The Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) has been awarded £411,000 to support exceptional young musicians from the Leverhulme Trust's Arts Scholarship programme.

Aid talent

The award follows 30 years of support from the Leverhulme Trust — one of the UK's largest providers of grants and scholarships for research and education — and will aid talented musicians at junior, undergraduate and postgraduate levels for three years from September 2016.

Delighted

Professor Linda Merrick, RNCM Principal said: "We are delighted to receive this major grant from the Leverhulme Trust, which will support outstanding RNCM and Junior RNCM students.

The College prides itself of offering world-class tuition and performance opportunities to young musicians of all ages, and it is thanks to the support of organisations such as this that we are able to attract and nurture such incredible talent."

Reputation

The RNCM has gained a renowned reputation for attracting talented students, teachers, conductors and composers from all over the world.

In recent years, the Leverhulme Trust has funded scholarships for a number of the College's top students who are now building exciting careers both in the UK and internationally, including Russian cellist Mikhail Nemtsov, Australian vocalist Helen Sherman, and the multiple prize-winning Heath Quartet.

Current students supported by the Trust include Russian postgraduate pianist Alexander Panfilov, winner of the 2015 Hastings International Piano Competition.

We are delighted to receive this major grant from the Leverhulme Trust, which will support outstanding RNCM and Junior RNCM studentsProfessor Linda Merrick, RNCM Principal

Music education

Alongside scholarships for talented performers, the grant will also support the College's aspiring music education professionals through the establishment of the RNCM Engage Mentorships.

RNCM Engage is the College's learning and participation programme and the training ground for students in creative and professional practice.

The new awards will help outstanding undergraduates who show promise as music mentors, providing opportunities for training and placements within the RNCM's outreach projects.