The Royal Philharmonic Society has made a series of awards totalling £81,500 through its Young Musicians Programme to budding composers and performers. The grants include £13,500 for five new works commissioned for performance in 2014, plus a number of ‘mini-compositions’ for student composers; £30,000 for the purchase of new instruments for music students; and £38,000 towards study abroad and professional development.

‘Music making, and the striving for artistic excellence, is never an easy path,’ said RPS executive director Rosemary Johnson. ‘However, with the advent of tuition fees, and the current economic climate, many of today’s music students and young professionals face new challenges which may seriously impede their ability to progress – whether through lack of a decent instrument, or by having to think twice about vital studies. If classical music is to have a healthy, vibrant future, then we all need to support talented young musicians. In making these awards, the Royal Philharmonic Society recognises this, but in doing so, we are also painfully aware that need far outstrips the small amount we can offer. We are grateful to the trusts and donors who have supported our work over many years, and warmly welcome those who have joined us in our mission to create a bright future for the first time this year.’

The Royal Philharmonic Society is the UK’s oldest concert society and this year celebrates its bicentenary. Created with the aim ‘to promote the performance, in the most perfect manner possible of the best and most approved instrumental music,' the charity today dedicates itself to ‘creating a future for music through the encouragement of creativity’ - primarily through a focus on young composers and musicians and its annual RPS Music Awards for live music in the UK.