How scholarships work at the Vernon Performing Arts Festival
In 2026, the Vernon Performing Arts Festival gave $4,000 in scholarships to 30 performers across Music and Dance. This article explains who chooses the winners, how performers qualify, and where the money comes from.
Who chooses the winners
The adjudicators do. After hearing every entry in a category, the adjudicator recommends which performers receive awards and scholarships. The board does not pick winners.
Scholarships and awards are presented at the Gala Awards Night each March. In 2027, the Gala is on March 11 at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre.
How to qualify
Only competitive entries can win a scholarship. Each discipline sets its own rules.
Music
- Enter at least two competitive classes. Ensembles do not count toward the two.
- Piano and strings: up to three top students in each Junior, Intermediate, and Senior category may receive a scholarship.
- Voice: scholarships may go to the top Classical and top Musical Theatre student in each Junior, Intermediate, and Senior category. The adjudicator may award more.
Dance
- Cash scholarships for the Highest Mark in Stage, Modern, and Classical
- Adjudicator Choice awards for Junior, Intermediate, and Senior dancers in Stage, Classical, and Modern
- Most Promising Junior, Intermediate, and Senior.
Trophies and bursaries for 2027 will be announced.
Speech and Drama
- Enter at least two competitive classes.
- The adjudicator looks at the performer’s top two marks of 85 or higher, not counting group entries. The final choice is the adjudicator’s.
- Categories are set each year based on entries. Full 2027 details will be in the festival program.
In Music and in Speech and Drama, performers aged 23 and older are not eligible for scholarships or awards.
Workshop and intensive scholarships
Some scholarships pay for further training. In 2026, partners donated workshop attendance scholarships at the 25 percent and 50 percent levels.
- Sol Dance Collective, founded by Jade DeLaronde, donated eight Sol Convention scholarships to VPAF dancers across all levels
- Nicole Byfield and Nate Fadear donated two Okanagan Summer Intensive scholarships to selected VPAF dancers.
Where the money comes from
Every scholarship is funded by a donor. That can be a Vernon-area business, a community member, or general donations to the festival. In the 2025 to 2026 budget, scholarships are a $4,000 line.
The 2026 scholarships were funded by Angelkeys Music Studio, Gail Hawke, Jade DeLaronde (Sol Dance Collective), Marilyn Brodie, Nicole Byfield and Nate Fadear (Okanagan Summer Intensive), Nicole and Mitch McMillan, Nixon Wenger LLP, Sunderland Dental, Vernon Community Singers, and the Vernon Performing Arts Festival Society. Thank you.
Fund a scholarship
A $500 gift funds a discipline-level scholarship. A $1,000 gift sets up a named scholarship for a level or category, with recognition at the Gala and on our website. A named scholarship can honor someone, or it can focus on one discipline or level.
To talk about a scholarship, email [email protected]. To give any amount, visit our donate page.
Vernon Performing Arts Festival Society is a BC Registered Non-Profit (Incorporation #S0081101). We are working toward CRA Charitable status. Donations are not currently tax-deductible.
See past winners
The 2026 awards page lists each scholarship, its winner, and its sponsor. The scholarships page has more on the program.