The Laurel Lake Music Society at Tryon Estates (an IRS 501(c)(3) charitable organization), is now accepting applications for auditions for the 2014 Cannon Music Camp scholarships.

The scholarships cover a comprehensive course of musical instruction, including room and board, with a distinguished faculty at the Cannon Music Camp from June 28 to July 19, 2014 at Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C. During the past 12 years the Laurel Lake Music Society has funded 92 scholarships at a cost of more than $123,000. All funds used for these scholarships are the result of generous donations by Tryon Estates residents.

Applicants must expect to complete grades 8, 9, 10 or 11 by the end of the current school year and have at least two years of public or private musical training. Students living in Polk County or in the Landrum High School area, or who will attend either of these high schools, are eligible to apply. Home-schooled students living in these areas are also eligible and should phone Al Hart at 828-894-8044 for an application.

Students may compete in the following categories: piano, strings, brass, woodwinds, percussion and voice. Since 1969, Cannon Music Camp has offered intensive musical studies with college preparatory work in performance and music theory. The scholarships provide a three-week music retreat in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.

Audition applications must be submitted no later than Dec. 4, 2013 and consist of both the Laurel Lake Music Society and the Cannon Music Camp form. An early application is strongly encouraged to give students adequate time to prepare two music selections for the scholarship audition to be held at Tryon Estates on Jan. 18, 2014.

An application form may be requested by calling or writing Al Hart, Laurel Lake Music Society, 621 Laurel Lake Dr. # B-225, Columbus, N.C., 28722 or by contacting the music instructor at either Polk County High School or Landrum High School. Additional details regarding the program are available at the Cannon Music web site, www.cannon.appstate.edu.

– article submitted by Al Hart