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Applications for the next academic year (2022/23) are now closed
Intensive postgraduate study can be vital for future generations of musicians to achieve their potential, but with living expenses and tuition fees rising the costs can be astronomical. We believe that a musician’s financial position shouldn’t be a barrier to delivering their full potential, so we’re delighted to be able to remove some of the financial burden for Opera students through the Sybil Tutton Opera Award.
Students who wish to study Opera can apply for financial support of up to £5,000 towards study and living costs for the next academic year.
Is this for me?
This support is for Opera students who are hoping to start a postgraduate degree or move in to a second year of postgraduate study in the next academic year at one of the leading UK conservatoires listed in the below guide.
If you're not a student but are looking for financial support to release new music, embark on a music-led collaboration or work on your professional development, opportunities for support to bring your opera plans to life are always available, find out about all our support here.
How to apply
Applications are currently closed but we would recommend signing up to our mailing list to be the first to hear when applications open again.
See the full eligibility and application guide here.
Please contact [email protected] if you have any queries regarding our eligibility criteria.
The History
Sybil Tutton had a lifelong love of opera, which in later years was expressed as a passionate interest in the training of young singers. Her working life was spent at Mallet’s antique dealers in Bond Street, London, where her father was a director and major shareholder. On his death, Sybil inherited his holding, becoming the largest single shareholder.
In 1988 she used her personal funds to set up the Sybil Tutton Charitable Trust, which was to provide financial help for the postgraduate training of outstanding young opera singers who, it was believed, would achieve the standards of excellence she expected in a performance. She took a personal interest in the Trust and held an annual lunch to meet some of the young singers she was supporting. Sybil never married and died peacefully on 27 November 2002 aged 96 bequeathing most of her residuary estate to the Trust.
Since the awards were set up in 1988, hundreds of singers have been helped. Many of these singers have gone on to notable careers, here and abroad. Past award winners include baritones Christopher Maltman and Ashley Holland, tenors Alfie Boe and Ed Lyon, sopranos Kate Royal and Katherine Broderick, and mezzo-sopranos Karen Cargill and Anna Stephany.
Students from across the breadth of the UK are encouraged to apply.