The Ronald Dourlet Memorial Endowed Scholarship was established to aid students of Harper’s Community Music and Arts Center. The scholarship is named in honor of the late Ronald Dourlet, a Palatine resident who was a student and very close friend of faculty member Steve Suvada.

In October 1999, Mr. Dourlet’s wife Joan started the scholarship because of her husband’s passion for music and his love of the guitar. In addition, she has also donated his library of classical guitar recordings and texts, many of them are signed copies that are of historical significance. The Ronald Dourlet Collection stands to be the envy of many colleges and universities.

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Eligibility

1. Applicants must be registered as private students in the Community Music and Arts Center for the current semester prior to the audition.
2. Students on all instruments (including voice) are eligible to apply.
3. Applicants must be ages 6 to 18 as of September 1, 2022.
4. Previous First Place winners are not eligible in their age group.
5. Students must submit an application form providing all the required information including repertoire. Deadline for receiving the application is February 12, 2023, and auditions will be held on March 18, 2023.

Age Categories

A- Ages 6-10 (Elementary)*
B- Ages 10-14 (Juniors)*
C- Ages 14-18 (Seniors)

*Applicants may choose to compete in older than their age categories upon approval from instructor and may be placed in a higher category according to their level.

Selection

This scholarship is a talent based award and will be given on the basis of outstanding performance in the following areas:

1. Musicianship
2. Technique
3. Knowledge of style

The decision of the judges is final and Judges reserve the right not to make an award.

Audition

Applicants will be required to:

1. Arrive at least 10 minutes prior to you scheduled audition time. Applicants who arrive after their scheduled audition time will not be rescheduled.
2. Provide judges with two copies of each of the pieces to be performed.  Applicants who arrive without music for the judges will not be allowed to audition.
3. Perform two pieces of contrasting styles, not to exceed a total of 15 minutes.  Applicants will be stopped when time limit is reached.
4. Performance from memory is preferred but not required.
5. Having an accompanist is optional and the cost of an accompanist, if desired, is provided by the Community Music and Arts Center. Regardless of what applicants decide to do, the presence or absence of an accompanist will not impact the judges’ decision.

The scholarship amount will be applied to the Spring of 2023 semester, Summer of 2023 or Fall of 2023. The scholarship applied to registration in a 15 or 16 week private lesson program in the Community Music and Arts Center. Questions should be directed to Issa Boulos, Community Music and Arts Center Coordinator, at 847-925-6659, or iboulos@harpercollege.edu.