LSO Conservatoire Scholarships
A programme for exceptional musicians facing financial barriers, to support their postgraduate study at the world’s leading conservatoires.
About the Scheme
The LSO Conservatoire Scholarships programme is a ground-breaking initiative that aims to ensure that musicians from all backgrounds have access to conservatoire training and reduce barriers to entering the profession.
Such barriers include high tuition and maintenance costs. These Scholarships of up to £15,000 per academic year will allow recipients to focus fully on their studies during a critical time in their education, whilst benefiting from additional support and mentoring from the LSO’s own renowned musicians.
The ground-breaking LSO Conservatoire Scholarships programme was created in partnership with renowned philanthropists and music-lovers Alex and Elena Gerko, who were inspired by the experiences of outstanding participants in the London Symphony Orchestra’s Discovery programme who faced financial barriers to post-graduate study. Alex and Elena said
‘As music lovers and longstanding LSO supporters, we were struck by the challenges facing those taking the final steps in their study to become professional musicians. We were keen to work with the London Symphony Orchestra to launch this programme to ensure that the very best emerging instrumentalists are able to fully commit to their studies, while benefitting from the support & coaching of LSO members, including insights and guidance on how to excel in a career in music. We hope the programme will act as an inspiration to others hoping to study music at the highest level’.
Interviews and Photos from the 2025 Scholarships Celebration
2025/26 Scholars
Harp
Tannaz Beigi
Tannaz Beigi
Harpist, Royal College of Music
Tannaz Beigi is a distinguished Iranian harpist and the first from her country to study harp at London’s Royal College of Music under the mentorship of Ieuan Jones. She recently completed her bachelor’s degree and will begin her Master’s at the RCM in September 2025 on a full scholarship, as an LSO Scholar and recipient of the Countess of Munster Musical Trust Award (2025/26).
Piano
Nikita Demidenko
Nikita Demidenko
Pianist, Royal Academy of Music
Nikita Demidenko is a Russian-born pianist whose artistry blends profound musical insight with a dedication to bringing rarely heard masterpieces to modern audiences. He began his UK education at the Purcell School of Music before earning his Bachelor of Music at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he studied on a full scholarship, and in 2025 commenced his Master of Music at the Royal College of Music, also on a full scholarship.
Piano
Lin Deng
Lin Deng
Pianist, Royal College of Music
Lin Deng, originally from China, has been passionately engaged in music since the age of four when she began learning the piano. She graduated from the Royal College of Music in London and is currently pursuing her postgraduate studies there, majoring in Master of Music in Performance.
Piano
Alexander Doronin
Alexander Doronin
Pianist, Royal College of Music
Russian pianist Alexander Doronin began his studies at the Royal College of Music in London in 2021, as an ABRSM Scholar. He graduated in 2025 with a First Class Bachelor of Music degree and is currently pursuing a Master of Music degree under the guidance of Professor Dmitri Alexeev (piano). From 2015 to 2021, Alexander studied at the Gnessin Moscow Special School (College) of Music with Professor Mikhail Khokhlov (piano) and Olga Martynova (harpsichord). Alexander is London Symphony Orchestra Scholar, he is the Eileen Rowe Musical Trust award holder, and is also supported by the Drake Calleja Trust and Countess of Munster.
Violin
Emil Hartikainen
Emil Hartikainen
Violinist, Royal Academy of Music
Violinist Emil Hartikainen is one of Finland’s up and coming young talents of his generation. Recent seasons have seen him performing in festivals and concerts around the world; Germany, Kronberg Academy Festival, Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival in Finland and two International tours as a soloist and chamber musician as well as recent Wigmore-Hall and Finnish National Opera House debut…
Piano
Kasparas Mikužis
Kasparas Mikužis
Pianist, Royal Academy of Music
Kasparas Mikužis is a Lithuanian-born pianist based in London. Named as one of Classic FM’s ‘Rising Stars’ for 2025, he has taken the stages of various highly respected venues such as the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and the Lithuanian National Philharmonic. In May 2025, Kasparas was one of the winners of the Young Classical Artists Trust (YCAT) international auditions.
Violin
Olwen Miles
Olwen Miles
Violinist, Royal Academy of Music
Olwen Miles is a rising star in the world of classical music, known for her vibrant performances and technical excellence. At just 23 years old, she has already made a significant mark as an emerging talent. Based in London but born and raised in Palermo, Sicily, Olwen studied with Iuliu Hamza and Remus Azoitei, and developed as a uniquely versatile performer with a deep interest in bringing unheard repertoire to new audiences. She is currently pursuing her Master’s degree at the Royal Academy of Music under the guidance of So-Ock Kim, where she recently completed her Bachelor’s degree with First Class Honours.
Accordion
Alise Siliņa
Alise Siliņa
Accordionist, Royal Academy of Music
Latvian classical accordionist Alise Siliņa is currently pursuing her Master’s degree at the Royal Academy of Music, studying under Owen Murray. During her undergraduate studies at the Academy, she collaborated with artists from diverse disciplines and worked alongside renowned performing arts organizations, including Shakespeare’s Globe, Barefoot Opera Company, and The Music Troupe.
Violin
Elfida Su Turan
Elfida Su Turan
Violinist, Royal Academy of Music
Described as a violinist of exceptional artistry, Turkish violinist Elfida Su Turan is a winner of the International Haslemere Strings Competition, known for her technical precision and emotional depth. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree at the Royal Academy of Music under the guidance of So-Ock Kim. Her recent prizes include the RAM Concerto Competition, the Ilona Fehér Competition in Budapest, and 1st prize at the International Haslemere Strings Competition. She has received the ‘Future’s Women Stars’ Prize from the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts.
Violin
Alix Vaillot-Szwarc
Alix Vaillot-Szwarc
Violinist, Royal College of Music
Alix Vaillot-Szwarc is a 23-year-old French violinist based in London, currently beginning her Master’s studies with Professor Itzhak Rashkovsky at the Royal College of Music, where she has been supported by full scholarships throughout both her Bachelor and Master’s degrees. For the 2025–26 season she is also an LSO Conservatoire Scholar and a Countess of Munster Musical Trust Scholar, distinctions that underline her emergence as one of the most promising young violinists of her generation.
How it Works
Each year the LSO will award ten new individuals with scholarship support of up to £15,000 per academic year to contribute to living and maintenance costs while studying, lasting for the duration of their course.
The LSO will also provide support and professional development opportunities to recipients throughout the year. This may include a combination of mentoring and coaching sessions, side-by-side rehearsal and performance opportunities with the full Orchestra, and ongoing career advice.
Eligibility
The programme is open to postgraduate instrumentalists of any age or nationality, who meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Are facing financial barriers, with an overall family income of less than £56,500 per annum. (See ‘Financial Criteria’ below for full details**).
- Have been awarded a scholarship place for a postgraduate course at one of the leading 10 conservatoires in the world*, focused on classical study of an orchestral instrument.
- Have previously studied at undergraduate level at a UK conservatoire or university.
Apply
Applications for the 2025/26 academic year are now closed.
All applicants will be notified in writing as to the outcome of their application. Please allow at least two months for your application to be processed.
Sign Up for Updates
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* For the purposes of this programme, the LSO is using the top 10 conservatoires as ranked in the QS University World Rankings 2025: 1. Royal College of Music; 2. Royal Academy of Music; 3. Conservatoire national supérieur de musique et de danse de Paris; 4. Guildhall School of Music & Drama; 5. Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien; 6. Royal Conservatoire of Scotland; 7. New York University; 8. Juilliard School; 9. The Royal Danish Academy of Music; 10. Royal Northern College of Music
**Financial Criteria
The amount of financial support awarded to successful Scholars will be graded based on parental income, as follows:
| Annual Parental Income (up to and including) | Level of Scholarship Awarded |
| £46,500 | 100% |
| £47,500 | 95% |
| £48,500 | 90% |
| £49,500 | 85% |
| £50,500 | 80% |
| £51,500 | 75% |
| £52,500 | 70% |
| £53,500 | 65% |
| £54,500 | 60% |
| £55,500 | 55% |
| £56,500 | 50% |
