Gordon and Jean L. Petitt Annual Music Scholarship Competition

This scholarship is designed to give musically gifted students the opportunity to perform with the Cleveland Pops Orchestra on the stage of Severance Hall, and also to receive a cash award.

Entry is open to all students up to age 18 residing and attending school or homeschool in the seven-county Greater Cleveland region, namely the counties of Cuyahoga, Lake, Geauga, Portage, Summit, Medina or Lorain. Applicants may be of any age up to 18, but must not be attending college or university.

Contestants can be singers, dancers, or instrumentalists.They must be prepared to perform a full-length musical selection from memory not to exceed 10 minutes. The piece selected must be available to be performed with symphony orchestra.The choice of the selection may be drawn from standard popular music repertoire, including songs, dances or instrumental solos found in Broadway musicals, jazz or light classics.

The first prize winner of the competition will perform with the Cleveland Pops Orchestra at one of their regularly scheduled concerts at Severance Hall or Playhouse Square, and will receive a $1,000 cash award. The second prize winner will perform with the Cleveland Pops Orchestra at an outdoor concert or special event and will receive a $500 cash award.

The 2021 Cleveland Pops Competition will be accepting only virtual video applications this year.

Please be sure that the applicant, instructor, parent or guardian has thoroughly read the rules and requirements that govern this competition.

The application and video must be received by Personnel Manager, Brianna Ferris, at bferris@clevelandpops.com no later than Friday, November 19, 2021.