The Guernsey Music Bursary has confirmed funding for seven local students for the upcoming year.
Established in 2021, the charity provides financial aid and mentoring to Guernsey musicians studying at university or conservatoire level.
Three of the seven have been issued new awards, whilst the remaining four are renewals.
On the first time awards Jasmin Atkinson (clarinet) received a three-year bursary for studies at Bath Spa University or Royal Holloway, whilst Joseph Hilley (percussion) obtained a one-year bursary for the Royal Northern College of Music.
Meanwhile, Anya Blue Robins (violin) has been awarded a Postgraduate bursary for a Masters in Performance at the Royal College of Music.
The four renewed awards are all for violinists, three of whmo previously played together as part of Guernsey’s Vivace Quartet.
Sam Cole is studying for a BA (Hons) in Music, at St Anne’s College, University of Oxford, Archie Purdue is also working towards a BA (Hons) in Music, but at Girton College, University of Cambridge, and Joe Stoller is at the Royal College of Music obtaining a BA (Hons) in Music Performance.
Jacob Wright is the fourth renewal. He is in his fourth year of GMB funding and is attempting to gain a Master of Music, from the Royal Northern College of Music.
These bursaries are funded by local donations and the GMB has already witnessed success stories sourced from the charitable pot.
The charity has highlighted Annabelle Pizzey and Jack Tostevin-Hall, two students from Guernsey now plying their trade professionally at some of the highest levels, including in front of Monarchy and as part of Orchestras.
The GMB is also looking to safeguard the bursaries and is inviting “any individual, trust, corporation or other entity that is interested in helping to strengthen even further the island’s strong musical heritage” to get in touch in order to “support Guernsey’s leading musicians of the future”.
There’s a chance to see the recipients perform in person later this year at a recital scheduled for September at St James.