At the Royal Philharmonic Society, we cherish composers and the music they give to the world. For over 200 years, we have supported composers to write music that inspires performers and audiences. In this, we have enjoyed a particularly happy association with the composer Thea Musgrave whose groundbreaking Clarinet Concerto the RPS commissioned in 1968, and whom we presented RPS Honorary Membership in 2022 in recognition of her remarkable musical achievements.

With support from Thea and her husband, the conductor Peter Mark, we were delighted in 2025 to launch a major new fund in Thea’s name, to support more composers and performers dedicated to contemporary music. This was welcomed with great positivity and yielded a remarkable array of applications UK-wide. Consequently, we were pleased to announce almost £50,000 of grants, as detailed here.

Moved by the appetite and appreciation from music-makers to this venture, Thea and Peter have generously agreed to replenish the fund, and we are now welcoming applications for a second year. There are two initiatives for which you can apply, detailed below. The closing date for applications for these grants this year is Tuesday 7 July 2026.

We are also grateful to Thea and Peter for putting some of the fund towards the new commission that Scottish composer George Stevenson is writing as part of the 2026 RPS Composers programme.

RPS THEA MUSGRAVE COMPOSITION GRANTS
Throughout Thea’s career, she has treasured having dedicated time to shape ideas with musicians. We are newly set to offer several grants to support established composers writing a new chamber-scale work for an established solo performer, duo, or small chamber ensemble – not only contributing to their commission, but within each grant vitally giving them and their intended performers some means to devote focused workshop and rehearsal time to its creation. This year, we expect to offer a total of £25,000 in grants for this, likely split between 3 to 5 composers. 

Click here to find out more about the RPS Thea Musgrave Composition Grants. 

RPS THEA MUSGRAVE PERFORMANCE GRANTS
Thea’s remarkable catalogue of compositions spans decades and is a veritable treasure trove for performers and programmers. Following the huge success of her Mary, Queen of Scots staged by the English National Opera in 2025, we are committed to encouraging more musicians and musical organisations to delve in, discover and embrace Thea’s works, and share them with UK audiences. As Thea’s centenary year approaches – in 2028 – now is a particularly apt moment to be thinking about bringing her exhilarating music to the stage. We plan to offer several grants to help performers, ensembles, festivals and venues to put Thea’s music at the heart of their UK programming, and distinctively promote it to captivate audiences. This year, we expect to offer a total of £25,000 in grants for this, likely split between 3 to 5 recipients. 

Click here to find out more about the RPS Thea Musgrave Performance Grants.