Verde Valley concert Association

About the VVCA Rising Stars Scholarship Program

In 1994, Vivian Wilpitz, a founding member of the Verde Valley Concert Association, and a handful of people from the Verde Valley decided that it was time to provide encouragement and a challenge for local music students. The VVCA Scholarship program began that year! The program allows local students to gain valuable performance experience and earn scholarship money to further their musical education.

In the spring of each year, the competition is held at a convenient Verde Valley location, usually at the Camp Verde Multi-Purpose Facility. Student are judged by outstanding music professionals from this area. Elementary division students (dance, piano and instrument) include students in 4th through 6th grades. They are awarded ribbons and a positive critique based on a rating of Superior, Excellent and Good.

Junior High (6th-9th grade) and High School (9th-12th grade) students are awarded scholarship money for first, second and third place in dance, piano, instrument and voice. Past scholarship money has been used to help pay for college tuition, summer music camp, private music lessons, and instruments. Former first-place winners are invited back to compete against other former first-place winners for the George and Ruth Pranspill Excellence in Music award. We are very thankful to Ruth and her late husband, George, for their generosity in providing this monetary award for outstanding music students.

Rising Stars Concert

A Rising Stars concert will be held March 30th 2008 at Mingus Union High School, giving the winners and some competitors the opportunity to perform before a live audience to gain stage presence. The awards earned at the Scholarship competition are presented at this free concert.

NAU Summer Music Camp Scholarships

In May of 2005, 10 talented music students were awarded scholarships by VVCA to attend this program in Flagstaff. Grants were received from The Arizona Diamondbacks Charities and Young Sounds of America for this purpose. With continued grant funding and the generosity of Verde Valley residents, this program will continue for years to come.

Applications for these scholarship programs are available by contacting the Verde Valley Concert Association Office at 928-639-0636.