The Julian Bream Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £209,712 (FY 2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Determined by partner conservatoires during audition process
• Grant Range: Scholarships cover full UK tuition fees; institutional grants £10,000+
• Geographic Focus: UK-wide (England and Wales)

Contact Details

Website: www.julianbreamtrust.org

Email: janjbtrust@gmail.com

Phone: 01747 870278

Administrator: Mrs Janet Burnett

Overview

Established in 2008 by virtuoso classical guitarist and lutenist Julian Bream CBE (1933-2020), The Julian Bream Trust is dedicated to advancing music education and promoting the guitar repertoire. With annual expenditure of £209,712 (FY 2024), the Trust operates through two primary mechanisms: providing comprehensive scholarships for exceptionally gifted classical guitar and lute students at Britain's leading conservatoires, and commissioning new works from major contemporary composers. The Trust emerged from Bream's formative experience in 1948 when Sir George Dyson, Principal of the Royal College of Music, admitted him without fees despite his family's financial constraints. Today, the Trust ensures financial barriers do not prevent talented young musicians from accessing world-class musical education, while simultaneously enriching the guitar repertoire through strategic commissioning of new compositions.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Senior Scholarships - Value varies (covers full UK tuition fees)

• Available at Royal Academy of Music, Royal College of Music, and Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama
• For classical guitar or lute students
• Undergraduate applicants must be under 20; postgraduate under 26
• Any nationality accepted
• Awarded during standard conservatoire auditions—no separate application to the Trust

Junior Scholarships - Value not publicly disclosed

• For school-age students resident in the United Kingdom
• Classical guitar or lute focus
• Awarded through conservatoire nomination process

Institutional Grants - £10,000+ per award

• Strategic funding to enhance guitar and historical performance departments at conservatoires
• Example: £10,000 to Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (2024) for purchasing a 19th-century guitar and establishing prizes for early music performance

Commissions - Value not disclosed

• Invitation-only commissioning of new compositions for classical guitar
• Focus on works by leading contemporary composers
• Since 2013, has commissioned works from Leo Brouwer, Harrison Birtwistle, Julian Anderson, Olli Mustonen, Edward Cowie, Roxanna Panufnik, and David Matthews

Priority Areas

• Classical guitar performance at the highest level
• Lute and historical plucked string instruments
• Creation of new repertoire for guitar through composer commissions
• Support for students “irrespective of their personal circumstances or financial wherewithal”
• Early music performance on guitar and related instruments

What They Don't Fund

• Direct applications from individual students (must be nominated by conservatoires)
• Students not studying at Royal Academy of Music, Royal College of Music, or Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama
• Instruments other than classical guitar or lute
• Music education outside the three partner conservatoires
• Direct applications from composers seeking commissions

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Governance and Leadership

The Julian Bream Trust operates with 5 trustees, none of whom receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The Trust has no employees with benefits exceeding £60,000 and maintains up-to-date reporting with the Charity Commission.

Administrator: Mrs Janet Burnett, based in Wiltshire, manages day-to-day operations.

Founder's Vision: Julian Bream established the Trust with two overriding interests: providing scholarships and commissioning new music. As Bream stated about his commissioning work: "I have commissioned, throughout my career, twenty or more substantial solo pieces... beginning with Malcolm Arnold's splendid Guitar Concerto Op. 67 in 1958." This dual focus continues to guide the Trust's strategic priorities.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For Scholarships: This funder does not have a public application process for scholarships. Students cannot apply directly to The Julian Bream Trust. Instead:

1. Apply to study classical guitar or lute at one of the three partner conservatoires (Royal Academy of Music, Royal College of Music, or Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama)
2. Go through the standard audition and admission process at your chosen conservatoire
3. Julian Bream Trust Scholarships are awarded automatically during this process based on musical merit
4. Contact the relevant conservatoire directly for admission and audition information

For Commissions: The Trust commissions new works by invitation only. No direct applications are accepted from composers.

For Institutional Grants: No public application process is documented. The Trust appears to make strategic grants to conservatoires at its discretion to enhance guitar and historical performance programs.

Decision Timeline

Scholarship decisions are made as part of the conservatoire audition and admission process, typically in the spring for September enrollment. Specific timelines vary by institution.

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. The Trust awards multiple scholarships annually across the three partner conservatoires but does not publish application or success statistics.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as students do not apply directly to the Trust. Scholarship recipients may continue receiving support throughout their studies based on continued musical merit and progress.

Application Success Factors

Since students cannot apply directly to the Trust, success depends on excelling in the conservatoire audition process. However, the Trust's documented priorities provide insight into what they value:

Musical Merit is Paramount: The Trust explicitly states that scholarships are “awarded on the basis of musical merit” and are available “irrespective of their personal circumstances or financial wherewithal.” Focus on demonstrating exceptional technical ability and musicianship in your conservatoire audition.

Instrument Specialization Matters: The Trust was founded specifically for classical guitar and lute students—instruments that historically received less institutional support. As Bream's experience demonstrates (admitted to RCM in 1948 despite no guitar professorship), the Trust champions these instruments at the highest level.

Age Requirements: Strictly enforced. Senior scholarships require applicants to be under 20 for undergraduate programs or under 26 for postgraduate programs at the date of enrollment. Junior scholars must be of school age and UK resident.

The Founder's Legacy: Understanding Julian Bream's artistic values may provide context for what the Trust seeks to perpetuate. Bream was known for commissioning new works, championing early music on period instruments, and pursuing the highest standards of performance. Students who demonstrate these values—innovation, historical awareness, and uncompromising musical excellence—align with the Trust's mission.

Conservatoire Selection: Since scholarships are only available at three institutions, your choice matters. Each conservatoire has different guitar faculty and performance opportunities; research which aligns best with your artistic goals.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Note: This Trust does not accept grant applications from organizations. The following is relevant for conservatoires seeking institutional support or individuals seeking scholarship information:

• No direct applications accepted: Students must apply through partner conservatoires; composers are invited to create commissions
• Musical excellence is the sole criterion: The Trust evaluates purely on merit, removing financial barriers for the most gifted students
• Limited scope but deep impact: Focusing exclusively on classical guitar and lute allows specialized, meaningful support in an underserved area
• Institutional grants are strategic: The £10,000 grant to Royal Birmingham Conservatoire shows the Trust invests in infrastructure and resources, not just individual scholarships
• Commissions enrich the field: By commissioning works from leading composers (Birtwistle, Brouwer, Anderson, Panufnik), the Trust expands the guitar repertoire for future generations
• Long-term relationships: Partnership with three specific conservatoires suggests building deep relationships rather than broad distribution
• The Trust perpetuates Bream's values: Understanding Julian Bream's artistry—technical mastery, historical awareness, commissioning new works—provides insight into the Trust's priorities

References

• The Julian Bream Trust - Official Website
• The Julian Bream Trust - About Page
• The Julian Bream Trust - Scholarships Information
• The Julian Bream Trust - Scholars List
• The Julian Bream Trust - Commissions
• Charity Commission Register - The Julian Bream Trust (1130890)
• Royal Birmingham Conservatoire - Julian Bream Trust Award News
• RWCMD Guitarists Awarded Julian Bream Scholarships
• Royal Academy of Music - Scholarships and Bursaries

All sources.