Albert Lea Civic Music has announced the Helen W. Wipplinger Organ and Piano Lesson Scholarship and the Jerdet Summer Music Camp and College Scholarships audition date will be May 27. The scholarships are opportunities for students to have extra study on their instrument of choice.

The Helen W. Wipplinger Organ and Piano Lesson Scholarship is made possible by the generosity of the late Helen W. Wipplinger, an accomplished musician and music lover, to promote and encourage the education and training of future church pianists and organists.  Scholarships are available to any student in the United South Central and District 241 school districts and any adult in Freeborn County. The scholarship is for one year of private lessons on either the piano or organ from a qualified private teacher. Scholarships will be given out to those who fulfill the obligations of the scholarship and demonstrate ability and promise at the audition.  Because of Wipplinger’s interest in preparing musicians as organists for churches, organ scholarships will be given priority. Scholarships may be renewed upon yearly audition.  Auditions will be performed before three judges. All information and rules for auditions are in brochures which can be found at www.AlbertLeaCivicMusic.com, Southwest Middle School, Albert Lea High School and will be available at the Civic Music Concert Friday. All applicants will be presented in an informal celebratory recital for the Civic Music Board the following spring when the scholarship is complete.

The Jerdet Scholarships are for students in any community where Albert Lea Civic Music tickets are sold. The summer music camp scholarships allow students to go to an area music camp to continue their music studies. Two college scholarships for students in their second, third or fourth year of musical study are also available. There are scholarships for music and non-music majors. This year the amount for a music major scholarship has been raised to $5,000. There is a $12 registration fee if students do not have a current Civic Music ticket. The audition deadline is May 6.  For more information, contact Eileen Nelson Ness at 377-2075.

The 2016 Scholarship Recipients Recital will be at 6:30 p.m. June 1 at First Presbyterian Church in Albert Lea.