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Being in the music business can be hugely rewarding but there may also be times when, whatever your age, help is needed because of financial or funding problems, accident, illness or even old age.
This is where the Musicians Benevolent Fund (MBF) can help.
The MBF is the music business's own charity - the largest of its kind in the UK and helps hundreds of musicians throughout the UK, young and old, each year by making available funding to the tune of millions of pounds.
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| Anna Devin (soprano, recipient of Maggie Teyte Prize and Miriam Licette Scholarship 2009
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Founded in 1921, the Musicians Benevolent Fund has been providing essential help and support to musicians and their families for nearly 90 years and it has grown to be the largest charity of its kind in the UK. The Fund is there to help those who struggle because of accident, illness or old age and supports highly talented young musicians with the challenge of developing a professional career. In 2008 the Fund spent over £2.5 million supporting musicians in the UK and Ireland.
Supporting young talent
For young musicians starting out, the Fund offers financial support from school age to postgraduate study and beyond through a wide range of award schemes. Awards are made for instrumentalists and singers across many musical genres. The Fund also supports a variety of organisations which provide advanced training and performance opportunities to young musicians. Organisations include British Youth Opera, Live Music Now, National Youth Choir, National Youth Orchestra, National Opera Studio, Southbank Sinfonia, Ulster Youth Orchestra and Youth Music Theatre:UK.
Following are details of the Musicians Benevolent Fund awards currently available to young musicians.
In 2006, more than 330 young people, ranging from school age to those at the outset of their professional lives, benefited from awards totalling £470,000. In addition, over £300,000 was awarded to organisations which provide advanced training and performance opportunities to outstanding young musicians. Below are details of some of the awards currently available to young people.
The MBF Young Talent Awards
The Young Talent Awards are an important source of funding for talented young musicians and are made to those with a high level of musical achievement where there is financial need. Awards of up to £1,000 are available to those aged 18 or under, and can be used towards instrument purchase, private music lessons, or Saturday music centre fees or travel expenses.
Music Education Awards
These awards are available to talented young songwriters who are studying on an undergraduate or postgraduate popular / commercial music course in the UK. Applicants should be nominated by their head of course and the closing date for applications will be in the autumn.
Guilhermina Suggia Gift
The Guilhermina Suggia Gift of £3,000 is for exceptionally talented cellists under the age of 21 following competitive audition. The award was established in 1955 to benefit young cello students, particularly those aiming to become solo artists.
The Maggie Teyte Prize and Miriam Licette Scholarship
The Maggie Teyte Prize of £2,000 is open to female singers in full-time postgraduate vocal study or in the first year of entering a professional career. The recipient of this prize is also awarded a Miriam Licette Scholarship for further study and a recital at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.
The Ian Fleming Musical Theatre Awards
These awards provide vital funding to outstanding musical theatre students in their final year of undergraduate study and those on full-time postgraduate courses. Awards range between £1,000 and £5,000.
Songwriting Awards
The Songwriting Awards are available to talented young songwriters who are studying on an undergraduate or postgraduate popular/commercial music course in the UK and applicants should be nominated by their head of course. These awards have established a high profile with the UK songwriting industry and previous recipients include The Wombats.
The Peter Whittingham Award for Jazz
Over the past twenty years this award has grown to become one of the most prestigious in UK jazz. The award of £4,000 is for emerging individual jazz musicians or groups showing innovation and talent who need financial help for a particular project. Previous award recipients include Soweto Kinch and Led Bib. The award is also supported by a showcase.
Funding database
In addition to these individual award schemes, the Musicians Benevolent Fund provides an indispensable online database of sources of funding called the Funding Wizard. The database lists the various awards as well as many others offered by other organisations.
For more information about the Musicians Benevolent Fund including the awards, closing dates for applications, the Funding Wizard and the Fund's benevolent work please visit www.mbf.org.uk or contact:.
Musicians Benevolent Fund
7-11 Britannia Street
London
WC1X 9JS
Tel: 020 7239 9100
E-mail: info@mbf.org.uk |
