countess of munster musical trust
  

The Countess of Munster Musical Trust

Awards

CLOSING DATE for applications, references, MP3s, DVDs
is 14th February 2012

 APPLICATIONS for the 2012/13 ac. yr. are now OPEN

    • Please download/read this ‘help sheet’ BEFORE you start your application form, to ensure you have all the required information to hand.
    • Your application form needs to be completed WITHIN 1 HOUR of opening – otherwise the information may be lost.
    • If you DO NOT receive a CONFIRMATORY EMAIL after submitting your application, please contact us IMMEDIATELY.
    • DO NOT use the BACK ARROW on your browser whilst filling in the form or you will lose your information – there is a BACK button at the BOTTOM of every page.

>> Click here << to SUBMIT an APPLICATION FORM


REFERENCES for the 2012/13 ac. yr. are now OPEN

    • References must be submitted ONLINE.
    • Please call +44 (0)1428 685427 or email (admin@munstertrust.org.uk) if you have any difficulties submitting your reference online.
    • References received after the deadline of 14th February are unacceptable and the application will be considered invalid.
    • One referee must be the applicant's current teacher and the other a person with up-to-date knowledge of the applicant's musical training, who may be the applicant's Head of Department.

>> Click here << to SUBMIT a REFERENCE

   Please choose:

   Funding Available

   Application Procedures

   References

   Application Rejection

   Auditions

 

Contact Us

Home

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

The Trustees of the Countess of Munster Musical Trust are prepared to consider applications for assistance in the musical education of individual students. The Trust's principal aim is to support young musicians, i.e. instrumentalists, singers, conductors and composers, of exceptional ability.

  • CATEGORIES OF FUNDING AVAILABLE

    1. Grants for study

    2. Loans for instrument purchase

    3. Stephen Oliver Award

    1. GRANTS FOR STUDY
    Awards are available for:
    (a)  British postgraduate students undertaking study at home or abroad
    (b)  Commonwealth postgraduate students undertaking study in the UK
    (c)  Postgraduate students undertaking special study (including short courses
          & masterclasses) at home or abroad
    Eligibility:
    Nationality: British or British Commonwealth
    Age limits: Instrumentalists, Conductors & Composers:
                    over 18 and under 25 years of age
                    Singers: over 18 and under 28 years of age


    The following courses will not be considered:
    Undergraduate/first degree courses.
    Musical Theatre and Music Therapy courses.
    Film composition courses.
    MPhil and PhD courses -     Students undertaking such courses are advised to contact the Arts & Humanities Research Council - www.ahrc.ac.uk

    All ages are calculated as at 1st September in the year to which the application relates.

    Tenure of Award: Awards are based on the academic year and will not be made for more than one year at a time.

    Beneficiaries may apply for renewal of their awards for a second year. Applications for renewal of awards should be made in the same way as an initial approach to the Trust.

    Please note: the Trustees are only prepared to consider applications for two years of postgraduate study. [top]

    2. LOANS FOR INSTRUMENT PURCHASE
    A limited amount of the Trust's funds is set aside to assist young professional musicians with the purchase of new instruments.

    Such assistance is offered in the form of interest-free loans repayable over periods varying from 5 to 12 years, depending on the size of the loan advanced, and is only available to past beneficiaries of the Trust.

    Eligibility:
    Nationality: British or British Commonwealth
    Age limits: over 18 and under 28 years of age
                   
    All ages are calculated as at 1st September in the year to which the application relates.

    3. STEPHEN OLIVER AWARD
    The award is made biennually for a work, which has been or is in the process of being written for music theatre, to assist with the cost of bringing it to performance. Applicants should be able to demonstrate that performance is in prospect.

    Detailed estimates of costings should be given for bringing the work to production, together with an account of progress made in accessing other sources of funding and any funds already raised.

    The applicant should submit a copy of the score and libretto to which the application relates together with other examples of the composer's work and recordings.

    Eligibility:
    Nationality: British or British Commonwealth
    Age limits: under 30 years of age
                   
    All ages are calculated as at 1st September in the year to which the application relates.

    Awards made biennially - Next closing date for applications is 14th February 2013. Award payable September.

    For further information please click here            [top]

  • APPLICATION PROCEDURE
    Applications must be submitted online. References may be submitted online, by fax, post or email.

    Study Grant Application Form - available for online submission from 1st December

    Instrument Purchase Loan Application Form (Past beneficiaries only)     - available from 1st January - please contact the secretary directly - secretary@munstertrust.org.uk

    The closing date for receipt of completed application forms and references is 14th February.      [top]

    • Instrumentalists / Singers: To accompany your application form, please submit MP3s of 2 contrasting (in period & style) pieces/movements or songs/arias by email to applications@munstertrust.org.uk.
    Please state clearly: your name; instrument/voice; composer's name; title of piece/song/aria.
    MP3s must be received by the closing date (14th February) or your application will be rejected.

    Conductors: As part of your application, you are required to submit a video/DVD recording of a rehearsal you have recently taken by the closing date of 14th February.

    Please ensure that the video/DVD recording focuses on you, to show your abilities and command, i.e. it should not be taken from behind or at distance. You are also required to submit written proof of achievements so far (for example in the formation of a choir, orchestra, etc.). Please enter this information under Question 7 of our application form - 'Any other relevant information'.

    Composers: Do not submit any scores unless requested to do so.
  • REFERENCES

    References must be submitted ONLINE. Please contact the Secretary +44 (0)1428 685427 or admin@munstertrust.org.uk if you have any difficulties submitting online.


    References received after the deadline are unacceptable and the application will be considered invalid.

    One referee must be the applicant's current teacher and the other a person with up-to-date knowledge of the applicant's musical training, who may be the applicant's Head of Department.

  • APPLICATION REJECTION
    In order to make best use of the Trust's funds and enable the optimum number of new applications to be considered each year, applicants who have been rejected without audition on two occasions will not be eligible to apply a third time.

    Students who apply to the Trust too early in their training, therefore, risk jeopardising their chances of obtaining funding at a later stage.      [top]

  • AUDITIONS
    Auditions take place between April and June each year.

    Awards are made to selected applicants after audition and interview.


    • Audition dates for 2012     - please ensure you keep all these dates free as the disciplines may change:

    19 April (Royal Academy of Music) - Keyboard, Brass & Percussion
    26 April (Royal Academy of Music) - Woodwind
    1 May (Amadeus Centre) - Singers
    3 May (Amadeus Centre) - Singers
    15 May (Amadeus Centre) - Strings
    24 May (Amadeus Centre) - Strings
    Composers / Conductors - date to be decided.

    Failure at Audition: In order to make best use of the Trust's funds and enable the maximum number of new applications to be considered each year, those applicants who have failed to obtain an award after audition will not normally be reconsidered in a subsequent year.

    Students who apply to the Trust too early in their training, therefore, risk jeopardising their chances of obtaining funding at a later stage. [top] 

Please note that the Secretary of the Trust will not enter into correspondence with applicants, except to amplify or clarify their applications and is not at liberty to give applicants any assessment of their chances of success, nor to discuss reasons for failure.

Applicants who enter into correspondence with individual Trustees run the risk of prejudicing their case.

The granting or withholding of financial assistance is entirely at the collective discretion of the Trustees and in no circumstances will reasons be given for rejection or for the selection of one applicant as against another.   [top]