Awards & Scholarships

This award is for students in Year 11 or above, who have spent at least 5 years on an instrument after musicianship, and who play at an advanced level. 

Recipients of this award have a citation outlining their achievements read out at the end-of-year concert and receive an OSMC Music Excellence badge.

Applications for 2024 are open now and close on Saturday 2nd of November. 

This award is for students in Year 11 or above who have demonstrated commitment to volunteering and giving back to OSMC. 

Recipients of this award have a citation outlining their contribution to OSMC read out at the end-of-year concert and receive an OSMC Service badge.

Applications for 2024 are open now and close on Saturday 2nd of November. 

David Leslie Thompson (Les) 8/9/1931 – 12/6/2024

Les was born in Dunedin where he started primary school and then moved to Glenham Primary School when his parents bought a farm there. Following primary school, Les attended Southland Technical College in Invercargill as a boarder.

Les was a diligent student with a sharp intellect and a formidable memory and an almost insatiable thirst for knowledge. While at high school, whatever Les had planned for himself in life, fate intervened. When he was 14 and part way through his school year Les had to take time away from school to help run the family farm. He never returned to school and farming became his life.

Because his formal education was interrupted, he dedicated the rest of his life to learning and educating himself in his interests. He read endlessly, he took cooking lessons, and learnt to fly at age 50!

Les had started piano lessons at age 5 and was a wonderful pianist, but as an adult he also took formal music lessons to learn the saxophone, and piano accordion lessons to advance his playing skills. He was passionate about music and continued to learn new pieces and genres of music for the rest of his almost 93 years.

He played in numerous musical groups, and for many years played in dance bands along with his wife Lesley.

In our family, every one of us played musical instruments and like both of our parents, we went to formal weekly music lessons for most of our school lives.

At the ripe age of 92, Les was still giving music lessons to his two daughters every Saturday morning, one for saxophone, the other for piano accordion.

It was Les' wish to be part of a fund that provides access for people to learn music no matter their age or stage in life.

If you are lucky enough to be chosen to receive funds towards your musical journey

– Enjoy and take this advice from Les "keep practising."

This scholarship is a one-off payment made to help financially support a current student, or OSMC graduate currently tutoring at OSMC, who is entering into tertiary education the following year. 

Preference will be given to those who are planning to continue their music studies at a tertiary level the following year but may also be awarded to students studying in other areas at tertiary level. 

Successful applicants will be selected by the Out of School Music Classes Management Committee and notified by email after the closing date.  

Applications for 2025 will open in Term 3.