With six of the country’s finest young violinists competing, the richest prize for violinists in Australia culminates in two highly contested days of public performances and a final performance with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

Australia's richest violin scholarship

Worth over $50,000, the Dorcas McClean Travelling Scholarship for Young Violinists is Australia's richest violin scholarship. It seeks to support the musical education of outstanding young violinists at the beginning of their careers.

The scholarship is open to all violinists aged 25 and under, who have been resident in Australia two or more years. The top six entrants, chosen by a panel of prominent Australian violinists, perform in two public concert rounds before the final, where the final three entrants perform solos with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

View the 2016 program

The legacy of Dorcas McClean

One of Australia’s most gifted violinists, Dorcas McClean (1917–1981) began her musical studies at the age of three at the New South Wales Conservatorium. By the age of twelve, Dorcas was hailed by critics as a child virtuoso after her performance of the Finale from the Concerto No. 2 in D minor by Wieniaski in Sydney.

Shortly before her death, Dorcas McClean expressed her wish to establish a scholarship to advance the musical education of young Australian violinists. Following the bequest of her estate, the Travelling Scholarships for Violinists were established by the University of Melbourne in honour of this brilliant musician and dedicated patron of the arts.

Learn about the scholarship