We've been helping musicians at the start of their careers since our charity was founded back in 1921, and we've had a dedicated talent development programme since the early 1980s. Now, we invest more than £600,000 a year in helping emerging artists.
Our help is delivered in two main ways:
- Tailored schemes offering funding directly to individuals and groups
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Development opportunities offered by partner organisations, funded or part-funded by Help Musicians UK
We've built up a reputation for supporting excellence, and our alumni can be found at the very top of the profession in the UK and internationally. Musicians we've helped include leading lights of the classical profession such as Dame Evelyn Glennie, Tasmin Little OBE, Miloš Karadaglic and Alison Balsom, also an ambassador for our Rising Stars scheme.
Top jazz musicians include our ambassador Soweto Kinch, Gwilym Simcock and Mercury Prize nominees Led Bib and Roller Trio. And in recent years we've been able to increase our support for talented young songwriters and bands, with particular successes including The Staves, The Wombats, Dan Croll, Douglas Dare, JP Cooper and Bridie Jackson & the Arbour.
In an ever-changing music industry we are determined to help talent succeed without facing impossible financial barriers. We want to see a thriving musical culture in the UK and will continue to play our part in supporting upcoming musicians to ensure the vitality and diversity of the profession is sustained.
