Help Musicians launched the Ian Fleming Musical Theatre Awards to help musical theatre students with the costs of final year undergraduate or postgraduate study.
The History
The Ian Fleming Charitable Trust was founded by Ian Fleming in 1972. The Trust’s initial focus was on supporting national charities in the field of support, relief and welfare, and charities involved in research on human diseases.
However, a performance of The Magic Flute by Scottish Opera gave Ian the idea of extending the support offered by the Trust to musicians.
In 1980, the Ian Fleming Charitable Trust Music Education Awards were established in partnership with Help Musicians. Outstandingly talented individual young musicians have been supported through Ian’s trust every year since, with costs towards their higher education studies.
The Musical Theatre Awards were previously run on a nomination basis where Heads of Departments at select performing colleges put forward students who qualified for the grant. However, Help Musicians is now reviewing the Programme to ensure inclusivity and accessibility.
The new open and direct application process aims to empower the students to take control of their futures.
Who can Apply
This year our Musical Theatre Awards are open to students who are either wishing to complete their final year of undergraduate study or undertake a postgraduate degree in September 2021.
Our awards are only open to students who wish to study performance at the following conservatoires or performance institutions:
- Arts Educational Schools
- Guildford School of Acting
- Guildhall School of Music and Drama
- Leeds College of Music
- London School of Musical Theatre
- Mountview Academy
- Royal Academy of Music
- Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
- Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
- Royal College of Music
- Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
- Royal Northern College of Music
- Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama
- Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance
- Urdang Academy
- Wales International Academy of Voice
Please read the full application guidelines before submitting your application.
From 18 January 2021 we will accept applications from students who wish to study a performance degree at one of the performing arts colleges above.
Please contact creative@helpmusicians.org.uk if you are not sure whether you are eligible or if you have any queries regarding our eligibility criteria.
How to Apply
To apply for our Musical Theatre Awards, you must complete our online application form.
Please read the application guidelines for full details on how to apply, the process involved and audition requirements should you be shortlisted.
Please note that due to the current situation regarding COVID 19, we have suspended all in-person activity this year. If you are shortlisted, your application will then be forwarded to our external panel who will focus on your video submissions.