Instrumental Scholarships

About the Valentine Alcock Scholarships

Valentine Alcock was a talented mixed-race clarinettist and saxophonist from a single-parent household who died tragically in a swimming accident during the Summer of 1974, just as he was due to take up a place at Cambridge University. In his memory, close members of his family established a fund to allow others to follow in his musical footsteps. The Scholarship is a registered charity with a Board of Trustees and a regular income stream. Our aims are:

To advance the education of young people in learning to play a musical instrument through attendance and performance in practical courses, workshops, masterclasses or similar opportunities especially but not exclusively where such opportunities involve residential attendance.
To provide financial support up to 100% of the cost of fees and transport to young people aged 14-18 years of limited financial means and up to 50% of the cost of fees and transport for a friend or relative of the young person.

We want to attract applications from youngsters whose skills would be enhanced by attending an intensive course or workshop. As well as paying up to 100% of the costs for the right applicant/s, we are prepared to pay up to 50% of the costs of someone they would like to accompany them – perhaps a musically-inclined friend who is not from a disadvantaged background or who is outside the 14-18 age range, or even a parent or other relative.

The 2012 Scholarships

We welcome applications from throughout the UK. Each year we focus our publicity on particular regions of the country, and for 2012 we are focusing on the West Midlands and East of England. So we will be contacting relevant youth music groups in these areas to encourage applications, but in addition we hope that regions we have previously targeted will also remember us.

You can download the application form and guidance notes for completing the form.
If you know of any group or individual that you think we should contact, please email us.
You can also download an invitation letter which you are welcome to copy and give to others who might be interested. The invitation letter also lists a number of examples of suitable intensive courses or workshops. If you know of any other such instrumental training opportunities that we should be be highlighting in this way, please let us know.
If you wish to make a donation, please contact us. We are a registered charity and donations are eligible for Gift Aid.

Last updated: 23 February 2012

Maintained by: Tony O'Hagan