Applications for the RPS Philip Jones Brass Prize are now closed, but information and guidelines remain here for reference. Read on for the terms and the application guidelines. If you may like this information in a different format for accessibility reasons, please call us on 020 7287 0019 or email RPS Administrator Emily Porter at admin@philharmonicsociety.uk, and we will do our best to help.

Applications for the RPS Philip Jones Brass Prize are now closed, but information and guidelines remain here for reference. 

The prize takes its name from the renowned and much-loved trumpeter Philip Jones CBE (1928 – 2000) who devoted himself to the highest possible standards in brass playing and to making more opportunities for fellow brass players to shine. Not only was he Principal Trumpet of many leading orchestras, he founded the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble – one of the first of its kind – through which many other notable players came to prominence and much treasured repertoire was commissioned.

With this prize, we hope to recognise new talents arising who in their own way may proceed to make a positive difference to brass-playing in the UK. It is made possible thanks to our close association with Philip’s wife Ursula Jones, a dear friend and supporter of the RPS.

In 2024, the RPS Philip Jones Brass Prize was awarded to Lewis Chinn. Read more about his story and how we are supporting him.
 

WHO CAN APPLY?

Individual brass players or a brass ensemble of up to 5 players of any nationality, based in the UK throughout 2025-26 with the majority of players aged between 18 and 30 at the application closing date. Ensembles must have performed together for a minimum of 2 years: in your application, please specify when the group was formed.

As a charity, we are keen to support a wide range of musicians and initiatives. If you have already received any kind of funding from the RPS within three years of the closing date (since 6 October 2022), we ask you not to apply at this time, but if eligible you may do so in a future year once that period has expired. 

We are continually striving to address how we can minimise barriers to the widest possible range of applicants and are proud to have adopted Sound and Music's Fair Access Principles. We particularly welcome applications from under-represented demographics, such as those who are Black, Asian and ethnically diverse, or those who are disabled. If you feel that any part of our offer - or the experience in applying for it - could inhibit any such person from applying, please do let us know (contact details below) and we will be happy to address this.

KEY DATES

The closing date for applications is 11am on Monday 6 October 2025.

We will be in touch with all applicants by Friday 24 October 2025, inviting those shortlisted to audition. Auditions are set to take place in London on Sunday 30 November 2025. If you are applying, we recommend you pencil that date in your diary now, as we will not have scope to offer alternative audition dates.

HOW CAN I APPLY?

We ask applicants to submit some recent footage of their playing and answer some brief questions. For full details on how to apply, please read the application guidelines linked here. These provide a step-by-step guide to the process and should address any questions you may have. We encourage you to read them in full before completing our online application form linked below.

Having read the guidelines, if you have further questions, please get in touch. In the first instance please contact RPS Administrator Emily Porter by email at admin@philharmonicsociety.uk or phone on 020 7287 0019.

As noted, the closing date is 11am on Monday 6 October 2025.

Click here to start your application:

NEXT STEPS

After the closing date, applications will be read with care and reviewed by us at the RPS, and a guest expert from the music profession. We will be in touch with all applicants by Friday 24 October 2025, inviting those shortlisted to audition. At the audition you will meet a panel that will comprise RPS staff and selected guest experts. After the audition, we aim to let you know the outcome of the audition within a few days.

You can read about consequent steps for successful candidates following this in our application guidelines.