 Young Artists Scholarship Recipients!
- Fiona Curley, soprano, 20
- Aurora Dixon, mezzo-soprano, 16
- Mateo Garza, violin, 24
- Aaron Goyal, guitar, 17
- Spencer Holliday, 18, piano
- Juliana Ives, oboe, 16
- Carly King, soprano, 24
- Ian McNally, oboe, 13
- Lucinda Mone, mezzo-soprano, 19
- Megan Nave, violin, 13
- Jacob Nenow, piano, 20
- Noah Ochander, trombone, 23
- Halle Phay, piano, 17
- Gabriel Reed, piano, 24
- Matthias Santucci, piano, 19
Masterclasses
The annual Summer Festival always features a variety of masterclasses for young advanced students and there are also masterclasses at Piano Showcase. Masterclasses give opportunity for students to receive or observe one-on-one instruction from the highest echelon of performers in their instrument. Please contact us for more information on applying to perform in a future masterclass. Masterclasses are open to the public and observers are welcome.
Mindful Music Moments
“At Rosland Elementary School, the entire student body gathers in the gym to eat breakfast. Then the students line up by class, sit down and listen to classical music. They focus on deep breathing and calming the body. Just this brief time has proven to calm the group of kiddos and get them ready to learn. A giant THANK YOU to Sunriver Music Festival for offering a unique and healthy way to help students learn.”
Studio to Schools at La Pine Middle & High Schools
Studio to Schools was a multi-year grant initiative supporting 18 collaborative projects between schools and community arts organizations to design and deliver sustainable arts education opportunities that have the potential for replication. Through this project, The Oregon Community Foundation aimed to increase arts opportunities for underserved youth and to support communities in strengthening their networks and capacity to offer year-round arts education.
Sunriver Music Festival was among one of the 18 projects selected throughout the state of Oregon to receive the five-year Studio to Schools Grant supporting the development of band programs at the La Pine Middle and High Schools and provides ongoing support for implementing music and art education into the daily school curriculum.
So what does this look like in reality?
Middle & High School Band: Thanks to this Studio to Schools grant and partnership with Sunriver Music Festival, the band, taught by Michael Chavarin, has been able to grow to include students from 6th to 12th grade, has new uniforms, updated print music, new music stands and chairs, and continues to expand.
Artists in Residence: Art classes welcomed professionals in photography, printmaking, papermaking, and more, leading special multi-week residences and after-school clubs.
Guitar Club: With a beginner class and an advanced class, Guitar Club grew with such great popularity that they met even throughout the summer. Thanks to this Studio to Schools grant, Sunriver Music Festival hired a guitar teacher to come to La Pine every week.
Drama Programs: In 2017, La Pine Performing Arts achieved a milestone achievement in presenting their first full-length musical in years. Since then, most all shows have had sold-out performances and is a grand success to the greater La Pine community.
Jazz Choir: Comprised mainly of students in the upper classes, and thanks to support from this grant, Michael Chavarin is empowered to conduct a successful jazz choir in which all students are required to audition. The choirs purchased robes and are able to continue expanding their music library.
Three Rivers School in Sunriver
Sunriver’s local K-8 school has a thriving music program. In addition to the elective Band and Choir and Guitar classes, every student has music classes as part of their regular curriculum, taught by the excellent Rebekka Nores. Sunriver Music Festival has partnered with Three Rivers School throughout the years to help purchase and maintain instruments and accessories, orchestra chairs, printed music, and much more, with the help of grants from Sunriver Women’s Club, Sunriver Rotary, and others.
After School Orchestra introduces 4th and 5th graders to violin, viola, and cello. These kids, most all who have not played an instrument before, learn about string instruments and technique, and have opportunities for group workshops and scholarships for private lessons, thanks to a scholarship fund from Bennington Properties.
Would you like to partner with the Festival in strengthening music education in South Deschutes County?
Donations of any amount are gratefully accepted. You can direct your donation toward the Young Artists Scholarships or to the music education programs at Three Rivers and La Pine Schools.
You may specify how you’d like your donation designated in the comments field after clicking “Add to Cart.” Thank you!