Brian May Scholarship

The Brian May Scholarship was established under the Will of the late Brian May, Australia's leading film composer, who passed away on April 25, 1997. Brian May was passionate about supporting and promoting the art of film composition in Australia.

The Scholarship assists promising Australian film composers (ordinarily resident in Australia) to study film scoring at an overseas educational institution. The Trustees have been given the power to choose an education programme which fulfils Brian May's stated wishes in his Will.

After difficulties about selection criteria arose with the education facility originally selected, the Trustees have determined that the Scholarship will in future be offered towards completion of a two year Master of Music Degree in Scoring for Film and Multimedia at NYU Steinhardt in New York City.

This Master of Music Degree is based in the Music Composition Program and provides a broad based curriculum and intensive professional training in film scoring.

It is intended that the Brian May Scholarship will be awarded every two years subject to economic conditions and demand.

The Scholarship value and method of payment are determined by the Trustees in their absolute discretion under the Will of Brian May.

Until further notice the Trustees have determined that the value of the Scholarship will be AUD$80,000.00 and will be paid as a contribution to the cost of the successful candidate undertaking the Master of Music Degree in Scoring for Film and Multimedia at NYU Steinhardt, over a two year period.

It must be stressed that the Scholarship will not fully cover the total cost of attending and completing the course. Potential applicants must investigate and familiarise themselves with the likely cost of travel, tuition, equipment, books and materials, accommodation and living expenses for the two year duration of the course of study at NYU Steinhardt. For further details please refer to the cover page of the application form. Brian May Application form 2010-2011

The Trustees have determined that for the purposes of the Scholarship applicants will be deemed to be ordinarily resident in Australia if:

(1) The applicant has his or her permanent home in Australia; or

(2) Australia is the country of his or her permanent home notwithstanding that he or she is temporarily absent from Australia.

To be considered to be ordinarily resident, applicants must show an overriding element of permanent residence in Australia , to be contrasted with a place where he or she stays only casually or intermittently.

The applicant will be deemed not to be ordinarily resident in Australia if they reside in Australia for a special or non-permanent purpose only.

Australian or foreign citizenship is not necessarily a determining factor.

The Trustees will decide in their absolute discretion whether applicants are deemed to be ordinarily resident in Australia based upon evidence provided by them.

2. Applicants must satisfy the requirements of NYU Steinhardt for admission. This will normally require a Bachelor's Degree in Music Composition or equivalent.

Applicants must satisfy themselves about entry requirements by visiting the relevant website http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/music/scoring and the following pages. Enquiries can be sent to Dr Ron Sadoff, Director of Film Scoring, at ron.sadoff@nyu.edu.

3. The successful applicant will also need a valid passport, an F-1 student visa to the United States and a completed non-immigrant visa application.

4. International students on student visas must be registered as full time students with NYU Steinhardt. Applicants must make those arrangements directly with the Office for International Students and Scholars. This is an important resource for international students and prospective applicants should visit the website at http://www.nyu.edu/oiss/.

5. Visa and entry requirements for the USA are stringent and time consuming. Applicants must ensure they are fully conversant with them and are eligible to enter the USA for this course of study.

Applicants must complete a Brian May Scholarship Application, and a separate application to NYU Steinhardt.
It is emphasised that applicants cannot be considered unless they have completed and lodged both applications.
The Brian May Scholarship Application Form is available on this site.
Applicants must comply with the separate application criteria prescribed by the Brian May Scholarship and NYU Steinhardt.
Application for admission to NYU Steinhardt must be made directly to NYU Steinhardt and applicants are responsible for meeting all of the relevant requirements.
Applicants must attach to their NYU Application a Letter of Authority, which is set out at the end of the Brian May Scholarship Application form.
The Trustees are not in a position to assist or advise on any of the requirements of NYU Steinhardt for this course.

This application will be reviewed by the Trustees to ensure that applicants understand, meet and commit to the wishes and intentions of Brian May in establishing the Scholarship under his Will.
The following matters will be considered:

appropriate academic qualifications;
background in and commitment to film scoring, particularly as part of the Australian film and music scene;
interests and ambitions: how would the Scholarship contribute to the Applicant’s aspirations?;
knowledge of the benefactor, Brian May, and his works; and
Australian residential qualifications.

A copy of the NYU Steinhardt application (not accompanying materials) must be lodged with the Brian May Scholarship Application.

All properly completed applications will be reviewed by the University in accordance with its normal procedures.

The University will then advise the Trustees of its preferred candidate. Following a review by the Scholarship Selection Adviser, Mr Michael de Stasio, and provided the Trustees are satisfied that the nominee meets all of the requirements of the Scholarship, they will confirm the selection and notify the successful candidate.

Michael Di Stasio was born to Italian parents in Melbourne, Australia. He holds a Bachelor of Education (Creative Arts) from the Melbourne University; a Master of Education from Griffith University; a Member of the Australian College of Education; a Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers; and a Life Member Societa Dante Alighieri.
Michael was a close personal friend and professional associate of Brian May and was nominated to take part in the selection process in Brian May’s Will. He has extensive experience in teaching/lecturing in the primary, secondary, tertiary, international and industry training fields. He is a professional musician and his skills encompass performing as a concert-clarinettist and jazz-saxophonist, composing, arranging, and theatre-restaurant entertainment.
Michael was employed as a contract lecturer and tutor at universities and institutes in Australia from 1991 until 2002 teaching in the Education, IT, Arts and Music faculties. His specialty areas were Film and Television Music Scoring, Film and Television Music Analysis, Arranging and Orchestration, Virtual Reality, Instrumental Studies and Arts Education.
Michael has also been active as an independent consultant and guest speaker at conferences and seminars in the education and arts area, particularly in the Asia/Pacific region. He has produced a range of research papers on Media and Adolescents, Flexible Delivery, E-Learning and the Psychology of Music & Emotion. Since 2001 Michael has been pursuing an academic and senior management career in Japan at tertiary institutes, NPOs and as an independent entertainment agent. His particular focus is on internationalisation projects, arts entertainment, global youth event productions, consulting services for tertiary institutes and screen music. He is currently the Japan Director of Operations for the world’s largest digital creative media network (SAE Institute), and Japan producer of the Rock Challenge youth foundation.

1. The Trustees will notify the successful applicant (the “awardee”) in writing of their selection.

2. On notification of the Scholarship award, the awardee must then provide the Trustees with written acceptance of the Scholarship within fourteen (14) days of being notified of their selection.

3. Written acceptance will be in the form of a Scholarship Agreement prepared by the Trustees and forwarded to the awardee

4. Once the Trustees have received the awardee's written acceptance, the Trustees will notify NYU Steinhardt that the Scholarship has been awarded. The University will then confirm the placement offer directly to the awardee who must complete all of the University's acceptance procedures and requirements.

5. The awardee must also complete all immigration requirements through the US Consulate in Sydney. This may require the awardee to personally attend the Consulate.

6. The Trustees at all times reserve the right to withdraw the Scholarship from an awardee in their absolute discretion should the awardee:

not enrol in the NYU Steinhardt programme;
fail to achieve satisfactory results in the course of study;
commit an offence under Australian, US or other laws which the Trustees consider to be detrimental to the Scholarship; or
behave in any other way that the Trustees consider to be detrimental to the Trust.

Anton Koch – 2003/2004 Scholarship

Geoffrey Russell – 2005/2006 Scholarship