The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (RWCMD) and ABRSM are delighted to announce the first recipients of new music scholarships being established at the National Conservatoire of Wales. These new awards have been created as a result of the ongoing relationship between the two organisations and will help to raise further the profile of the ABRSM in Wales as well as provide valuable support for new generations of students to study in Wales. Luke Millard, an undergraduate cellist from Neath, South Wales, has been awarded a scholarship of £4,000 to cover his full fees for each year of his four year undergraduate course. Chubing Wang, a postgraduate harpsichordist from Hebei, China, will also receive a £2,000 scholarship to study at the Cardiff-based conservatoire. Both students will start their studies at the Royal Welsh College this September. The new collaboration will provide a number of new ABRSM scholarships, which from 2013 onwards will be awarded to Welsh students studying at the College. This year these have been awarded to an undergraduate and postgraduate student, but they will eventually include younger musicians at the College's Junior Department. By 2015/16 there will be an ABRSM scholarship student in every year of the music course. Hilary Boulding, Principal of the College, added, "We're excited to be extending our relationship with ABRSM and delighted that these scholarships will support a future generation of Welsh students during their studies at the National Conservatoire of Wales." "We are delighted to be working more closely with the RWCMD," commented Guy Perricone, ABRSM's Chief Executive. "These new awards provide a wonderful opportunity for us to expand our support for young musicians and I wish our new ABRSM scholars the very best with their studies."

Editor's notes

RWCMD

The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, the National Conservatoire of Wales, and part of the Glamorgan Group, competes alongside an international peer group of conservatoires and specialist arts colleges for the best students globally, enabling students to enter and influence the world of music, theatre and related professions. Last June the College opened its £22.5 million new performance and rehearsal spaces. The world-class facilities include The Richard Burton Theatre, The Linbury Gallery, a cafe bar, rehearsal studios, and The Dora Stoutzker Hall.