RNCM awarded substantial grant by Leverhulme Trust

The RNCM has been granted £648,900 across four years by the Leverhulme Trust to support scholarships for undergraduate study of endangered instruments and its work with under-18s. 

The generous figure represents an increase of 25 per cent on the previous award, and the grant will be used to support places for students whose principal instrument is in critical decline (bassoon, double bass, French horn, oboe, trombone, and tuba), as well as provide scholarships for gifted young musicians studying with Junior RNCM and enrolled on the innovative RNCM Young Artists pop music training programme. 

©Robin Clewley

The RNCM launched its Endangered Instruments campaign in 2023 to highlight the catastrophic impact for the music profession of the declining number of young musicians progressing to conservatoires to study viola, double bass, oboe, bassoon, French horn, bass trombone, and tuba – all of which are critical to the sound and structure of an orchestra but are now viewed as endangered. 

Speaking about the award, RNCM Principal Professor Linda Merrick said: ‘We continue to be immensely grateful to the Leverhulme Trust. This substantial grant will be transformative for the exceptional young musicians who will benefit from it, and it will allow us to create a pipeline to study instruments at risk of critical decline. The Leverhulme Arts Scholarships and Bursaries are one of the most impactful ways to ensure that we continue to nurture the next generation of professional musicians.’ 

The College allocates around £1.3m in awards every year, and around half of JRNCM students receive scholarships and bursaries to support their studies. Its award-winning learning and participation programme RNCM Engage incorporates Junior RNCM for outstanding young musicians aged 8-18, RNCM Young Artists for training pop musicians aged 11-18, RNCM Pathfinder, Children’s Opera, Youth Ensembles, outreach schemes, and family concerts. 

The Leverhulme Art Scholarships are awarded to specialist institutions or registered charities to provide training opportunities across the fine and performing arts. 

20 December 2024