Kennedy Center VSA Young Soloists Award

Scholarship Sponsored by Kennedy Center

Overview Each year the VSA International Young Musicians Award recognizes outstanding young musicians with disabilities from around the world. Soloists and ensembles working in any style—classical, jazz, hip hop, rock, etc.—are welcome to apply. Who can apply - Age: You must be 14–25 years old at the application deadline. - Disability: “Disability” is broad. Eligible applicants may have visible or physical conditions, sensory needs, or less visible conditions such as anxiety, ADHD, chronic illness or pain, PTSD, dyslexia, and other forms of neurodivergence. For formal definitions, see the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act. - Ensembles: Groups of 2–5 members may apply. All members must meet the age requirement and at least one member must have a disability. Financial stipends are awarded only to the ensemble members who have disabilities. What the application asks for - Basic contact details. - A short statement (250 words maximum) about your musical background and how the program will benefit you. - Links to three performance videos (see rules below). Video submission guidelines (important) - You must provide three musical selections, each up to 10 minutes long. - Try to choose performances that show your range as a musician. - Winners will perform live, so submit recordings that accurately reflect your current playing—preferably recent live performances (within the last year). - The application platform accepts only YouTube or Vimeo links. If you need an accommodation, contact us. YouTube link troubleshooting - Use the full "youtube.com" URL. Shortened "youtu.be" links (often produced by the share button) are not recognized and will produce an “Unsupported Format” error. - If you get that error, open the video in a new browser window, copy the full "youtube.com" address from the address bar, and paste that into the application. - If the problem persists after trying this, please contact us for help. Key dates for 2026 - Virtual sessions: April 25, May 30, and June 27, 2026. Additional virtual activities will be scheduled with participants and mentors. - In-person activities at the Kennedy Center (Washington, D.C.): July 23–27, 2026. Need more help? - Application 101 Webinar: Tuesday, October 21 at 7:00 p.m. ET — tips and answers to common questions. - For more information or to request materials in an alternative format, call 202-416-8898 (voice) or email vsainfo@kennedy-center.org. A quick teacher’s tip: prepare your three best, recent performances and double-check your YouTube links well before the deadline—small technical mistakes are the most common reason applications get held up. Good luck!