Registration for the Selkie Scholarship opened on October 10, 2023 and will close on January 15, 2024. You can access the application here.
If you would like to support the Selkie Scholarship, please visit the GoFundMe page.
Now in its third year, the Selkie Scholarship supports women* that show outstanding talent or promise in the fields of music production and audio engineering. The scholarship funds over 80% of the costs for participation, food and lodging at the annual Cacapehon Recording and Songwriting Retreat in Capon Springs, West Virginia (May 5-10, 2024).
Women are vastly underrepresented in the fields of music production and audio engineering. The Selkie Scholarship is one small effort to help make training, networking and professional development more accessible to women.
The Cacapehon Retreat was founded by producer-engineer-educator Ronan Chris Murphy (King Crimson, Aurora, GWAR) as “The Mountain Recording Retreat.” In 2017 he added a second week called “The Mountain Songwriting Retreat” in collaboration with internationally renowned singer-songwriter Dave Nachmanoff (artist and longtime collaborator with Al Stewart). In 2021 the two separate retreats were combined into one event known as Cacapehon. The name of the retreat is a version of the Shawnee word for the area where the retreat takes place.
Selection of the scholarship recipients will be handled by a third party group of advisors, and final selection will be by an elite group of audio industry professionals (TBA). The retreat organizers are not actively involved in the selection process. Selection will be based on talent and professional or creative potential. Additional weight will be given to applicants that demonstrate how their personal development will help a larger community of artists or aspiring professionals.
The first five Selkie Scholarships were funded by a private donor, but moving forward we are reaching out to the global community to assist with funding this program.
“Receiving the Selkie Scholarship to spend a week at the The Cacapehon Recording and Songwriting Retreat changed my life! Big statement but it’s a big experience. More than an education, it’s a community of people who support each other as they learn! I added so many practical mixing, mastering and engineering techniques to my mental tool kit, along with some awesome new gear from the DIY builds. The setting is picture perfect, nestled in the hills of the West Virginia mountains, and years later the entire community is still actively connected and available to help answer questions and share in triumphs. I love this group of people and I’m so grateful that the Selkie Scholarship exists to help more women and non-binary individuals in the audio industry learn and grow. Thanks so much to Ronan, Liz, John and all the other amazing folks who work so hard to keep this program going!”
-Rae K
How the money will be used: Most of the money will be used to fund approximately $2,800 towards the cost for 2 women to attend the 2024 Cacapehon Retreat (scholarship winners pay $300 of the retreat fee). Funds received in excess of the costs for the 2024 scholarships will be used to seed the scholarship fund for 2025 and beyond, and possibly extend an opportunity to a third recipient if donations exceed our expectations.
“I was thrilled to receive the Selkie Scholarship! With support from some of the best producers in the business- as well as a supportive group of other songwriters and producers- I was able to go home with new skills and confidence. I continue to feel supported and valued by the Cacapehon community”
-Wendy L
Disclosure: At this time, the scholarship is not tied to a 501(c)3 non profit and contributions are not tax deductible. Additionally, it is the intention of the organizers (Ronan Chris Murphy, Liz Redwing and Recording Boot Camp) to absorb any tax obligations, but in the event of larger donations that far exceed our fundraising goal, some of the funds may be used to offset tax obligations.
*Inclusion:Transgender, cisgender or non-binary individuals that are at least 18 years old are welcome to apply.
Please note that prior attendees of Cacapehon may apply for the scholarship, but prior recipients of the scholarship may not.