We are delighted to have received a philanthropic grant of nearly £230,000 from the Leverhulme Trust. The funds will be used to supplement the School’s existing bursary fund to ensure that gifted young instrumentalists are not held back from accessing the specialist music education we provide on financial grounds. They will also be used to support the expansion of our programmes for all young people with a passion for music, including the popular piano, strings and woodwind summer schools.
St Mary’s Music School is one of five Government Funded Music Schools in the UK which exist to provide the finest training to gifted young musicians, regardless of background or financial circumstances. We provide academic and music education to children age 9 to 19, and receive support from the Scottish Government through a generous Aided Places Scheme. Last year 96% of pupils received some form of financial bursary through the combination of this scheme and the School’s own bursary fund, which is made up of charitable gifts.
Grants from the Leverhulme Trust are awarded to specialist arts training institutions which demonstrate outstanding quality within their field.
Dr Kenneth Taylor, Headteacher said:
“This is a wonderful award from the Leverhulme Trust and will open more doors for Scotland’s exceptional young musicians to realise their potential. Combined with the support we receive from the Scottish Government and from individual donors, over the next four years it will contribute to both our school and outreach programmes, allowing many more to access the world-class education we provide. No young talent should be held back on financial grounds.
“A specialist music education can be a truly life-changing experience, preparing young people with a passion for music to pursue many different career pathways and endowing them with the transferable skills they need to succeed, whether they become a professional musician, work in the creative industries or pursue an alternative career.
“As we recover from the pandemic, the role that music can play in supporting our young people and wider society is becoming widely acknowledged. As the head teacher of a specialist music school I see daily how music can create a level playing field for talented young people, regardless of their background or academic abilities. That is why grants, such as this from the Leverhulme Trust, which support culture and education are a fantastic endorsement of the School and its activities.”
The Leverhulme Trust has provided grants and scholarships for research and education since its foundation in 1925: funding research projects, fellowships, studentships, bursaries and prizes; it operates across all the academic disciplines, the intention being to support talented individuals as they realise their personal vision in research and professional training. Today, it is one of the largest all-subject providers of research funding in the UK, distributing approximately £100m a year. For more information about the Trust, please visit leverhulme.ac.uk and follow them on Twitter @Leverhulme Trust.
Find out more about the financial support available
If you would like to find out more about how your child can access the specialist music education at St Mary's Music School and the financial support available, contact Becky Verdon, Admissions Officer admissions@st-marys-music-school.co.uk