Scholarships

ESMAR Scholarships

The Higher School of High Performance Music announces a scholarship program for candidates who wish to pursue higher music education at ESMAR, in accordance with the following: REGULATORY BASES:

1. DESCRIPTION OF THE SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED

The scholarship program for candidates wishing to pursue higher music studies at the ESMAR High Performance Music School from the 2026/27 academic year onwards will be as follows:

1. ESMAR will award a set of scholarships to the selected students for a total amount of 100.000 euros.
2. The scholarships will subsidize part of the total cost of tuition at ESMAR. The rest of the tuition fee will be paid by the student if they do not obtain a 100% scholarship.
3. The scholarship will be maintained for the four years of the Bachelor's degree at ESMAR, provided that the students meet the minimum objectives established by said grant.
4. The distribution of scholarships will be as follows:
   
   • 90.000 euros for students specialising in Interpretation and Pedagogy (all courses).
   • 6.000 euros for students specialising in Management.
   • 4.000 euros for students specialising in Production and Management.
5. The tribunal will propose to the school management the students selected to receive a scholarship, as well as the percentage of the scholarship awarded in each case. The ESMAR Board of Directors will definitively approve the tribunal's proposals.
6. For reasons of equality and balance, the same student may not enjoy both an ESMAR scholarship and an AIE scholarship at the same time.
7. Some of the scholarships may be voided if no candidate is selected.

2. REQUIREMENTS FOR BENEFICIARIES

Scholarship recipients must meet the following requirements:

1. To have completed the pre-registration for the entrance exams for the 2026/27 academic year at ESMAR within the period from February 1 to March 31, 2026.
2. To be selected by the evaluation jury in accordance with the established procedures.
3. To be enrolled in at least 60 credits and pass them in each of the four courses as a requirement sine qua non to continue receiving scholarships throughout the entire period.
4. Obtaining the scholarship will be subject to the applicant passing the entrance exam in June and enrolling in Higher Music Education at ESMAR.
5. For students transferring their records, they must have made the transfer and reserved a place for the 2026/2027 academic year from February 1 to March 31.

3. SELECTION PROCESS

1. The selection process for scholarship recipients will be carried out in two phases:
   • The preliminary phase will consist of sending to ESMAR a sound and image recording of a work or fragment of difficulty appropriate for the first year of higher music education, with a maximum duration of 10 minutes. The jury will select from among all the applicants the candidates who will go on to the final phase.
   • The final phase, for all specializations, will consist of a live performance audition at ESMAR. The audition will require a repertoire of at least 15 minutes in length, containing a minimum of two pieces from different styles. The jury may choose which piece or part of a piece to listen to, with each candidate having approximately 10 minutes to perform. These auditions will take place during the month of April. The date and time of the auditions will be confirmed at least 10 days in advance.
   • The ESMAR organization will provide an accompanying pianist for the candidates. Requests should be made via email the day after notification of advancement to the final phase, detailing the repertoire and attaching the necessary materials for the pianist.
   • Applicants for the Direction speciality must submit a video of themselves conducting a group performing a piece or movement lasting between 10 and 15 minutes. For at least half of the duration of the video, the camera will record the candidate from the front. They must also submit a report justifying their merits in order to be worthy of one of the scholarships.
   • Applicants for Production and Management positions will be exempt from the above tests; they will only need to submit a project.
2. The jury will be chaired by the Academic Director of ESMAR, or their designee, and will include a minimum of two ESMAR professors selected by the ESMAR administration. The youngest member will act as secretary, and the others as members.
3. The jury's selection criteria will take into account the difficulty and interest of the repertoire presented, as well as the technical and interpretative quality of the candidates.
4. Once the auditions have taken place, the jury will select the candidates who will be awarded each of the scholarships.
5. The jury's decision will be communicated to interested parties during the month of May. The jury's decision is final.
6. The jury, in addition to selecting the beneficiaries, will create a waiting list, and in the event that a beneficiary renounces the scholarship or does not enroll in ESMAR, the scholarship will be reassigned based on said waiting list.

4. COMMITMENT OF SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

The beneficiaries will accept the scholarship by signing the Esmar Scholarships contract and will assume the following commitments:

1. At least 60 credits must be taken per academic year; if credits are recognized for any of the enrolled subjects, the amount will not be deducted from the total price.
2. Successfully complete higher music education at ESMAR and maintain enrollment for the four academic years of the course.
3. Participation in all band and orchestra events scheduled by ESMAR is mandatory.
4. Participate selflessly in musical activities agreed upon by ESMAR.
5. Include in your curriculum vitae or any document describing your professional career the receipt of these scholarships or grants at ESMAR.

5. APPLICATIONS AND REGISTRATION DEADLINES

1. Applicants for scholarships must register by filling out the following form: CONTACT FORM, within the period from February 1 to March 31, 2026, which will include the following documentation:

• Application signed by the candidate's legal representative, including complete details: name and surname, ID number, postal address, telephone number, email address, age, instrumental or singing specialty.
• Sound and image recording with the characteristics specified in Annex I of this call.
• Proof of having registered for the ESMAR entrance exams before March 31, 2026.
• The personal data of applicants will be processed in accordance with the provisions of data protection regulations, as detailed in point 6.
• The ESMAR Board of Directors will be the body responsible for resolving and interpreting any issues not covered in the Bases. Its decisions will be final.

6. DATA PROTECTION

The personal and academic data of applicants will be processed by GLOBAL EDUCATION INITIATIVES, SL, as the Data Controller, in accordance with the provisions of Regulation (EU) 2016/679, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and Spanish Organic Law 3/2018, on the Protection of Personal Data and Guarantee of Digital Rights (LOPDGDD). The purpose of processing your data is to manage your application and process your registration in the scholarship award process. The legal basis for this processing is Article 6.1.b of the GDPR, as it is necessary to implement pre-contractual measures at the request of the data subject. We will retain your data during the award process and subsequently for the periods necessary to address any potential claims. If you are awarded the scholarship and enroll, your data will be included in your academic record and retained according to applicable legal timeframes. We will not disclose your data to third parties, except where required by law. We inform you that you can exercise your rights of access, rectification, portability and erasure of your data and limitation or opposition to its processing, by sending a communication to [email protected]  You can also file a complaint with the competent authority (www.aepd.es) if you consider that the treatment does not comply with current regulations.