Applications close March 1st 2021
Intensive postgraduate study is vital if the next generation of musicians are to achieve their potential, but the costs are astronomical. Taking living expenses and tuition fees into account, the cost of a two-year postgraduate degree can easily reach £40,000.
Help Musicians' postgraduate awards offer support to students who wish to complete their studies at the leading UK conservatoires and performing arts colleges. The charity has been making educational awards of between £1,000 and £5,000 to conservatoire students since 1921.
Previous winners of these awards include Help Musicians’ President and percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie, trumpeter Alison Balsom OBE, violinist, vocalist and composer Alice Zawadzki, guitarist Miloš Karadaglic and pianist and Help Musicians’ Ambassador Isata Kanneh-Mason.
In 2020, we received 450 applications and were able to make 140 awards helping students with their next year of study. The average award for a postgraduate musician was £2,061.
Who can Apply
This year our awards are open to students who are either hoping to start or move in to the second year of a music performance postgraduate degree in September 2021 at the following conservatoires or performance institutions:
- Leeds Conservatoire
- Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
- Royal Northern College of Music
How to Apply
First, read the application guidelines for full details on how to apply, the process involved and audition requirements should you be shortlisted.
Once you have read the guidelines, you should complete your online application form by Monday 1 March at 9am. If you would like to see the questions prior to completing the application form, you can download a blank copy here.
You must also provide us with a reference. Please ask your referee to complete the online reference form by Monday 1 March. Your referee should be somebody that knows you best and is able to comment on your musical potential and why you would benefit from Postgraduate study.
Deadline
The deadline for applications is Monday 1 March at 9am. Any applications submitted after this date will not be accepted.
Contact
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 or you just want to discuss your application prior to submission.