2024 Scholarships
Photo: "Imminent", oil by Celia Liberace, 1st place Winner NSAL-DC and National Awardee, Age 19-22
Winston Classical Voice Scholarship
In honor of Shirley Rabb Winston, NSAL established an annual scholarship for young classical singers age 16-22. Applicants must demonstrate exceptional talent and promise of future success. The scholarship funds are only for private study, special training or personal advancement in the applicant’s vocal career. They can be used for workshops, voice teachers, summer programs, college tuition, housing or travel. In most years, as many as eight to ten scholarships are awarded in varying amounts.
The 2024 Winston Classical Voice Scholarship Application
The National Society of Arts and Letters invites performers to apply for the 2024 Shirley Rabb Winston Scholarship in Classical Voice. Application deadline extended to February 15 and applicants should note, please submit a link to one video (max 12 minutes) of your three repertoire selections (not 3 separate video links). The DC Chapter will award $1500, $1000 and $500 to its 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners. An additional $12,000 in scholarships will be awarded at the National level. Please see below for more information.
Shirley Rabb Winston (1920 – 2000) was the daughter of Naomi Rabb Winston. She was a graduate of American University in Washington, D.C. and studied voice at the Washington College of Music. She received a voice scholarship from the Washington Chapter of the National Society of Arts and Letters. During her career as a professional opera singer, she performed at Washington D.C.’s Constitution Hall, New York’s Carnegie Hall and had major roles with the Metropolitan Opera Touring Company. For most of her career, the mezzo soprano sang with the New York City Opera. After retiring from her professional career, she taught opera at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. She later moved to Virginia Beach, wrote “Music as the Bridge” and taught voice to select students.
Pictured: From left, Naomi Rabb Winston and Shirley Rabb Winston.
2024 Winston Classical Voice Chapter Winners
1st Place: $1500
Mr. Noah Mond
2nd Place: $1000
Ms. Olivia Gonzales
Third Place: $500
Mr. Ryan Zhou
Honorable Mention: Ms. Sadie Holloway
Competition Chair: Dr. Kate Vetter Cain; Judges: Mr. Patrick Kilbride, Mr. Mark Duer
2023 Winston Classical Voice Chapter Winners
1st Place: $1500
Ms. Maya McGuire
2nd Place: $1000
Mr. Chase Côté
Third Place: $500
Ms. Isabel Marcus
Honorable Mention: Ms. Emma Potts and Ms. Megan Ortman
2022 Winston Classical Voice Chapter Winners
1st Place: $1600
Mr. Ian Pathak
2nd Place: $1200
Mr. Cole McIlquham
Third Place: $500
Ms. Hannah Yan
Judges: Paul Rossen
Winston Art Scholarships
In honor of Naomi Rabb Winston, NSAL established an annual scholarship fund for young visual artists age 16-22. Applicants must demonstrate exceptional talent and promise of future success.
The scholarship funds are for private study, special training or personal advancement in the applicants’ chosen art fields. The funds can be used for college tuition and required art supplies, but not for housing, travel or personal expenses. In most years, as many as eight to ten scholarships are awarded in varying amounts.
Photo: “A Quizzical Glance”, graphite by Sophia Congyu Sun, 1st place Winner, Winston Art Scholarship 2022, Age 16-18
The Frank Wright Art Award 2024
The Frank Wright Art Award 2024 was introduced in 2021 as a result of donations from the friends and family of the late Frank Wright, who received a scholarship from NSAL in his youth, which enabled him to study art, initially at American University. He went on to study art further, to have a successful career as an artist, and was a Professor at George Washington University. He was also active in advising NSAL with art competitions. Applicants for the NSAL-DC Winston Art Scholarship will additionally be entered into this award.
Photo: “Grand Canyon,” oil by William Green, 1st place Winner, Frank Wright Award 2022, Age 16-18
The 2024 Naomi Rabb Winston Art Scholarship Application
The National Society of Arts and Letters invites artists to apply for the 2024 Naomi Rabb Winston Scholarship in Two-Dimensional Art. $12,000 in scholarships will be awarded by National NSAL, plus a further $4,000 in awards from the NSAL-DC Chapter. Applications are due to chapters by February 1, 2024. Please see the materials below for more information.
NSAL-DC Winston Art Scholarship only accepts online applications. The NSAL-DC winners from each age category (16-18 and 19-22) will be asked to resubmit the application form that National NSAL provided, together with a flash drive to include their five art works (high resolution .jpeg) as per the specifications, so that their work can be sent to the National NSAL Winston Art Scholarship.
2024 Information for Naomi Rabb Winston Scholarship and Frank Wright Award in Two-Dimensional Art: $12,000 in scholarships will be awarded by National NSAL, plus a further $4,000 in awards from the NSAL-DC Chapter.
2024 NSAL-DC Chapter Winston Art Scholarship Finalists Whose Applications are sent to the National Winston Art Competition
Age 19-22: Ava Liberace, Wesleyan University
Age 16-18: Taylor Banks, Duke Ellington School for the Arts
Age 16-18: Liana Kim, Woodson High School
2024 NSAL-DC Frank Wright Awards
Age 19-22: Tod Benson, University of Virginia
Age 16-18: Ana Gonzalez-Galvan, Duke Ellington School for the Arts
2023 NSAL-DC Chapter Winston Art Scholarships
First Place Age 19-22: Martin Mbuguah, Maryland Institute College of Art
$500
NSAL-DC is pleased to announce that Martin Mbuguah won the Winston Art Scholarship at the National Competition
Second Place Age 19-22: Thomas McCarthy, Maryland Institute College of Art
$500
First Place Age 16-18: Julia (Julie) Davis, George Washington Carver School for Arts & Technology
$500
2023 NSAL-DC Frank Wright Awards
First Place Age 19-22: Ava Liberace, Wesleyan University
$500
First Place Age 16-18: Joyce Lee, Centerville High School
$500
2022 National Winston Art Winners
Caroline Josephine Crawford, Deland, FL Age 19-22
$4,000 toward Residency fees and tuition.
Sophia Congyu Sun, John’s Creek, GA Age 16-18
$2,500 to use toward Professional training and workshops.
Celia Liberace, Vienna, Virginia Age 19-22
$2,000 towards college tuition.
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Photo: "Self Sacrifice", oil by Martin Mbuguah, 2nd Place Winston Art Scholarship NSAL-DC Age 19-22