"We had something like 65 applicants, I think," he said, adding that the 2021 program increased the number of opportunities available, with specific scholarships for Indigenous vocalists as well as for HSC students.

"(We wanted to create) more opportunities for anyone in the community to apply... Hopefully in the next couple of years we'll be able to build on that and offer more specialised, targeted scholarships."

The 18 students selected for the program are: Grace Sullivan (recorder - Orange Regional Arts Foundation Endangered Instrument Scholarship); Toby Gough (bassoon - Orange Regional Arts Foundation Endangered Instrument Scholarship); Eleanor Edwards (voice - HSC Support Scholarship); Talara Croaker (voice - Indigenous Student Scholarship); Poppy Kay (Junior Piano Scholarship); Mitchell Fuller (Senior Piano Scholarship); Evie Yang (violin - The Lucy Clarke-Randazzo Junior Strings Scholarship); Phoebe Clarke-Randazzo (violin - The Robin Thompson Senior Violin Scholarship); Carmel Kelly (violin - The James Byrne Senior Strings Scholarship); Anthony Clarke-Randazzo (cello - The Phyll & Peter Carter Cello Scholarship); Bede Hammond, (trumpet - Junior Brass Scholarship); Naomi Wright (trumpet - Senior Brass Scholarship); Phoebe Wong (clarinet - Junior Woodwind Scholarship); Eric Driver (saxophone - Senior Woodwind Scholarship); Annabel Dunn (Junior Voice Scholarship); Tully Ritter (Senior Voice Scholarship); Zaro Jalal (drums - Junior Contemporary Scholarship); Julian Martin (guitar - Christine Hannus Senior Contemporary Scholarship); Millie Gliddon (Classical Guitar Scholarship); Calista Krkac (flute - Symphonic Wind Ensemble Scholarship); Matilda Hayes (flute - Symphonic Wind Ensemble Scholarship); Sarah Stone (violin - Ensemble Scholarship); Beatrix Merrell (euphonium - Ensemble Scholarship); Sophia Duncan (voice - Ensemble Scholarship); Michelle Hayes (violin - Ensemble Scholarship) and Moyia Vidler (voice - Ensemble Scholarship).

The scholarship program was made possible through the Orange Regional Arts Foundation and North Orange Rotary, as well as many individual donors.