Do you know a kid with outstanding musical talent who could use a little support? The National Repertory Orchestra in Breckenridge aims to help local young musicians take their skills to the next level with its Summit County Music Lesson Scholarships (SCMLS).
“This opportunity opens up a new world for kids who already play an instrument,” says NRO Director of Artistic Administration and General Manager Izabel Zambrzycki. “Let’s say they started a music program at their school and they want to dive deeper. For families who don’t have the financial ability to make this happen, we’re providing a needed resource.”
Thanks to support from the Summit Foundation and Breckenridge Social Equity Advisory Commission, the Music Lesson Scholarships offer up to $30 per week toward music lessons between Oct. 6, 2025 and May 22, 2026. The scholarships are open to students in sixth to 12th grade who reside in Summit County and surrounding communities. Students must already own or have access to an instrument – piano, guitar, violin, cello, viola, flute, saxophone, harp, trumpet, trombone or percussion (vocal lessons are also considered) – and already possess basic skills.
Launched in 2021 as a response to COVID-19’s impact on local music programs, the scholarship’s goals not only include advancing students’ musical skills and supporting local instructors, but also developing self-confidence, focus and social-emotional skills through music.
“For young musicians who have seen the NRO perform, the first thought is, ‘that could be me.’ That’s one hope – for kids to start taking lessons now and have a future in music,” Zambrzycki says. “But the scholarships are not all about crafting future professional musicians. We don’t need you to be the next great violin player. We want to foster the future of symphonic music, but we also just want to create an avenue for kids to learn and love music.”
Applications for the SCMLS are available through the Education and Community tab at nromusic.org and are available through September. Students who already have an instructor in mind may list their name on the application, otherwise the NRO will help find local instructors. Scholarships will be considered on a need basis. For more information, contact Izabel@nromusic.org.
Photo: by Joe Kusumoto, NRO free Family and Kids Concert, July 2025.