Help Musicians launched the Sybil Tutton Opera Awards to help opera students with the costs of postgraduate study.
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.
The Opera 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 awards are open to students who are hoping to start a postgraduate degree or move in to a second year of postgraduate study in September 2021.
Our Sybil Tutton Opera Awards are only open to students who wish to study Opera or Repetiteurship at the following conservatoires or performance institutions:
• Guildhall School of Music and Drama
• Leeds College of Music
• National Opera Studio
• Royal Academy of Music
• Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
• 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
• 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 conservatoires or performing arts colleges above.
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.
Do not hesitate to get in touch with the Creative Team should you have any queries. You can email us on creative@helpmusicians.org.uk.
The deadline for applications is 9am on Monday 1 March 2021.