Ferris Burtis Scholarship Fund Grant

Ferris Burtis Scholarship Fund Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: The Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation
Last Updated: October 15, 2025

Summary

The Ferris Burtis Scholarship Fund, established in 2002 by two dedicated musicians, supports talented young musicians pursuing classical music careers. Funded by the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, it aims to alleviate the financial burden of education, ensuring access for graduating high school seniors accepted into conservatories. This initiative reflects the foundation's mission to strengthen communities through philanthropy, fostering opportunities for economic mobility and celebrating the rich cultural heritage of the Berkshire Taconic region.

Overview

The Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation was established in 1987 in Salisbury, Conn., with an anonymous donation of $100,000. Originally an affiliate of the New York Community Trust, the foundation became an independent public charity in 1990. Today, BTCF manages more than 550 funds that put over $14 million into action each year. Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation serves Berkshire, Columbia, northeast Dutchess and northwest Litchfield counties. This unique area where New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts meet contains 2,200 square miles of natural beauty and small-town charm that is home to nearly 230,000 people. Mission: Strengthening communities through philanthropy and leadership. Vision:  All residents have opportunity for economic mobility and a high quality of life. Values: Impact: Striving to make a measurable difference in all of our workInnovation: Valuing experimentation and risk-taking to achieve impactInspiring generosity: Motivating people to give back to their communitiesEquity: Being inclusive and working toward fundamental fairness in communitiesExcellence: Holding ourselves accountable for high-quality work Ferris Burtis Scholarship Fund The Ferris Burtis Scholarship Fund was established in 2002 by two men who devoted their lives to music. With the cost of education ever on the rise, this scholarship is designed to aid and encourage young musicians of talent as they prepare for careers in classical music. John Ferris, a graduate of Michigan State University, was for 32 years the organist and choirmaster of Harvard University until his retirement to Sandisfield, Massachusetts in 1990. He taught organ and conducting at Boston University, lectured at the Harvard Divinity School, and conducted The Cantata Singers, a professional chorus in Boston. He was musical editor of the 1964 Harvard University Hymnal and choir director of the Congregational Church of Colebrook, Connecticut, and taught piano in his home studio. Herbert Burtis, a graduate of Columbia University, gained international renown as a pianist, organist, and teacher of voice. He performed throughout Europe, the West Indies, and the United States. He was the author of several books on singing and a treatise on the piano methods of Theodor Leschetitzky. His vocal students perform at the Metropolitan Opera Company, the New York City Opera Company, and in opera houses and with symphony orchestras throughout the world.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Graduating high school seniors who have been accepted in a conservatory or school of music for the purpose of pursuing a career in some form of classical music. Applicants must be full-time residents of the Berkshire Taconic region. Exceptions may be made for students attending boarding schools whose families are currently residents of the Berkshire Taconic region.