WRM BURSARY SCHEMES
WRM Young Persons’ Bursary scheme
Wiltshire Rural Music provides bursaries and financial assistance for musical families who may need help with music tuition and related expenses. This is available to all children residing in Wiltshire. Get in touch for more information, and for the latest application form. You will be required to provide current household financial information and a supporting reference from your music teacher.
We are now taking applications for the next round. Closing date for applications:- Thursday 3rd January 2025.
LIZ LAWRENCE AWARD -
Thomas Sladde , 2023 Award Winner
Wiltshire Music Centre, winner’s concert July 2024.
Closing date for applications:- 1 May 2025
The Liz Lawrence Award, administered by WRM, is an annual award of £1000 open to competition from promising young musicians about to embark on music studies at University or Conservatoire.
Elizabeth Lawrence - Liz as she was affectionately known - was born Elizabeth Bradbourne and under that name became well known as a writer and broadcaster. She wrote scripts for Women's Hour, BBC Schools programmes, the Times Educational Supplement and published works on education. Her work included “The Rainbow” series and also “The Open Door” reading schemes for young children. She was always interested in encouraging talent among children and young people as well as discovering new ways of helping those with learning difficulties. Liz greatly enjoyed music and, at her home in Dorset, she supported the recitals at the Bridport Arts Society where she especially encouraged young musicians. When some of her closest friends sought to preserve her memory through something close to her heart, they decided to create The Liz Lawrence Trust and provide the necessary funding for the annual award. WRM is privileged to administer the award on their behalf.
The award currently stands at £1000 per year and is given, through a competitive process, to a promising student in order to assist in their studies in higher education in the field of music. It is publicised each year by WRM during the Spring academic term.
How to apply:-
To apply for 2025 Liz Lawrence Award: Send in a letter of application which includes your name, address, email address, telephone number, date of birth, school attended, the university/college where a provisional place has been/likely to be offered to you, your musical achievements, musical activities both in and out of school, planned use of the award if successful, and two separate music references (one from within school and one non-school). We are sorry but post graduate students will not be considered for this award.
Closing date: Wednesday 1 May 2025, with auditions to be held in early summer.
You could be our 2025 winner!
View the list of former Liz Lawrence Award Winners from the PDF below.
What People Are Saying
"The music lessons provided a break from school lessons and the assoicated sensory difficulties in those lessons."
-Parent of Bursary student
“Thank you so much for providing a bursary yet again for our children. Your help is greatly appreciated and goes some way in helping my children fulfil their musical ambitions.”
— Bursary recipient
“WRM seems to be going from strength to strength these days!”
— Audrey, WRM member
“Fantastic to see how engaged all the children were. A privilege to hear such quality musicians in school. Just brilliant”
— Mark Solomon, head of Colerne Primary
“We didn’t want the musicians to leave. This has been one of the loveliest afternoons of my life.”
— Molly, resident at Wiltshire Heights Care Home
“Thank you so much for coming to entertain us…it was absolutely brilliant. Everyone enjoyed it. Please come again soon.”
— Grant Newton, Head of Day Care services, Mill Street Club
“Nothing much happens in our village, so it’s nice to see something that brings the community together.”
— Yatesbury resident (Music on the Move)