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How to apply for an Award
We accept application to our annual Awards programme once a year. The window of opportunity runs from December - March with Awards announce in May. We are not able to accept applications outside of this time. Read on to find out more...
Eligibility criteria
The young musician must be between the ages of 5 and 17 on 31 August of the Award year. This means they must not have turned 18 between now and 31 August 2019.
The young musician must be living and studying in the United Kingdom and satisfy one of the following residency conditions:
- The young person has been resident in the British Islands for the past three years
- The young person is a national of a member state of the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland and is the child of a migrant worker;
- The young person is a refugee or the child of a refugee who has not been ordinarily resident outside the British Islands since being recognised as a refugee or granted leave to enter or remain in the British Islands.
The young musician must be learning a musical instrument. AYM is not able to support costs associated with vocal studies. Applicants can tell AYM about more than one instrument if they wish.
We accept applications from young musicians playing any musical genres. Past Award winners include: folk musicians, rock musicians, classical musicians, Indian classical musicians, jazz musicians, pop musicians and many more. You may want to read about some Example profiles of Award winners to get an idea of some of the young people whom AYM support.
We are looking for evidence of exceptional musical talent/potential. Our Awards programme is not aimed at beginner-level musicians, nor do we expect all applicants to have taken top-level grades or be members of national ensembles. We understand that everyone is on their own musical journey. Our application form has therefore been designed to discover the strengths of each young musician.
As part of the application we will ask you to upload a video of the young person playing their instrument. This can be filmed on a mobile phone, tablet, camera or other device. Visit the Video Guidance Notes or more information.
AYM fundraise continuously in order to be able to provide as many Awards as possible. Our funds are limited and, in line with our charitable objectives, we must prioritise applicants demonstrating the greatest financial need in addition to musical talent/potential. Our Awards Programme is means-tested. Our eligibility threshold is modelled on the lower level threshold employed by the Government's Music and Dance scheme. This looks at the annual, gross, family income of the home in which the young person mainly lives and takes into account the number of dependent children within that household. The following guidelines may help you decide whether to progress with an application:
- Your gross annual family income is £30,000 or under: you are likely to be eligible to apply
- Your gross annual family income is between £30,000 - £40,000: you may be eligible to apply, depending on the number of dependent children within the household
- Your gross annual family income is above £40,000: it is unlikely that you will be eligible to apply for funding.
What we can fund
Instrumental tuition costs
Purchasing or hiring of an instrument
Purchasing instrumental accessories such as cases, bows, reeds etc.
Fees for long-term music courses such as Saturday school fees
Travel for attending long-term music courses (where the young musician has a long journey)
Purchasing sheet music
Exam entry fees
Audition fees and associated travel costs
Holiday music courses: We will only support the cost of a holiday course if it offers specific training that the young musician could not otherwise access.
Ensemble membership fees: Where the ensemble offers specific training that the young musician could not otherwise access and where the ensemble do not provide their own bursary scheme.
Computer software: We will only support the purchase of computer software when there is clear evidence that the software will support the musical progression of the young person, for example if they are studying composition or music production.
Reimbursements for items already purchased
Settling the balance on items paid for on credit.
Academic school fees
Costs associated with higher education
Foreign ensemble tours
International travel for masterclasses or courses
Computer hardware
Frequently asked questions
You can apply for up to £2,000 in any given year. Please note that our average Award value is £500 and that not all eligible applications can be successful.
As well as providing financial assistance AYM aims to support Award winners by providing advice, guidance and access to a range of music making, mentoring and performance opportunities throughout the Award year. An annual highlight is our Awards Day when all our Award winners are invited to come together for an inspiring day of cross-genre music making with the best musicians in the industry. We’ve worked with some incredible partners including the Hallé Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra of Wales and the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Previous venues include the Royal Welsh College of Music, Royal Northern College of Music, Trinity College of Music, the Royal Academy of Music, Birmingham Conservatoire, The Sage Gateshead and Maida Vale Studios.
Provided that you meet the eligibility criteria you can apply each year, regardless or whether previous applications have been succesful or unsuccesful.
Yes, provided the total you ask us for is no more than £2,000. We will ask you to list these items in order of priority.
I'm afraid AYM cannot help with course fees for higher education
Yes, provided each child meets the eligibility criteria.
No you will need to complete a separate application for each child.
No you just need to create one account. You can complete separate applications for each of your children from your account.
Ideally an application should be completed by the parent(s)/carer(s) of the young musician. AYM recognises that in some situations it is not feasible for parents to support their child in applying for an Award. Schools, music institutions or other agencies may apply on behalf of a young musician if they have made their own assessment that the young person demonstrates financial need. AYM will require the parents/carers of the applicant to provide evidence of their financial situation should a conditional Award offer be made.
You may be asked to attend an audition if you request more than £500 towards musical costs. Auditions will take place in London in April 2018. AYM will support the financial costs involved in attending the audition in this instance.
Awards are not made directly to families. We pay Awards through third parties. Examples include:
- Lesson costs: AYM will pay your teacher
- Music school fees: AYM will pay the institution
- Purchasing an instrument: AYM will pay the retailer or person selling the instrument
Award winners will be announced in May each year. Awards can be claimed, through third parties, immediately after the Award is approved.
Making an application
If you think the young person meets the eligibility criteria and if we are currently accepting applications, please do the following:
1. Register for an account or log back into your existing account on our application portal
2. Complete an eligibility questionnaire. This can be completed on a computer, mobile phone, tablet or any other device.
After successfully passing the eligibility stage, you'll be asked to:
1. Answer a number of application questions about the young person's music making
2. Send us a a short audition video
3. Request recommendations from the young person's instrumental teacher(s), school and an optional additional musical recommendation
Applications can be made offline in exceptional circumstances where our online system is a barrier.
Got a specific question?
If you have a specific question about applying for an Award please complete the query form below.
Fill out my online form.
