Congratulations are in order for three Leeds Conservatoire students who recently secured support from the Royal Philharmonic Society (RPS).
Every year, the RPS provides funding to talented young musicians who do not own an instrument suitable for their professional training. In 2024 the RPS awarded a total of £16,000 in grants to first year undergraduates who are due to enter their second year.
Amongst this year’s grant recipients are Jack Anderson who studies Jazz with Popular at the conservatoire, Andrew Corry on the Jazz course, plus Popular Music student Olivia McNally.
The RPS Instrument Purchase Grants are grants that do not have to be repaid, as RPS recognises the many financial challenges that young musicians face.
Caroline Hallam, Strategic Partnerships Manager at Leeds Conservatoire, expressed her gratitude to the RPS for their continued support:
“We are thrilled that the RPS has, like last year, chosen to support three of our students. The grants offered will empower the recipients during their studies and help them to pursue their musical ambitions.
“Initiatives such as the RPS Instrument Purchase Grants enable some of our most gifted students to fulfil their potential. Leeds Conservatoire is committed to ensuring equal opportunities irrespective of financial background.”
Read on to find out more about Jack, Andrew and Olivia’s musical progress and how the RPS is helping them.
Jack Anderson
RPS Instrument Purchase Grant 2024 | £500 towards a double bass
Course studied: Jazz with Popular
Jack Anderson is an aspiring bassist from the North East entering his second year studying Jazz with Popular Music at Leeds Conservatoire. In 2021-23 while undertaking a Level 3 Music Performance course at Gateshead College he’d taken opportunities to join several Jazz ensembles at the Sage Gateshead (now The Glasshouse ICM) and Newcastle University as a bassist, which served as a very practical introduction to the genre. Accomplishments include live and studio performances with Jazz ensembles Jambone, "Nu Groove" New Orleans Brass Band, community Swing Band at the Sage Gateshead, Newcastle University Big Band, Park View School Orchestra, Leeds Conservatoire Students’ Union Big Band; with numerable rock, pop and indie groups and innumerable college bands; and having performed live at some of the North East’s most esteemed venues including The Glasshouse, The Cluny Newcastle, The Fire Station Sunderland, and Newcastle’s Utilita Arena.
Andrew Corry
RPS Instrument Purchase Grant 2024 | £400 towards a soprano saxophone
Course studied: Jazz
Alto Saxophonist Andrew Corry is entering his second year studying Jazz at Leeds Conservatoire. Growing up in Portadown, Northern Ireland, Andrew joined the South Ulster Youth Band in 2019 to 2023. In his final year, he was awarded the “Friend of the Music Service” cup for his outstanding contribution. In 2022, Andrew was a finalist at the Young Musician of the Year NI competition. In his final year of college, Andrew became the first ever student music director of his school’s Big Band. In the following summer, Andrew received his ATCL Level 4 Diploma in Music Performance.
Olivia McNally
RPS Instrument Purchase Grant 2024 | £200 towards Logic Pro X
Course studied: Popular Music
Olivia McNally is an electric guitarist studying Popular Music at Leeds Conservatoire. Growing up in a creative, music-loving household, Olivia has always been drawn to the arts and encouraged to pursue her passions. Her mother’s heavy rotation of diverse genres and artists shaped Olivia’s childhood soundtrack, acting as the catalyst in picking up the guitar at the age of 7 - since then she has followed her ambition of performing and songwriting, inspired by her childhood influences and her favourite bands. As well as achieving Grade 8 in guitar, A in A Level music and an 8 in GCSE music, Olivia has been a part of many other musical endeavours; playing guitar in the pit of musicals, teaching and interning at British School of Rock and working as a Music Support Assistant in her former secondary school. She has also been part of many musical projects, currently playing guitar in Eva Kiss’ band and in her own band Cliquetrack.
