£36,500 support awarded to young artists
12 Jul 2012
The RPS has made a series of grants totaling £36,500 to 20 young composers and performers. Five new works have been commissioned from young composers for prestigious performances in 2013, and 15 young musicians have received grants towards the purchase of new instruments.
The RPS seeks to create a future for music by encouraging and recognising the next generation of talented young musicians. Through a number of different awards and bursaries, the Society offers an unparalleled breadth of support for young artists. This includes assistance with the purchase of instruments and study abroad, support for outstanding young violinists and organists, further study opportunity for singers, mentoring with leading classical artists and support for young composers through special commissions.
Commissioning young Composers
Selected from 94 applications to the RPS Composition Prize, the winning composers are: Christopher McAteer, Tom Coult and Arne Gieshoff (all aged 24, who will write for the Philharmonia’s Music of Today and join the Philharmonia Orchestra’s Young Composers Academy, in partnership with the RPS) and 27 year old David Önaç, who will write a new work for 2013 Cheltenham Music Festival. A new commission for a piece for solo piano to be performed at Presteigne Festival 2013 has been awarded to 25 year old Robert Peate.
To read about the composers click here.
The RPS Composition Prize is supported by the Delius Trust and the RVW Trust, with additional support for the Cheltenham Music Festival commission from the Susan Bradshaw Composers Fund.
Grants for Instrument Purchase
The RPS offers financial assistance through the RPS Sir John Barbirolli Memorial Foundation to help music students purchase their own instruments while undertaking their professional studies. In a welcome change from the model of student loans, the Society provides one-off non-repayable awards. Payback comes purely in the form of the startling musical progress that can be made on an appropriate, quality instrument.
This year, 15 young music students will benefit from grants totaling £23,500. As in previous years, demand for support was exceptionally high – with the fund only able to meet approximately 14% of the total funds requested. For the full list of grant recipients please click here.
Donations received from RPS members have together enabled first year Royal Conservatoire of Scotland student Ryan Sullivan to purchase a bassoon. The RPS has also put a donation from the Thistle Trust towards the purchase of two instruments: a marimba for Junior Guildhall School of Music and Drama student Richard Rayner, and the purchase of an oboe for Royal Northern College of Music first year student Rosie Swan.