Carnegie Hall Royal Conservatory Exchange

The Carnegie Hall Royal Conservatory Exchange was a joint education initiative launched in 2011 by Carnegie Hall and the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. It established a national standard for music achievement in the United States using the RCM's graded curriculum and exam system. The partnership ended in 2013, but both institutions now run independent fellowship programs that fund young professional musicians.

How the Programs Work

The original Achievement Program used the Royal Conservatory's syllabus and graded testing system, which already served 500,000 Canadians annually. Over 4,000 teachers and 70 music schools in the US signed up before the Royal Conservatory took sole ownership in 2013 and renamed it the Royal Conservatory Development Program.

Today, two separate fellowship programs carry on the spirit of supporting outstanding young musicians:

Carnegie Hall Ensemble Connect

Ensemble Connect is a two-year fellowship program run by Carnegie Hall, The Juilliard School, and the Weill Music Institute in partnership with the New York City Department of Education. It prepares young professional classical musicians for careers combining performance with teaching, community engagement, and entrepreneurship.

• Stipend: $37,600 over the two-year fellowship, plus health benefits
• Time commitment: Approximately 20 hours per week for 40 weeks per season
• Performance opportunities: Concerts at Carnegie Hall, The Juilliard School, and Skidmore College
• Application cycle: The 2027-2029 application opens in Summer 2026, with pre-screening due early December 2026 and live auditions in March 2027
• Application fee: $75 (fee waivers available)
• Eligibility: At least an undergraduate degree by September 1, 2027. A graduate degree is preferred. Fellows cannot be enrolled in a degree program during the fellowship. International applicants must have attended or taught at an American educational institution and be fluent in English.

Royal Conservatory Rebanks Family Fellowship

The Rebanks Family Fellowship and International Performance Residency Program at The Glenn Gould School in Toronto is a one-year, fully funded fellowship for postgraduate musicians.

• Tuition: Fully covered, no ancillary fees
• Living stipend: $8,500
• International residency: Up to $6,000 in funding for a European summer performance residency
• Faculty mentorship: Regular lessons with celebrated Glenn Gould School faculty, plus career coaching and networking with visiting artists
• Application timeline: Applications open October 1, due December 15 annually
• Age limits: Pianists and orchestral instrument applicants must be 28 or younger as of September 1. Vocal applicants must be 30 or younger.
• Eligibility: Requires a four-year undergraduate degree or performance diploma plus a master's degree or artist diploma, or commensurate performance experience.

Real-World Example

A violinist who completed her master's degree in 2026 could apply to Ensemble Connect in Summer 2026 for the 2027-2029 fellowship. If accepted, she would receive a $37,600 stipend plus health benefits over two years, perform in Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall, and partner with a New York City public school to teach and engage with students. Her total compensation package, including the stipend, health benefits, and access to rehearsal and performance facilities, would be worth well over $40,000.

Alternatively, a 26-year-old cellist could apply to the Rebanks Family Fellowship by December 15. If selected, he would pay zero tuition, receive $8,500 in living expenses, study with Glenn Gould School faculty, perform in recitals at Koerner Hall, and receive up to $6,000 to attend a European summer festival like Verbier or Prades. The total package would exceed $14,500 in direct funding plus tuition coverage.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

If you are a postgraduate classical musician seeking career development, both programs offer substantial funding without requiring you to take on debt. Ensemble Connect specifically builds skills in teaching and community engagement alongside performance, which makes you more competitive for academic and orchestra positions. The Rebanks Fellowship gives you an international performance residency in Europe, which expands your professional network beyond North America.

Start preparing your audition repertoire at least 12 months before the application deadline. For Ensemble Connect, you need a 30-to-45-minute pre-screening video and two letters of recommendation. For the Rebanks Fellowship, you need a video recording, transcripts, a musical CV, a statement of intent, two references, and a $150 application fee.

Eligibility Criteria

Ensemble Connect (Carnegie Hall)

• Young professional classical musicians
• Must hold at least an undergraduate degree by the fellowship start date (September 1). A graduate degree is preferred
• Fellows cannot be enrolled in a degree program during the fellowship
• International applicants must have attended or taught at an American educational institution and be fluent in English
• All instruments are eligible
• No specific age restriction published
• No membership requirements
• Applicants from underrepresented backgrounds in classical music are encouraged to apply

Rebanks Family Fellowship (Royal Conservatory)

• Postgraduate musicians in piano, voice, and orchestral instruments
• Must have a four-year undergraduate degree or performance diploma plus a master's degree or artist diploma, or commensurate performance experience
• Pianists and orchestral instrument applicants must be age 28 or younger as of September 1
• Vocal applicants must be age 30 or younger as of September 1
• Open to Canadian and international applicants
• No membership requirements
• Self-starters with exceptional talent, commitment, and passion for a performance career
• Applicants may only apply for one program per admissions cycle (cannot apply for both Rebanks and Artist Diploma)

Deadlines and Application Timeline

Ensemble Connect

• Application opens: Summer 2026 (for the 2027-2029 fellowship)
• Pre-screening deadline: Early December 2026
• Live auditions: March 2027
• Notification: Spring 2027
• Auditions are held every two years

Rebanks Family Fellowship

• Application opens: October 1 each year
• Deadline: December 15 each year
• Live auditions: Spring (for pre-screened applicants)
• Notification: Spring, prior to the September start date
• For the 2027-28 academic year, applications open October 1 and are due December 15

Past Recipients

Ensemble Connect Fellows (Selected)

Rebanks Family Fellows (Selected)

Step-by-Step Application Process

Ensemble Connect

1. Prepare a pre-screening video: Record a 30-to-45-minute video demonstrating your performance ability
2. Gather letters of recommendation: Obtain two letters of recommendation from professionals who can speak to your performance and teaching potential
3. Complete the application: Submit the application form, pre-screening video, and recommendations through the Carnegie Hall website when applications open in Summer 2026
4. Pay the application fee: Submit the $75 application fee (fee waivers are available)
5. Await pre-screening results: If selected, you will be invited to a live audition in March 2027
6. Attend the live audition: Perform required repertoire and participate in a chamber music session with current fellows and alums
7. Receive notification: Fellows are selected based on audition performance and potential for combining performance with teaching and community engagement

Rebanks Family Fellowship

1. Prepare a video recording: Record 30 to 45 minutes of performance for pre-screening
2. Gather application materials: Collect post-secondary transcripts, a musical CV, a one-page statement of intent, and two letters of reference attesting to your artistry
3. Submit application through Acceptd: Complete the online application between October 1 and December 15
4. Pay the application fee: Submit the $150 application fee
5. Await pre-screening results: Successful applicants are contacted for a live audition in the spring
6. Attend the live audition: Perform for the selection committee at The Glenn Gould School in Toronto
7. Receive notification: Selected fellows are notified prior to the September start date

Program Videos

Similar Scholarships

• ABRSM Scholarships - Study at the four Royal Schools of Music in the UK
• Anne-Sophie Mutter Foundation Scholarships - Individualized support for young string soloists
• Avery Fisher Career Grant - Career grants for instrumentalists in the US
• Music Scholarships Directory - Full directory of music funding opportunities

Related Opportunities

• ABRSM Scholarships for study at the four Royal Schools of Music in the UK
• Music Scholarships Directory for the full list of funding opportunities
• Music Schools Directory to find postgraduate programs worldwide
• Streaming Royalty Calculator to estimate your post-fellowship earnings
• Visit the Ensemble Connect page for official fellowship details
• Visit the Rebanks Family Fellowship page for Royal Conservatory details