By Melanie Patterson

The North Jefferson News



A Gardendale church is preparing to host auditions for its second round of music scholarships.

ChristWay Church is accepting applications for its musician scholarship program, the ChristWay Musicians Excellence Scholarship (CMES), which was established in 2008.

Recipients are required to participate on the ChristWay Musician’s Team for one year or two years. The team is made up of more than 100 singers and musicians.

ChristWay is offering $2,000 scholarships for one-year commitments to the team for juniors rising to the senior class. For rising juniors, the church is offering $4,000 scholarships for two-year commitments.

The scholarship year begins on June 1 and ends on May 31, 2010.

Scholarships are not need-based, but are service-based.

Those who receive scholarships are not required to become a member of the church, but are expected to behave in a way that would not bring reproach to the church, according to the application.

“Our priority instruments for this year are trumpet, saxophone and trombone,” said CMES coordinator Michael W. Lowe.

The church awarded one scholarship last year, to Andrew Crenshaw, an alto saxophone player who was then a junior at Gardendale High School.

Priority will be given to students in Jefferson, Walker, Blount, Cullman, St. Clair, Shelby and Tuscaloosa counties. Home-schooled students are also encouraged to apply.

There are several requirements for scholarship winners. Students must attend 80 percent of all practices, which are held Wednesdays, 7-8:30 p.m., and Sunday morning services, held 9 a.m. to noon.

There are also two seasonal concerts, Christmas and Easter, and other special events.

In addition, church leaders host monthly forums for 30 minutes prior to rehearsals.

Other conditions include remaining in good standing at the recipient’s high school and demonstrating a “positive attitude and teachable spirit.”

Applications are due by April 25 and auditions will be held on May 2 at ChristWay.

For more information, call ChristWay Church at 631-7790 or visit www.christwaycog.org/musicscholarship.html, where applications are available.