The Tavani Family Orchestra String Fellowship is a merit-based fellowship awarded to one MasterWorks Festival student who has achieved an exceptional level of musical performance on an orchestral string instrument. It is funded by the Tavani Family. A student is eligible to apply for the Fellowship after completing the general Festival application for the Orchestra Program in violin, viola, cello, or bass and receiving subsequent acceptance. Participation for the entire four-week Orchestral Program is required. Additional materials must be provided in order to be considered for the Fellowship (see below). If awarded, the Festival payment(s) made upon acceptance to the Orchestra Program will be fully refunded.
Students who have held the Tavani Fellowship in the past will not be eligible to apply for the award in subsequent years.
The Tavani Family Orchestra String Fellowship will be awarded by a selection committee from the pool of qualified applicants who have completed the audition and application requirements for the MasterWorks Orchestra Strings Program, and have submitted the Tavani Fellowship application with the required materials (see below) on or before 11:59 pm EDT, March 31, 2023.
The recipient of the Tavani Family Orchestra String Fellowship will receive tuition, room, and board in MasterWorks facilities. (He/she will be responsible for the non-refundable application fee, any applicable security deposit, any applicable shuttle fees, all travel expenses to/from MasterWorks, and any extra expenses, such as equipment, collaborative pianist fees, linen rental, souvenirs, etc.)
Applicants must submit the following by 11:59 pm EDT, March 31, 2023:
To be considered for the Tavani Family Orchestra String Fellowship, the applicant must submit a new audition recording, even if he/she is a returning MasterWorks alumnus. No exceptions will be made to the listed requirements. All materials must be submitted online by 11:59 pm EDT, March 31, 2023. (If you wish to verify eligibility, please email the Festival Administrator at sharalynn@christianperformingart.org.)
The recipient of the Tavani Family Orchestra String Fellowship is expected to fulfill the following requirements during his/her participation in the MasterWorks Festival.
*In the event that the recipient is not selected for the Concerto Competition finals, he/she will perform as a soloist in the Honors Recital, adhering to all guidelines therein, detailed on the MasterWorks website and student handbook.
A Statement from the Tavani Family:
“The Masterworks Festival holds a dear place in the Tavani family. Four of our six sons Nicholas, Michael, Stephen and Daniel, now professional musicians, were radically impacted as students there. At age five, Nicholas was inspired to study violin after seeing a young Lisa-Beth Lambert, currently with the National Symphony Orchestra, perform Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto with the Christian Performing Artists Fellowship (CPAF). CPAF birthed the vision for the Masterworks Festival in 1996 as a way of reaching the emerging generation of classical performing artists through focused Bible study and excellent musical training and performance. The boys grew up visiting the Masterworks Festival every summer, eagerly anticipating the day they could finally participate as students. From the earliest days of their training, Masterworks was a voice saying ‘Soli Deo Gloria!’ in contrast to a humanistic pursuit merely for the glory of man. One by one, the boys attended Masterworks, making life long friendships with Christian musicians, dancers and actors, as well as mentors. This growing international network has spurred them on to establish Bible studies at conservatories and festivals, share Christ with their colleagues in the world of the performing arts, and minister back to the body of Christ in worship. As parents, we’re grateful that Masterworks was a place where other Christians said, “You can follow Jesus in your calling as a musician.” In a broader sense, The Masterworks Festival models how to integrate vibrant Christian Faith with any career, a value our fifth son Matthew has embraced in his pursuit as an engineering student and music lover. And our sixth son, Jonathan, with special challenges – well, he celebrates the music and spirit of the Masterworks every time he comes! We’re grateful for the dedicated people who make the Masterworks Festival happen, ‘Inspiring Excellence, Increasing Faith’ in the lives of aspiring classical musicians and artists.”
Stephen: “MasterWorks instilled in me from a young age that pursuing excellence and beauty in music was a wonderful way to glorify God with the gifts he has given me. It also inspired me to spread God’s love and redemptive work to others in the music world. MasterWorks will always hold a special place in my heart for many reasons, the most important one being that I met my wife there!”
Michael: “For me, the Masterworks Festival is more than an event. It has been an integral part of my own spiritual journey, the starting point for some of my deepest friendships, and a wonderful place where believers can join together to glorify God through a shared artistic pursuit.”
