Submissions will be accepted through April 15, 2016, at the Community Foundation of Mount Vernon & Knox County for the Fifth Annual Vaughn Wiester Music Scholarship. Any graduating high school senior residing in Knox County, who intends to continue the study of music at the college level, may apply for the $2,500 scholarship.

Preference will once again be given to applicants who will declare an academic major, or minor, in instrumental or vocal music; however, consideration will also be given to non-music majors or minors, who will combine some academic study of music at college with continued extracurricular performance of music, according to Community Foundation of Mount Vernon & Knox County Foundation executive Director Sam Barone.

Applicants need only submit a one-page letter summarizing their musical performance experience to date, and state their intentions for post-secondary music education. A letter of recommendation from a faculty member, or from a private music instructor, may be attached to letters of application, if desired.

Letters of application and letters of recommendation should be postmarked, or hand-delivered to the Community Foundation of Mount Vernon & Knox County Foundation by the deadline, along with an audio CD (mp3 or other popular format) containing two to three minutes of solo vocal or instrumental performance (or ensemble performance, if the applicant’s performance is clearly discernable), preceded by a descriptive audio introduction of the student and the performance setting.

A panel of music professionals, including Mount Vernon native Vaughn Wiester, will review all application materials and recommend a scholarship recipient to the Community Foundation of Mount Vernon & Knox County Foundation Board of Directors.

The Community Foundation office is located on the third floor of First-Knox National Bank Main Branch, 1 South Main Street, Mount Vernon.