M. Dickey Drysdale Music Scholarship

The M. Dickey Drysdale Music Scholarship Fund was founded to aid the college education of a graduating high school senior who exhibits notable musical skill, development and potential. The ideal recipient plans to pursue a career in music.  Candidates must reside or attend high school in one of the towns in the White River Valley region served by The Herald, which includes Barnard, Bethel, Braintree, Brookfield, Chelsea, Hancock, Pittsfield, Randolph, Rochester, Royalton, Sharon, South Royalton, Stockbridge, Strafford, Thetford, Tunbridge, and Vershire. Beginning in 2023, an award of $1000 will be granted each June until the fund is depleted.

The fund was established and is managed by the Randolph Singers in honor of M. Dickey Drysdale, a life-long resident of Randolph.  He was known and beloved as the editor and publisher of the 140-year-old White River Valley Herald. The paper won numerous awards for writing and photography under his leadership. Drysdale himself was seven times the winner of editorial awards from the International Society of Weekly News Editors, and in 2015 was inducted into the New England Newspaper and Press Association Hall of Fame. 

Music was central to Drysdale's life. He was the conductor of the Randolph Singers for over 25 years and enjoyed participating in many forms of musical expression.  He was an avid pianist, an enthusiastic fiddler and a highly regarded vocal tenor.  From his days in Randolph Union High School, followed by four years in the Harvard University Glee Club and right up to the time of his passing, Drysdale was an first-rate participant in choral music. Locally, he sang in the Randolph Singers, Sounding Joy!, the Bel Canto Chamber Singers, the Dartmouth Collegium Musicum, and the Onion River Chorus. He was a devoted to his family, wife Marjorie and their two sons, Robin and Jamie.

• Music teachers can recommend regional students whom they teach either privately or in the area high schools. Teachers or guidance counselors will complete the  M. Dickey Drysdale Music Scholarship teacher recommendation by downloading the document below. 

• Teachers may recommend more than one student each year.  Submit electronic applications by midnight April 4, 2025 to Drysdale.sch@gmail.com 

• Paper applications must be postmarked no later than April 4, 2025 and mailed to:

Randolph Singers

P.O. Box 192

Randolph, VT 05060

• The senior selected for the year’s award will be required to submit proof of college registration to the Randolph Singers before receiving the funds. This proof consists of a copy of their acceptance letter of admission and a screen shot of same.