This scholarship was instituted in 2010 with funds donated by Dr Malcolm Tait. Malcolm Tait, an alumnus and Adjunct Professor of the University of Canterbury, has had a distinguished career in music education. He served on the music faculties of the University of Hawaii, Case Western-Reserve University, Ohio, and as Dean of the schools of Music at West Chester University, and East Carolina University.His last position was as Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs at Georgia Southwestern State University.