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’.
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.
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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% |
