We are delighted to announce that the Awards for Young Musicians annual awards programme for talented young musicians is open for applications. We would be really grateful if this could be shared so this opportunity can reach as many young people as possible. It is a wonderful, inspiring organisation. All contact details below.

The information below is from the Awards for Young Musicians website http://www.a-y-m.org.uk/index.php/awards

Annual Awards Programme

If you are aged between five and seventeen you can apply to our Annual Awards programme. We give awards of between £200 and £2,000, totalling a minimum of £70,000 per year; last year we supported 132 talented young musicians. We help with all the major costs of a young musician’s training, such as lessons, buying an instrument, travel and specialist courses.

Our key criteria

We support instrumentalists making music in any genre, and our key criteria are:
– Financial need (all applications are means-tested)
– Exceptional musical talent and potential

Awards can help with costs including:

• Buying or hiring a musical instrument
• Music lessons
• Weekend music schools
• Music courses
• Orchestra fees
• Travel

Applicants will need to:

• Show evidence of financial need
• Have ideally achieved a distinction in your last music exam – or, if you haven’t taken exams, show evidence of this level of ability
• Be recommended by your music teacher and an organisation, orchestra or group where you play or practise.

How to apply

First of all please read our guidance notes.

Complete the 2014 application form: once you have done this, email it to us.

You also need to send to us some other documents. These are

Your three references, as listed below:
•    Music Teacher
•    Head Teacher
•    Recommending organisation’s form

The HEAD TEACHER reference should be sent with your proof of income to Awards for Young Musicians. The MUSIC TEACHER and RECOMMENDING ORGANISATION completed forms should be sent directly to Awards for Young Musicians.

Means-testing

During this process, we use income thresholds similar to those of the Music and Dance Scheme(http://www.education.gov.uk/b0068711/mds). Ultimately, however, our adjudication panel makes decisions based on which applicants are most talented and most in need of help.

If you have any questions or need help to complete the form, please call Jane Ordaz Stubbs on 01234 750 738 or email jane.ordaz.stubbs@a-y-m.org.uk

Download the documents you need here:

• Guidance Notes
• 2014 Application Form
• The Music Teacher’s Form
• The Head Teacher’s Form
• The Recommending Organisation’s Form

The deadline for 2014 applications is Friday 21 March 2014.

For information about other possible funders, please visit FAQs/Funding.

Visit their website
http://www.a-y-m.org.uk/
Follow them on
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AwardsAYM
Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/awardsforyoungmusicians