Last year it spent over £2 million helping around 1,500 people of any age and in any area of the music business who were in need. Each case is treated individually and in the strictest of confidence. The MBF has helped everyone from violin teachers, trumpeters and singers through to instrument repairers and music publishers.

The MBF also plays a major role in education, through its remit to encourage the next generation of professional musicians. This is based on providing financial support to outstandingly talented 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.

These awards provide funding of up to £1,000 to successful applicants who are under 18 years old. The funding can go towards the cost of an instrument, private music lessons or fees.

These are for exceptional violinists and cellists under the age of 21. The next closing date for applications will be in September 2008. Awards of £3,000 are available.

This award is for £5,000 and is available to a talented young songwriter under the age of 26. Candidates must be studying on an undergraduate or postgraduate popular / commercial music course in the UK and be nominated by their head of course. The next closing date for nominations will be in October 2008.

Open to instrumentalists under the age of 25 and singers under the age of 28, these awards are made towards full-time postgraduate study costs both in the UK and abroad and for the purchase of musical instruments. The awards may range between £1,000 and £5,000. There are also named scholarships available through these awards of up to £5,000 each.

These awards are made for full-time postgraduate study. Accompanists must be under 27 years of age and répétiteurs must be under the age of 30. Awards are likely to range between £1,500 and £3,500.

Also aimed at a postgraduate level, this award is for study in musical theatre. Applicants must be under the age of 28. Awards may range between £1,000 and £4,000.

This trust makes awards of up to £3,000 to outstanding piano, violin, viola, cello and double bass players. Applicants must be between 20 and 28 years old and close to completing their postgraduate studies.

Available to female singers under 30 years old, the Maggie Teyte Prize is £2,000 together with a recital in association with the Friends of Covent Garden for the Royal Opera House. The winner will also be awarded a Miriam Licette Scholarship of £3,000 for advanced study.

Awards of up to £3,000 are available to singers for study on an opera course and the next closing date will be in May 2008. Individual awards may range from £1,500 to £5,000.

An award of £4,000 made available for an innovative jazz project. This project may be in recording, composition or performance and must be in the field of cutting-edge jazz. Applicants must be under the age of 26. The next closing date will be in October 2008.

In addition to these individual award schemes, the MBF provides an indispensable online database of sources of funding called the Funding Wizard. The database lists the various MBF awards as well as many others, with useful advice and tips for students and teachers.

For more information about MBF awards, the Funding Wizard and the benevolent work of the MBF go to www.mbf.org.uk.

For more information about the awards call the MBF Education Department on 020 7299 8356.

Musicians Benevolent Fund
16 Ogle Street
London
W1W 6JA
Tel: 020 7636 4481
E-mail: info@mbf.org.uk