YAF Merit Scholars
The YAF Merit Scholars program is a highly-selective invitation-based scholarship that recognizes and awards exceptional talent in classical music. Each season, successful applicants receive full tuition waivers to all YAF programs, are featured prominently in recitals and masterclasses, and may be invited on special performance tours. YAF Merit Scholars represent the highest possible standards of classical music, and are expected someday to step into major leadership roles in furthering classical music, both on stage and off.
​​​Students whose applications demonstrate extraordinary artistic accomplishment and strong future trajectory may be nominated to further audition for the YAF Merit Scholars Program by our faculty. Invited applicants then participate in an in-person audition and interview in front of a panel of jurors who make final recipient decisions. Representing not only YAF, jurors are selected from respected external institutions and may include artistic directors, conservatory professors, members of major orchestras, or established soloists. As jurors may vary from year to year, each recipient selection reflects not only ouststanding current ability, but alignment with the evolving standards of excellence that extend beyond regional achievement.​​
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Nominated candidates are expected to answer the following example questions in their in-person interviews:
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What role does playing classical music serve in your life currently?
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Where do you see yourself artistically in the next five to ten years, and how can YAF be one of those steps towards those goals?
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After moving on from YAF, what college/conservatory program(s) do you see yourself enrolling in, and how do they align with your long term goals?
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Aside from playing your instrument how else do you see yourself contributing to furthering the arts?
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If music weren't in your life, what other career paths would you choose, and why?
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Candidates may be asked additional follow-up questions by the juror panel
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YAF Merit Scholarships are awarded on a per-season basis, and must be renewed each year through a similar audition process. While all YAF applicants are automatically considered, it is exceptionally rare for a student to receive Merit Scholar Audition invitation their first year of participating in YAF. Interviews and auditions take place prior to each upcoming season, and invitations are extended the final week of June prior to the start of each season in August.
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Please review the audition requirements below by instrument for the 2026–2027 (August – May) season. Requirements are subject to change between seasons.
