Applications for the RPS Isserlis Scholarship are now closed, and the information and guidelines remain below for reference.

If you would like this information in a different format for accessibility reasons, please call us on 020 7287 0019 or use our online contact form by clicking this link, and we will do our best to help. To discover more about the musicians we have supported previously, visit our webpage here.

The RPS Isserlis Scholarship has helped countless musicians in many different ways over the years. Percussionist Rebecca Burch travelled to Ghana to collaborate with local musicians and learn indigenous repertoire, and trumpeter Imogen Whitehead flew to Oslo for an intensive spell of lessons and masterclasses with Norway’s top players. Clarinettist Mebrakh Haughton-Johnson has undertaken postgraduate study at The Juilliard School in New York City, USA, and cellist Sophie Kauer has taken lessons with renowned cellist Torleif Thedeén at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo.

The funds making this possible were generously bequeathed to the RPS by Cecilia Helen Northcote to us some decades ago, and at her wish is dedicated to the inspirational Russian pianist, composer and teacher Julius Isserlis.

This year, we expect to offer a total of £25,000 from the RPS Julius Isserlis Scholarship split between a number of musicians, as decided by the selection panel. Typical grants can range from as little as £500, up to £7,500. The closing date is 11am on Wednesday 18 February 2026. We regret we cannot consider applications received after this. 

Who can apply?

The RPS Isserlis Scholarship is open to classical instrumentalists and vocalists of any nationality between the ages of 15 and 25, who are permanently resident and have the right to work in the UK. This fund is for musicians resident in the UK wishing to study overseas and we are unable to accept applications to fund study within the UK.

We continually strive to address how we can minimise barriers to the widest possible range of applicants. We are proud to adopt Sound and Music's Fair Access Principles and are signed up to the Keychange initiative, aiming to achieve 50:50 parity of marginalised genders in those we support. We warmly welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, particularly under-represented demographics, such as those who represent the global majority, those who are disabled, and those from working class backgrounds. If you feel that any part of our offer – or the experience in applying for it – could inhibit you or another candidate from applying, please do let us know (our contact details are below) and we will be happy to address this.

How to apply

For 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 Emily Porter, RPS Administrator, by email at admin@philharmonicsociety.uk or phone on 020 7287 0019.

As noted, the closing date is 11am on Wednesday 18 February 2026.