Nelly Apt Foundation

The Nelly Apt Scholarship was established under the terms of the bequest by the late Nelly Apt, a childless widow, who left more than $1 million to support musical links between Israel and Australia. Since 1994, the Scholarship has provided financial assistance to many young musicians to pursue their studies in Israel.

The Scholarship has forged links with other musical organisations, notably The Australian Singing Competition, the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) and its Young Performers Awards and Conductors Competition.

The Nelly Apt Scholarship is managed by Music & Opera Singers Trust Limited (MOST) identifies gifted musicians and encourages their careers by awarding them cash grants, scholarships, fares, performance opportunities and other prizes. To date it is estimated that approximately $325,000 has been allocated towards the Nelly Apt Scholarships and Grants.

Nelly Apt Scholarship for a singer awarded within The Australian Singing Competition

The Israel Vocal Arts Institute Program is a one-month Summer School run each year by renowned Artistic Director of the Metropolitan Opera (New York), Joan Dornemann, in Tel Aviv. All who have participated to date have been very happy with all that was accomplished during the course and have declared it a great success. Many have returned in following years at their own expense.

The following singers participated in the Israel Vocal Arts Institute Program

Susan Dunn (1996)
Catherine Jago (1997)
Donna-Maree Dunlop (1998)
Blake Fischer (2000)
Melinda Parsons (2000)
Gillian Ramm (2003)
Jessica Pratt (2004) Click here for Report
Rejieli Paulo (2005) Click here for Report
Andrew Goodwin (2005) Click here for Report
Anita Watson (2006) Click here for Report

Rachelle Durkin 2000, deferred her course as has the 2006 recipient, Andrew Finden.


Nelly Apt Scholarship for a conductor in partnership with Symphony Services Australia (formerly Symphony Australia):

The inaugural recipient of the Nelly Apt Scholarship for a conductor and composer was Kynan Johns. Kynan studied in Israel with Noam Sheriff. Reports from him have been most positive and he is in fact currently Artistic Director and principal Conductor for the Israel Camerata and working on our behalf to find further opportunities for Australian conductors to study in Israel.

The 1997 recipient was Jude Mete, a 24 year old from Brunswick in Victoria. Jude was born into a family of musicians and began studying piano at 6 and percussion a year later. Jude also studied with Noam Sherif in Israel and sent back a report which he classified as a great. The 1998 Nelly Apt Scholarship for a conductor will be awarded on 3 July, 1998 in Adelaide to Luke Dollman who studied with Noam Sherif and Dr Yitzhak Sidai as well as attending classes at the Rubin Academy of Music.

Max Xinyu-Liu and Benjamin Northey attended courses in February 2007. Click here for Benjamin Northey's Report.


Nelly Apt Scholarship for an instrumentalist in partnership with the ABC’s Young Performers Award

Susie Park, the inaugural winner of a Nelly Apt Scholarship in 1996 for an instrumentalist completed her schooling before participating in the Keshet Eilon Mastercourse in Israel in 1998.

Kirsten Le Strange, violinist, was awarded a Nelly Apt Scholarship in 1997. Kirsten undertook and an intensive study program in UK before proceeding to attend the Keshet Eilon Violin Mastercourse in Galilee in mid July-August 1998. The faculty includes Schlomo Mintz and Hagai Shaham.

Sarita Kwok, violinist was awarded the Nelly Apt Scholarship in 1998. Sarita studied privately with Professor Haim Taub (who is also a tutor at Keshet Eilon) in Israel before proceeding to Indiana USA.

Alexandra Osborne (violinist) 1999, Pei-Jee Ng (cellist) 2001, Kristian Winther (violinist) 2002 and Chen Gu (violinist) 2004 have as yet to pursue their scholarships.

Sophie Rowell (violinist) 2000 attended a course in Israel in 2006. Nicole Vasilakis (violinist) 2003 also used her funds in 2006.



Nelly Apt Grants

The first Nelly Apt grant was awarded to Gavriella Zavelsky in 1995. She re-applied for a further grant in 1997. Gavriella, from St Ives, has been playing the French horn since she was 10 years old. She pursued three months intensive studies with US born principal horn player of the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra, James Cox and has now earned a place in a Bachelor of Music (Performance) course at the Rubin Academy of Music, having achieved the highest entrance mark the academy has ever awarded a wind and brass player. Gavriella has received a "stamp of approval" from Hermann Baumann and has been accepted as a member of The Young Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.

Imogen Manins, a cellist who received her grant in 1996, went to Israel for studies in 1997.

Myra Lowe, a singer, received her grant in 1998 and studied with Professor Tamar Rachum and many other coaches at the University of Tel Aviv.

The last Nelly Apt Grant was awarded to Zvi Teichtahl in 1999. A cantorial student from Melbourne, Zvi recently returned to Australia after pursuing his studies in Israel.