Royal Philharmonic Society

Charity Number: 213693

Annual Expenditure: £0.5M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £458,624 (2023-24)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Varies by program (typically 2-4 months)
  • Grant Range: £500 - £50,000+
  • Geographic Focus: UK-based musicians and organizations

Contact Details

Website: www.royalphilharmonicsociety.org.uk (Note: The email domain provided redirects to the main site)

Address: 48 Great Marlborough Street, London, W1F 7BB

Phone: 020 7287 0019

Email: admin@philharmonicsociety.uk

For guidance on applications or eligibility questions, the RPS encourages direct contact with their team by email or phone.

Overview

Founded in 1813, the Royal Philharmonic Society (RPS) is one of the UK's oldest music societies and a registered charity (No. 213693). While it no longer operates its own orchestra, the RPS continues an extensive programme supporting composers and young musicians through grants, commissions, prizes, and professional development opportunities. With total expenditure of £458,624 in 2023-24 (against income of £293,583), the Society actively invests in the future of classical music. Under the leadership of Chief Executive James Murphy (appointed 2018), the RPS has strengthened its position as a key supporter of musicians at critical career stages, from first-year music college students to established composers. The Society is overseen by a distinguished Board of Trustees chaired by Angela Dixon MBE, Chief Executive of Saffron Hall.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

RPS Composers Programme: £3,000 per commission (7-8 annually)

  • Paid commission and premiere for chamber or solo work with UK ensemble, festival or venue
  • Year-long professional development, workshops, and mentoring
  • Applications typically open February-March (closed for 2026)

RPS Instrument Purchase Grants: £16,000 total annually (individual grants £200-£1,500)

  • For first-year undergraduate music college students
  • Applications coordinated through UK conservatoires
  • Not loans - grants that do not require repayment
  • Applications due late March

RPS Julius Isserlis Scholarship: £30,000 total annually

  • For musicians aged 15-25 resident in UK
  • Individual grants range £500-£10,000
  • Supports study abroad at international music schools or with specialist teachers

RPS Instrumental Prizes:

  • Emily Anderson Violin Prize: £1,500 (ages 18-30, UK-based)
  • Philip Jones Brass Prize: £1,500 individual or £2,500 ensemble (ages 18-30, UK-based)
  • Henderson Chamber Ensemble Award: £5,000 (UK-based chamber ensembles)

RPS Gerald Moore Award: Amount varies

  • Biennial grant for exceptional piano accompanists

RPS Thea Musgrave Grants (piloting 2025):

  • Composition Grants: Support for established composers writing new works
  • Performance Grants: For performers promoting Musgrave's music
  • Applications open April-July

RPS Drummond Lockyer Fund for Dance: Two funding strands

  • Performance grants for first-time composer-choreographer collaborations
  • Research & Development grants

Eric Thompson Trust for Organists: Variable amounts

  • Grants toward further studies, instrument hire, travel for auditions
  • Preference for specific projects over continuing tuition

Priority Areas

  • Early-career composers with demonstrated professional commitment
  • Young musicians requiring instruments for professional training
  • Outstanding instrumental soloists and chamber ensembles aged 18-30
  • Musicians studying abroad with specialist teachers
  • First-time collaborations between composers and choreographers
  • Aspiring professional organists pursuing specific development projects

What They Don't Fund

  • Individuals who have received RPS funding within the previous three years
  • Students beyond first year of undergraduate study (for Instrument Purchase Grants)
  • Applications not coordinated through conservatoires (for Instrument Purchase Grants)
  • Continuing academic tuition (preference for specific projects)
  • Individual performers, festivals, opera companies, ballet companies, or record companies (for Audience Fund)
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Governance and Leadership

Chief Executive: James Murphy (appointed 2018)

  • Previously Managing Director of Southbank Sinfonia
  • Led period of noted prosperity and growth at previous organization

Chair of Trustees: Angela Dixon MBE

  • Chief Executive of Saffron Hall

Board Members Include:

  • Leon Bosch: Double bass player, noted soloist and chamber musician
  • Jo Buckley: Chief Executive of Impact Scotland, former CE of Dunedin Consort
  • Sarah Gee: Chief Executive of Spitalfields Music
  • Dr Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason: Advocate for music education and author
  • Gillian Moore CBE: Artistic Associate and former Director of Music at Southbank Centre
  • Louise Mitchell CBE: Chief Executive of Bristol Music Trust and Bristol Beacon

All trustees and council members serve in a voluntary capacity with no remuneration.

James Murphy has noted that strategic steps since his appointment in 2018 have been “warmly welcomed by the sector, and have set the charity on a stronger footing.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

RPS Composers Programme:

  • Online application through RPS website
  • Applications typically open early February to late March
  • Submit: application form, music samples demonstrating proficiency
  • Write in first person, be specific about collaborations and context

RPS Instrument Purchase Grants:

  • No direct applications - students must be nominated by their music college
  • Forms sent to UK conservatoires in January
  • Each college nominates maximum four students
  • Requires: completed student form, two references (instrumental teacher and Head of Faculty)
  • Deadline: late March (28 March 2025)

RPS Julius Isserlis Scholarship:

  • Online application
  • Deadline: March (11 March 2025)

Other Instrumental Prizes:

  • Application processes vary by prize
  • Check RPS website for specific deadlines and requirements

Decision Timeline

  • Composers Programme: Decisions typically announced 2-4 months after deadline
  • Instrument Purchase Grants: Decisions announced after March deadline
  • Julius Isserlis Scholarship: Decisions typically by spring/early summer
  • Thea Musgrave Grants: Decisions following July deadline

Notification methods vary but typically include email communication and announcements on the RPS website.

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly disclosed. However:

  • Composers Programme: 7-8 commissions awarded annually from competitive pool
  • Instrument Purchase Grants: Approximately 21 grants awarded annually
  • Julius Isserlis Scholarship: Multiple scholars selected from total pool to share £30,000
  • Each UK conservatoire can nominate maximum four students for Instrument Purchase Grants, suggesting competitive selection process

Reapplication Policy

Explicit Restriction: Applicants who have received any RPS funding within three years of the closing date are asked not to apply.

Composers Programme: Unsuccessful applicants are welcome to reapply in future years, but must explain what has been creatively occupying them since their last application.

Application Success Factors

Direct Advice from RPS:

“Write in the first person and be specific. Avoid copying a generic biography with a list of collaborators - it helps the selection panel to have context about how you have worked with the artists or initiatives you mention.”

Demonstrating Commitment:

For composers, applicants should “demonstrate genuine commitment to establishing a career as a composer, both in what they write in their application and in the proficiency of the music they submit.”

Appropriate Career Stage:

“For most people, this programme is likely to be most useful when they have already been working in the music profession in some capacity and are looking to reach the next level.”

Qualifications Not Compulsory:

“A formal degree or equivalent qualification is not compulsory” - the RPS recognizes composers pursue different routes.

Accessibility:

“The RPS continually strives to address how they can minimise barriers to the widest possible range of applicants, and they encourage people to get in touch if they sense anything that could deter them or another eligible candidate from applying.”

Recent Funded Projects (2024):

Through the Drummond Lockyer Fund for Dance:

  • “Learning to Dream Big” - Luna Kate Whitley (composer) and Seeta Patel (choreographer) at Birmingham Royal Ballet
  • “Anatomy of Survival” - Stefano Ancora (composer) and Frauke Requardt (choreographer) at The Place
  • “Village” - James Keane (composer) and Theo Clinkard (choreographer)
  • “Theatres of Hysteria” - Chloe Knibbs (composer) and Klaudia Wittmann (choreographer)

RPS Composers recipients create works for diverse ensembles and venues across the UK, demonstrating range from solo works to chamber pieces.

Language and Terminology:

The RPS emphasizes “creativity,” “excellence,” and “understanding” as core criteria. They look for “genuine commitment,” “proficiency,” and musicians at “key stages in their careers.”

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Three-year rule is critical: Do not apply if you've received any RPS funding within the previous three years - this restriction applies across all programmes.
  • Career stage matters: The RPS targets musicians at specific transitional points - early career composers, first-year music students, musicians aged 18-30, those studying abroad. Ensure your client fits the appropriate stage.
  • Demonstrate progression for repeat applications: If reapplying to Composers programme, clearly articulate creative development since last application.
  • Leverage institutional relationships: For Instrument Purchase Grants, work through conservatoire contacts - students cannot apply directly.
  • Personalize applications: Generic biographies won't succeed. Provide specific context about collaborations and how you've worked with artists/initiatives mentioned.
  • Accessibility is valued: If barriers exist, the RPS actively encourages applicants to reach out. Don't self-select out - make contact to discuss eligibility.
  • Multiple funding opportunities: The RPS offers diverse programmes serving different needs. Consider whether clients might be eligible for multiple opportunities across different years, respecting the three-year funding gap.

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