Royal Academy of Music awarded £669,545 by Leverhulme Trust

A grant of £420,000 will fund postgraduate bursaries while a second grant of £249,545 will support a range of activities for students under 18, including our Junior Academy and Widening Participation programmes. Together, this funding represents a 38% increase on our previous three-year grant from the Trust.

The new grants ensure we can continue helping Academy students to develop their craft and thrive, regardless of background. Recent graduates who were Leverhulme Arts Scholars during their time at the Academy include Fergus McCready, who is now Principal Oboe of the Orchestra of the Royal Ballet and Opera, and pianist Ignas Maknickas, who was a winner at the 2023 Young Classical Artists Trust international auditions.

Current Leverhulme-supported Junior Academy student Mayuchi Ono began learning the cello at First Strings Experience, went on to study at Primary and Junior Academy, and has now accepted a place to begin her undergraduate studies here in September. Mayuchi expressed the importance of philanthropic support in her journey at the Academy:

Philanthropic support ensures the Academy can provide young musicians with the right support for their talent and circumstances. In 2023/24, over 80% of undergraduate and postgraduate students across the Academy received financial support, with an overall investment of over £6 million. Donor support is also helping the Academy meet the needs of younger musicians through Junior Academy, where over 20% of students received bursary support, and a growing number of Widening Participation projects and events.