Students should consult websites and literature produced by the individual funding organisations for complete and up-to-date information & for relevant application forms.
ABBADO EUROPEAN YOUNG MUSICIANS TRUST
The Trust was initiated by Claudio Abbado in 1982 in recognition of the difficulties facing talented young musicians in affording instruments. The Trust assists young instrumentalists, not normally over the age of 30, by making loans, usually interest free, for instrument purchase: mainly strings, woodwind and brass. Loans are normally to be repaid within a five-year term. Applications are considered every three months.
Contact: Andrew Collins. Tel 020 7427 6400
Email: andrew.collins@crsblaw.com OR emily.davies@crsblaw.com
THE TOM ACTON MEMORIAL TRUST
The Tom Acton Memorial Trust was founded in 1997 to raise money to support young musicians in need. The bursaries are aimed at providing assistance with such things as course fees, instrument purchase, tuition, travel expenses, etc. Applicants must have been born, educated or resident in Essex and should be 25 years or under. You must have reached an advanced standard of musical education and will need to provide an independent reference from your instrumental teacher to support your application. Awards will be made of of differing amounts according to need, with a maximum of £750.
Contact: Judy Acton. Hamilton House, Cobblers Green, Felstead Gt Dunmow, Essex CM6 3LX
LAWRENCE ATWELL’S CHARITY
The Charity is aimed at young people who come from a low-income background. Grants made towards cost of musical instrument for postgraduate students only. Applicants must be British or refugees who have indefinite leave to remain in the UK, aged 16-26. Parental income cap £25,000 pa with an additional £2,750 for each dependent child under the age of 18.
Application form available online or from:
Skinners’ Hall, 8 Dowgate Hill, London, EC4R 2SP. Tel: 020 7213 0561
Website: https://www.skinners.org.uk/atwell/
BENSLOW MUSICAL INSTRUMENT LOAN SCHEME
The Scheme hires quality instruments – mostly strings with some woodwind – to promising young players and students who could not otherwise afford the calibre of instrument they need. Applications are invited from young musicians aged up to 25. Borrowers are selected on the basis of musical promise and financial need. In most cases, instruments are loaned for an initial period of three years, after which the loan may be extended. All instruments are insured by the Scheme.
Contact: Alison Palmer, General Manager. Tel: 01462 420748. Website: www.benslow-musical-instrument-hire.org.uk/
CHERUBIM MUSIC TRUST
Cherubim’s Fine Instrument Loan Scheme offers a range of professional quality instruments to talented performers between the age of 15 – 28, normally for a period of 5 years. Awardees are assisted in various other ways with concert opportunities and public relations advice.
Contact: www.cherubimtrust.org
THE COUNTESS OF MUNSTER MUSICAL TRUST
Loans (available to former beneficiaries only) for assistance in acquiring musical instruments considered when applicant about to enter or just entered musical profession. Applications available from the Trust Secretary from 1st Jan. – Closing date 10th Feb.
Contact: Mrs. Deborah Bacon, Trust Secretary, Wormley Hill, Godalming, GU8 5SG. Tel: 01428 685427. Email: admin@munstertrust.org.uk Website munster.indigoconcept.dev
LOAN FUND FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
The Grant Scheme is designed to help students and young professional musicians from the beginning of their third year of full-time study until two years after the completion of their full-time course. Preference is given to British Nationals and the Fund is particularly interested in supporting instrument makers resident in the United Kingdom. Awards are not made in respect of electric or electronically controlled instruments.
Application forms may be obtained by emailing the Secretary at: info@lfmi.org.uk or can be downloaded from the Website: www.lfmi.org.uk
THE HARRISON FRANK FOUNDATION
The Foundation loans fine instruments to exceptionally talented musicians in Britain, under the age of thirty, and have more than 40 fine instruments in the collection, the majority of which are violins, valued between £30-100k. The Foundation is looking to support talented young musicians through the programme, which is free of charge with the exception of the cost of insurance. Candidates recommended to the programme are interviewed, and successful individuals are free to try out available instruments in the collection.
Further details may be found at: harrisonfrankfoundation.com
MAGGINI-FOUNDATION
Rents instruments at reasonable rates to gifted artists for unlimited periods.
Contact: Maggini-Stiftung, Ringstrasse 8, CH-4901 Langenthal.
E-mail: info@maggini-stiftung.ch. Website: www.maggini-stiftung.ch
DULCE HAIGH MARSHALL TRUST
The Trust exists to provide financial help to string players (violin, viola, cello and double bass) resident in Devon and under the age of 25. Grants may be offered towards musical education expenses or the purchase of an appropriate instrument. Awards are made annually in July.
Contact: The Secretary, The Dulce Haigh Marshall Trust, Rosemary Cottage, 38 Fore Street, Otterton, Budleigh Salterton, Devon, EX9 7HB. Tel. 01395 568802. Website: info@dulcehaighmarshalltrust.com
SIR JOHN BARBIROLLI MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
Royal Philharmonic Society – Annual grants are made to students studying at a UK conservatoire towards the cost of purchasing a better quality instrument (keyboard instruments excepted). The grants are intended primarily for students approaching the end of their first year, and in certain cases juniors about to start a full-time course of study, whose progress is seriously impeded by a poor instrument. Please note that candidates for grants are nominated on an annual basis by conservatoire Principals. Direct applications to the Society from individual students cannot be considered.
Email: admin@royalphilharmonicsociety.org.uk Website: http://www.royalphilharmonicsociety.org.uk/?page=youngArtists/barbirolli
TAKE IT AWAY
Offers interest-free loans to support the purchase of musical instruments through a network of 150 music retailers across England and Northern Ireland. The programme, supported by Arts Council England, offers loans for up to £5,000 over 18months for parents buying on behalf of a child under 18 years of age, or a young person aged 18-25. Some of our retailers also offer additional interest free products over longer periods. Website: http://www.takeitaway.org.uk/
VIRTU FOUNDATION
The mission of the Virtu Foundation is to provide high quality violins, violas and cellos to advanced students and pre-professionals whose future careers would benefit from having access to a better instrument. The Foundation loans instruments to young musicians on Scholarships. Scholarship applications will be accepted from pre-professional musicians of all ages who are residents of the United States or Canada.
Website: http://www.virtufound.org/
Please inform the Trust of any mistakes or omissions by email to admin@munstertrust.org.uk