Dorothy Van Waynen was a pianist and organist and member of the Berkeley Piano Club from 1955 until her death in 1995. She left a generous bequest to form a scholarship for aspiring musicians – students of acclaimed teachers or studying music at accredited institutions.
For many years, the Berkeley Piano Club hosted a Van Waynen Competition, alternating Piano with other instruments and voice bi-annually. Many accomplished professional musicians in the Bay Area and worldwide count a prize in the Van Waynen Competition as a coveted accomplishment.
After the pandemic in recent years, and in an effort to be more equitable to performers in all instruments, the Scholarships Committee of the Berkeley Piano Club has decided to open the award to VIDEO submissions in all instruments. This is a one-time PILOT year to determine if we reach the highest level of performers with an attractive prize.
PLEASE DOWNLOAD the APPLICATION here
In 2024, no Van Waynen Competition was held.
Winners of the 2023 Van Waynen competition for Piano
Parker Van Ostrand, 1st prize
Aliya Alsafa, Katie Liu 2nd prize and Marliave Award
YouTube Link