In 100 days, the Salzburg Festival & International Music Camp creative team, together with the chairman of the board of directors of Solway Investment Group, will select six finalists from Macedonia, Ukraine and Guatemala – two from each country. The finalists will become Solway music fellows and will be able to participate in the 2019 youth music camp in Salzburg free of charge.
42 candidates applied for the 2019 Solway Music fellowship in January of this year. In February, 39 applicants began their English language studies as the second step on their path towards the Stardrome – a one-week trip to the International Music Camp for creative youth in Salzburg.
To audition for the first selection round of the Fellowship program, the children of Solway company employees as well as students of Solway-supported art groups and educational institutions with skills in music, applicable art, theatre or any other type of creative performance, were asked to submit a 90-second video introduction presenting their creative talents to the Fellowship organising committee.
The organisers noted that the 2019 candidates have shown exceptional skills in choir singing, design, and playing the harmonica, trumpet, guitar, and piano.
All of the applicants who followed the application guidelines were offered a place at the ZaZa School for virtual English language classes. Lessons are taking place over Skype, three times per week, from February 2019 until May 2019. To qualify for the final round of auditions, candidates must complete 120 hours of the English language program. To complete the second step of the program, participants are required to attend at least 80% of the classes each month and show a high level of academic performance. The academic evaluation is performed on a monthly basis. During their English studies, Solway Fellowship candidates have a chance to interact with Solway fellows from other countries to discuss the challenges and expectations of the program.
To quality for the final audition, each candidate must provide the organising committee with a new 90-second video, in which the candidate introduces himself or herself, demonstrates his or her creative skills, and communicates his or her expectations about the camp in English.
The jury will select the winning fellows based on the quality of their stories, their enthusiasm and engagement in the language studies, English language skills, creativity, and art, theatre or music education, if applicable.