Richard-Wagner-Stipendienstiftung - Richard Wagner scholarship

What the Richard Wagner scholarship gives you

In Germany, there is the fully funded trip to the Bayreuth Festival, the famous summer festival featuring Richard Wagner operas. This is a one-off benefit in kind, not a monthly payment. It comprises:

• Free admission to up to 3 festival performances
• Free accommodation in modern shared flats (hotel options are also available)
• A supporting programme: a welcome barbecue, receptions with invited guests and former scholarship holders, a guided tour of Bayreuth, free introductory talks and free admission to the Richard Wagner, Franz Liszt and Jean-Paul museums
• A place at the annual International Scholarship Concert

The trip lasts for around one festival week in August. The scholarship is awarded by the Richard Wagner Scholarship Foundation, which awards around 250 scholarships worldwide each year. If you live in Austria, the Wiener Verein will put you forward.

Who can apply

• Field: You are undertaking a course of study in music or the performing arts: singing (all vocal ranges), composition, conducting, an instrument, stage direction, dramaturgy, set design or related subjects such as musicology or cultural management.
• Age: You are between 18 and 35 years old.
• Talent proof: You can ask a theatre, a conservatoire, an academy or a school to provide you with a written recommendation confirming your talent.
• One time only: You have not yet received this scholarship. You can only receive it once.
• Nationality: Applicants of all nationalities are welcome to apply. If you live in Austria, please apply via the Wiener Verein.

How to apply

You apply by email to the Richard Wagner Association Vienna. Send the application form (a PDF you download), a CV, a recent photo, your recommendation, and a short personal statement about your interest in Wagner's work. The deadline is 30 September for the following summer's festival. The association then proposes suitable candidates to the foundation.

How realistic are your chances?

The Wiener Verein awards no more than 4 scholarships annually across its four categories; consequently, the pool of local applicants is small and the selection process rigorous. If you are a suitable young singer, musician or performing artist with a strong recommendation, you have a genuine chance of success. A clear, personal statement on Wagner and your artistic background is more important than a lengthy CV; please therefore submit your application carefully and by the deadline.