Competitions and Scholarships

Marcella Kochańska Sembrich Recital
(l. to. r.) Tom Payne, Alicia Dudka, Justine Izewski (vocalist), Seulgee Lee Nelson (accompanist),
Jaroslaw Golembiowski (Chair of Music Committee), Celia Larkin, Robert Synakowski

ACPC Marcella Kochańska Sembrich Vocal Competition 2024

We are pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for the ACPC Marcella Kochańska Sembrich Vocal Competition 2024. The competition is being conducted online. Please see below for eligibility and requirements. The winner will perform a recital at the ACPC Convention in Chicago, IL (date to be announced).

Marcella Kochańska Sembrich (1858-1935} was a Polish coloratura soprano with a long career at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, after which she taught at Curtis Institute and Juilliard School of Music.

The ACPC Marcella Sembrich Award was established to support the career development of a young singer of Polish descent. The first award was given in 1954, but the tradition of an annual competition did not start until 1971. It was originally funded with a gift presented to the American Council of Polish Cultural Clubs (as the ACPC was formerly known} by admirers of Mme Sembrich, to be used for an award to a talented vocalist, male or female. For a number of years, the Marcela Sembrich Vocal Award was presented to a singer from the area in which the annual ACPC convention was being held. This has changed with time and now the award recipients are selected from among candidates .throughout the United States by the ACPC Music Committee.

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ACPC Summer Study Scholarship

The scholarship is available to high school seniors, and college and university undergraduate and graduate students of Polish heritage. Students may choose to participate in Polish language, history, culture, or current affairs courses, seminars, conferences, or workshops of their choosing.

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The Eye of the Eagle

The scholarship, administered by the ACPC, was established in 2021 in memory of Władysław Zachariasiewicz and is supported by his Memorial Scholarship Fund. One scholarship of $5000.00 will be awarded annually to an undergraduate or graduate student pursuing a career in journalism and/or mass media. The award is based solely on professional and academic merit with an appreciation for issues that affect Polish-Americans. The applicant must be a U.S. Citizen or a permanent resident of the U.S. and of Polish ancestry or someone who has a clear and thorough understanding of Polish culture and values. There is no fee to apply and students submitting a completed application including all supporting documentation will be given a one-year membership to the ACPC. Supporting documentation including essays and responses is covered in the application form.

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Leonard Skowronski Polish Studies Scholarship

This scholarships is intended for students pursuing some Polish studies (major may be in other fields) at universities in the United States who have completed at least two years of college or university work at an accredited institution. The scholarships are awarded for the fall term.

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Pulaski Scholarships for Advanced Studies

The Pulaski Scholarships for Advanced Studies Program, initially endowed by the Conrad R. Walas family, is administered solely by the American Council for Polish Culture.  

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Affiliate Matching Funds Grant

In order to assist our Affiliates maintain visibility within their communities, expand their
outreach and enhance the Polish profile, arts and culture, the American Council for Polish
Culture established a fund for matching grants to our Affiliates as follows:

Grant(s) are available to ACPC Affiliates for special Polish cultural projects in their
respective communities for which an Affiliate may not have sufficient funds to
undertake or complete. (Excludes Wigilia and Swięconka, which are considered to be
regular fund raising events sponsored by our member organizations.) Projects which
originate within the Council and/or are used as a feature to solicit funds for a Council
Committee are not eligible for Affiliate Grants.