Yamaha Education Projects

Music Scholarships for Conservatoires and Specialist Music Schools

Yamaha's mission to engage more people in making music is supported by our extensive scholarship programme. By supporting some of the rising young stars from the cream of British conservatoires, colleges and specialist music schools, we are proud to be able to help them further their studies and launch their professional careers. But equally importantly, these young musicians are a great source of inspiration for those who are still at school and who are considering whether their future may be in music or something else.

Currently we offer the following scholarships and awards:

All Party Parliamentary Jazz Scholarships:

These awards are supported by members of the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group and Yamaha funds awards to students on full-time jazz courses from British conservatoires. The 2009 scholarship winners are: Alex Munk (guitar) Leeds College of Music; Daoud Merchant (drums) Guildhall School of Music & Drama; Gethin Jones (drums), Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama; Kit Downes (piano), Royal Academy of Music; Mark Perry (trumpet), Trinity College of Music and Sam Wooster (trumpet) Birmingham Conservatoire.

The 2008 scholars were: Calum Gourlay, double bass, Royal Academy of Music; Iestyn Jones, electric bass, Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, John Randall, drums, Birmingham Conservatoire, Rick Simpson, piano, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Ruby Wood, voice, Leeds College of Music, Zem Audu, sax, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance.

Chetham's School of Music:

From 2008-2010: 1 award per year. 2008 scholar: Peter Moore, aged 12, 2008 winner of the BBC Young Musician of the Year.

Guildhall School of Music & Drama:

Piano scholarship launched in 2009: 2009 Scholar: Ashley Fripp

Institute of Contemporary Music Performance:

Guitar scholarship (details to follow)

Royal Northern College of Music:

Vocal scholarship: 2009-10: Laura Sheerin; 2008-09: Matthew Moss.
Piano Scholarship: 2009-10: Maya Irgalina; 2008-09: Olga Paliy; 2007-08: Matthew Kam.

Royal Scottish Academy of Music & Drama:

Piano Scholarship: 2008-2009: Anna Yang

Yamaha Music Foundation of Europe Scholarship Competition (UK):

3 prizes of £2,000 awarded annually to under-25s studying music full-time at a British conservatoire or HE establishment. Details on our YMFE page. 2010 Scholars: Jiafeng Chen (Royal College of Music, violin), Yoshika Masuda (Royal Northern College of Music, cello) & Mikhail Nemstov (RNCM, cello). 2009 Scholars: Dominic Childs (Royal Academy of Music, Saxophone), Hannah Morgan (Royal Academy of Music, Clarinet) & Tom Poulson (Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Trumpet).

Yamaha Music Foundation of Europe Scholarship Competition (Irish Republic):

1 prize worth £2,000 (sterling) awarded annually to under-25s studying music full-time at an Irish conservatoire or HE establishment. 2010 Scholar: Sarah Joyce (Royal Irish Academy of Music, cello).

As we develop this section of the site we will be able to track the careers of recipients of Yamaha scholarships and report on their achievements.

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(last updated: February 2010)