7 August 2007
PRS Foundation and Bliss Trust offer composer bursaries
The PRS Foundation for New Music will award up to £1.25m in 2007 to support new British music.
The PRS Foundation for New Music and the Bliss Trust continue to support emerging composers by offering bursaries for professional development opportunities.
Awards of up to £500 are available to classical composers based in the UK.
The award is to be used by composers who have progressed in their career (for example, they have completed higher education), but are yet to establish themselves as fully professional composers.
Awards can be used for a wide range of purposes including:
- Promotional recordings
- Travel costs for performances abroad
- Study at a summer school
- Supplementing commissioning fees
- Purchase of computer equipment or instruments.
Successful applicants from last year include Jordan Hunt, Fung Lam, Artem Vassiliev and Cheryl Frances-Hoad.
Charlotte Ray, director of the PRS Foundation said: ‘Professional development can be one of the most crucial and fundamental steps for emerging composers to develop their work.’
Former grant recipient, composer Naomi Pinnock said: ‘I am very grateful to the Bliss Trust and the PRS Foundation for helping composers in this way. It is this kind of support that can't really be found elsewhere.’
Application deadline: 31 August 2007.
Full details about this financial support (PRS Foundation/Bliss Trust Composer Bursaries) and information on previous successful applicants can be found by visiting www.prsfoundation.co.uk/bliss or call 020 7306 4044.
-Ends-
PRESS CONTACT:
Catherine George, 020 7306 4777, press@mcps-prs-alliance.co.uk
· Photographs of previous successful applicants are available on request.
· Interviews with the PRSF Director and previous successful applicants can be arranged on request.
FOR INFORMATION RELATING TO FOUNDATION GRANTS CONTACT:
Charlotte Ray, 020 7306 4044, charlotte.ray@prsfoundation.co.uk
NOTES TO EDITORS:
ABOUT THE PRS FOUNDATION FOR NEW MUSIC:
The PRS Foundation for New Music (PRSF) is the UK's largest independent funder purely for new music of any genre. Over the past 7 years PRSF has proved itself a significant force in supporting pioneering musical activity. The PRSF provides essential core support for creators, performers and producers of new music of all genres in the UK, while also underpinning individual new music projects. Since March 2000 it has supported over 2500 new music initiatives with a total of £9.5 million. - www.prsfoundation.co.uk
ABOUT THE BLISS TRUST
Under the guidance of Lady Bliss, the Bliss Trust was established in 1986 in order to promote wider understanding and appreciation of the music of Sir Arthur Bliss and to support the education and further education of young composers and students of composition. The Bliss Trust achieves its aims through the provision of modest grants and prize-giving and by encouraging the programming of works by Sir Arthur Bliss. -http://www.lib.cam.ac.uk/Departments/Music/Bliss/blissTrust.htm