Musical talent is everywhere but opportunity isn't: family finances and other obstacles too often get in the way. We're here to change this.

Musical talent is everywhere but opportunity isn't: family finances and other obstacles too often get in the way. We're here to change this.

We're Awards for Young Musicians (AYM)

For 25 years, we've supported talented young people from low income families, helping them to overcome financial and social barriers. Whatever the genre or style, our programmes help young musicians from across the UK to fulfil their musical potential.

Whether funding instruments, lessons or transport, expanding their musical networks or giving them opportunities to perform, we do everything we can to give individual support to young people in need.

Our programmes not only sustain musical journeys, we also help others to identify and nurture talent wherever they find it.

AYM are a proud member of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio of funded organisations for 2023-2026 and one of eight new National Youth Music Organisations.

In 2023 we're:

 
Supporting 800 young people across our programmes
 
Granting over £160,000 in Awards and Bursaries to our young people
 
Providing more than 200 musical opportunities and events.
 
Training over 1,000 teachers how to identify musical talent and potential.
Arts for Impact

In 2024 we're taking part in the inaugural Arts for Impact campaign! Donations made to our appeal between Tuesday 19 March and Tuesday 26 March will be doubled! We're looking to raise £10,000 to help more young people so they don't have to give up their pursuit of a musical future.

The Online Individual Learning Plan

Awards for Young Musicians and Charanga have developed a dynamic and exciting new tool that supports young people’s independent music learning and progression. The Online Individual Learning Plan – or Online-ILP for short – sits within Yumu, Charanga’s student-facing learning space and brings a new dimension to the student – teacher learning relationship. Using our Online-ILP tool, teachers and students will be able to explore a wide range of musical activities, and agree goals and targets together, based on each student’s interests and needs.

Who we are

We support talented young musicians from low-income families throughout the UK, helping them to overcome financial and social barriers in their musical journeys.

How we help

Offering individual support to young people, our programmes sustain young people's musical progress and help teachers identify and nurture talent wherever they find it.

How you can help

AYM is a charity. Donations of time, effort and financial contributions from funders, donors and supporters are what keep us going.

Opportunities in your area

We’ve established a network of experts across the music education sector in England. We’re calling them ‘Connectors’ and their role is to connect young people and families with musical opportunities and information.

Free teacher training

Giving teachers the tools they need to identify those with talent and potential, especially in whole class or larger group settings. Available via Music Hubs, Multi Academy Trusts, individual schools and other organisations.

Alumni

Our financial support is available to young musicians until they turn 18, however that's not necessarily the end of the journey. We love to stay connected with our Alumni and many go on to to be involved in other AYM events and programmes.

"In the 20+ years since AYM's founding, when I became its very first Patron, much has changed in music education. AYM has changed too, and is now a significant player in the sector, where it focuses on those most in need. This work is made possible thanks to the ever-growing support of donors and funders across the UK. Sadly AYM's help is now needed more than ever as the arts are increasingly sidelined in schools and music funding constantly threatened.

I'm extremely proud of the transformative difference our charity has made to so many young people's musical future."

Sir Simon Rattle OM CBE
Founding Patron

Photographer: Oliver Helbig

News and Stories

3 days ago

A look back at Attune 2024

Over four Sundays in January and February, a group of Award winners took part in our Attune Chamber Music project;…

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7 days ago

Gavin Higgins becomes Awards for Young Musicians Patron 

We’re delighted to announce that award winning composer and AYM Alumnus Gavin Higgins has joined our growing roster of AYM…

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1 week ago

Clowning around with Birmingham Contemporary Music Group

A guest story from our Furthering Talent Ambassador Hub The Music Partnership! This piece first appeared in their Spring newsletter…

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