About us

The Trust offers awards/grants for postgraduate study, performance opportunities to young Australian and New Zealand musicians and performing artists and general help in the furtherance of their careers while resident in the UK.

To ensure its continuance the Trust arranges regular fundraising events and concerts, invariably featuring the talented young winners of the various awards, and relies a great deal on financial support from the business sector, private donors and other loyal supporters.

The Tait Memorial Trust has raised more than £900,000 to help support young musicians and dancers from Australia & New Zealand who need financial assistance while they are studying in the U.K. Through the Royal Over-Seas League it grants a scholarship to ‘the Australian musician showing the most promise’ in the Annual Music Competition.  The Trust also contributes financially to the Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge Foundation, Bel Canto Awards and provide a concert platform in London to the winner.

In 2013 the Trust created a new scholarship at the Royal College of Music to be known as the ‘Tait Scholar’. This was followed by the ‘Higgins Scholar’ at the Royal Northern College of Music. In 2014 we created the ‘Leanne Benjamin Awards’ for young Australian dancers with the Royal Ballet School, English National Ballet School.

In addition to this, the Trust continues to support its numerous existing awards:

  • The John Frost/Frank and Viola Tait Award which funds the Tait contribution for the winner of the Australian International Opera Awards for a place at the Royal College of Music Opera School.
  • the Sir Charles Mackerras chair with the Southbank Sinfonia;

 Principal Partner

Voyage Control

Partners:

Australian Charity Art Auction

Australia Day Foundation

Australian UK Chamber of Commerce

Australian Women’s Club, London

Britain-Australia Society

The Cook Society

KEA New Zealand

Royal Over-Seas League

Roses Only

Registered charity 1042797
info@taitmemorialtrust.org