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 LSO Conservatoire Scholarships programme is generously supported by Alex and Elena Gerko.
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 now OPEN.
The closing date for applications is 10 March 2025.
Apply here
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.
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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 2023: 1. Royal College of Music; 2. Royal Academy of Music; 3. Conservatoire national supérieur de musique et de danse de Paris; 4. Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien; 5. Guildhall School of Music & Drama; 6. Royal Conservatoire of Scotland; 7. The Juilliard School; 8. Royal Northern College of Music; 9. New York University; 10. The Gnesins Russian Academy 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% |
