Opera Club of The Villages

Investing in young musicians

Harold S. Schwartz Music Scholarship Program

Awards, study grants, and performance opportunities for outstanding young vocalists and instrumentalists.

2026 recipients

$40,000 invested in the next generation.

Four scholarship prizes and four named study grants honored eight talented young musicians in 2026.

Meet the recipients
Recipients and presenters at the 2026 Harold S. Schwartz Music Scholarship ceremony

How it works

Talent meets opportunity.

  • Annual awards for college-bound vocalists and instrumentalists
  • Adjudicated auditions with professional judges
  • Performance opportunities with the Opera Club

Eligibility

Who may apply.

  • Graduating seniors in Lake, Marion, or Sumter County
  • A minimum grade point average of 3.0
  • Plans to major or minor in music
  • An adjudicated audition before professional judges

The 2026 competition has concluded. The next application cycle will be posted when available.

A growing legacy

Scholarship recipients

Explore awards from the four most recent recorded scholarship years.

Recipients and presenters at the 2026 Harold S. Schwartz Music Scholarship ceremony
Young musicians gathered at the 2026 scholarship ceremony
Two young musicians with saxophone and flute at the 2026 scholarship ceremony
1st Prize · $12,000

Josh Alim

2nd Prize · $10,000

Maggie Byrne

3rd Prize · $8,000

Avery McConnell

4th Prize · $6,000

Hector Martinez-Johnson

Additional recognition

2026 study grant recipients

$1,000 Study GrantJack Dasher

In honor of Geraldine Piscitelli

$1,000 Study GrantSidney Brooks

In honor of Mary Boczkowski

$1,000 Study GrantAlanna Desmarais

In honor of Pauline Pan

$1,000 Study GrantGreg Sherman

In honor of Frank Rich