Yamaha’s Expanding Scholarship Programme Hitting The High Notes Around The UK

Yamaha continues to expand its already significant support for music education and up-coming talent through a series of scholarship programmes and performance opportunities that now support some of the finest musical talent from the UK's conservatoires, colleges and specialist music schools.

2008 and 2009 saw the introduction of new Yamaha scholarships at The Guildhall School of Music & Drama and The Royal Northern College of Music, together with an inaugural annual award at Chetham’s School of Music, currently held by 13-year-old Peter Moore, the much-celebrated BBC Young Musician of the Year.

These most recent awards build on an existing scholarship programme which includes annual vocal and piano scholarships at the Royal Northern College of Music and a well established Yamaha Piano scholar scheme at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.

Yamaha also supports an International Bi-Annual Accompanists Awards scheme in association with the Birmingham Conservatoire. This attracts exceptionally talented musicians from all over the world who compete for a cash prize of £1500, donated by Yamaha, and the chance to give a recital in a prestigious Birmingham venue.

Celebrating its 25th year of operation in 2009, the annual Yamaha Music Foundation of Europe scholarship awards have now bestowed over £150,000 in the UK alone since it's inauguration in 1983, with similar sums being offered throughout other European territories. The 2009 UK Scholars include Dominic Childs (Royal Academy of Music, Saxophone), Hannah Morgan (Royal Academy of Music, Clarinet) & Tom Poulson (Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Trumpet).

More recently the company has also devised a range of support projects and funding opportunities for young jazz musicians, and has created a series of jazz scholarships in association with Jazzwise magazine and the All Party Parliamentary Jazz appreciation group. The Yamaha New Jazz Sessions is a widely distributed CD showcasing the talents of Yamaha’s award winning Jazz Scholars, alongside internationally renowned Yamaha jazz artists Julian Joseph, Jason Rebello and Gwilym Simcock. With 15000 pressings, Yamaha succeeded in delivering unrivaled exposure for these outstanding young jazz musicians.

Mike Ketley is Senior Director at Yamaha and comments “ the UK’s enviable global reputation for producing musicians and music of the most outstanding creative quality is founded within vibrant music departments staffed by inspired music teachers. Yamaha is absolutely passionate about supporting excellence within these organizations and our invaluable teachers who nurture, inspire and skill our best talent across all genres.”

A full listing of Yamaha’s Scholarships and educational activities – plus details of how to apply/get involved – can be found at http://www.yamahamusiceducation.co.uk.