Eighteen young music students will benefit from £21,000 towards the purchase of new instruments; three outstanding young musicians, receiving a total of £35,000 from the RPS Julius Isserlis Scholarship, will study overseas; three young composers will receive £3,000 commissions to write new works for the Philharmonia’s Music of Today series, and a fourth will write a new work for 2012 Cheltenham Festival.

Chairman John Gilhooly comments:

“Supporting young artists is a fundamentally important aspect of the Royal Philharmonic Society’s work. Whilst pleased to be able to support some of our most talented young musicians and composers, through RPS grants, bursaries and prizes, we are very aware that the need far outstrips resources. For example, this year bids for support from the Sir John Barbirolli Foundation to enable talented music students to purchase instruments – the very tools of their trade – were seven times greater than the fund could meet. The RPS is taking a lead in supporting young musicians, but it is important that we all recognize that investment in young talent is key to the future of music. These are the artists who, with the right nurturing, will become the life force of classical music in years to come”

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