Vaughan Williams Foundation (formerly RVW Trust)

Open or will open again Arts, culture and heritage Cultural, events and festivals Education and learning Performing arts School, College and University Antrim & Newtownabbey Ards & North Down Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Belfast City Causeway Coast and Glens Derry City and Strabane England Fermanagh and Omagh Great Britain Lisburn and Castlereagh Mid and East Antrim Mid Ulster Newry, Mourne and Down Northern Ireland Scotland Wales Micro (up to £1,000) Small (up to £10,000)

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Overview

Their principal aims are to honour Ralph Vaugh William's desire to support his fellow composers, and to help make his own work widely accessible to the general public.

VWF supports the work, performance and recording of British/Irish composers from the last 100 years; as well as projects which further the knowledge and understanding of the life and music of Ralph Vaughan Williams, and of the work of Ursula Vaughan Williams.

Applications are open to ensembles, organisations and individuals.

Support for the work of Professional Composers

The Foundation offers funding towards:

The Performance, commissioning or recording of music by professional British/Irish composers active in the last 100 years who have not yet achieved a broad national or international reputation, or those entering the profession.

Projects and organisations in the UK which create developmental opportunities for living composers, or which promote wider awareness of British/Irish music over the last 100 years.

Grants will generally only be awarded for notated music, scored for live performers. (Repertoire which combines electronics with live performers will be considered.)
Ensembles, organisations, individual musicians, or composers may apply.
Supported repertoire must be by composers of British or Irish nationality, or who have been resident in the UK for a minimum of five* years.
They do not generally support the performances of composers currently in higher education, or performances by student ensembles.

(*Three years in the case of those applying for the Vaughan Williams Bursaries.

The work of Ralph and Ursula Vaughan Williams

The advancement anywhere in the world of the knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the life and music of Ralph Vaughan Williams, and of the work of Ursula Vaughan Williams. This includes:

The performance of works by Ralph Vaughan Williams, either where they are rarely performed (particularly the stage works); or where the context is special, such as local music societies or festivals; or performances in territories where the music of RVW is seldom performed.
The recording or filming of neglected RVW works.
The publication of unpublished works of RVW or the origination by existing publishers of new scores and performing material for works already published.
Research into the music of RVW.
The acquisition by public institutions of RVW research material, such as autograph manuscripts or original correspondence.
Projects or resources that educate the public about the life or work of RVW or UVW and contribute to their legacy.

Postgraduate Bursaries

Up to five Vaughan Williams Bursaries, of £6,000 each, are awarded annually. Bursaries are given to talented students who have been accepted on their first taught Masters’ courses in composition at British universities or conservatoires and who anticipate a career as a professional composer.

British or Irish composers, or those who have been resident in the UK for a minimum of three years, may apply. Priority is given to composers under the age of 30 though, in exceptional circumstances, composers under the age of 35 may be considered. Find out more here

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