a musical scholarship awarded annually to an outstanding, young musician from Cumbria

The preliminary round of the award competition will take place at Grasmere Church on Monday 2nd July, 2012. (NB Change of Date!)

Finalists will then compete at Levens Hall on Friday 31st August 2012.

Check the rules to see if you are eligible then download an application form

“It was such an honour winning the Keldwth Award last year [2010] and I am extremely grateful for the financial aid towards my music studies. I decided to go to Italy for nine months, to study the language and to take singing lessons. The money enabled me to attend lessons with a Professor from Bologna Conservatorio di Musica, G B Martini. We worked mainly on technique, relaxation and pronunciation as well as on many different Italian songs. These lessons were invaluable to me.

The award also enabled me to attend Evelyn Tubb’s Masterclass back in England. I learned an incredible amount from the session and it made me a lot more aware of my presence on a stage.

The remainder of the money has helped pay for lessons with my singing teacher in England since I returned from Italy.The award not only helped financially but it also gave me such a confidence boost and has really made to want to pursue further studies and so I am currently applying for many courses.”

ROSEANNA SKIKUN

Over the past 28 years, The Keldwyth Award has provided a discerning competition stage with experienced adjudicators and cash awards at stake to help support the development of many young musicians from Cumbria. Some of the past winners have been in touch to let us know where they are now.

27th Keldwyth Award winner, Magdalena Loth-Hill spoke very eloquently at the 28th final evening about how the Keldwyth Award had helped her over the past year.

“Last year I was fortunate enough to win the Keldwyth Award. I was very grateful indeed for the financial help and you’d probably like to know how I spent it. Well firstly, I bought a violin case. My previous case was in a very sorry state, and with the award I was able to buy a really good quality replacement which is supposed to be one of the best on the market, and should last me a long time! Thanks to the award I was also able to attend a music course in Assisi in late July in which I played as a member of a chamber orchestra for a series of conducting masterclasses held by Robin O’Neill. I have just completed my first year at Music College in London and the remainder of the award money has been extremely useful in supporting my studies especially as London is such an expensive place to live. So I’d like to thank the Keldwyth committee and all involved with the award for their generosity.”

Congratulations to Roseanna Skikun for winning the 2010  Keldwyth Award. This was a unanimous decision by the adjudicators - John Iveson, Sue Osmaston and Scott Bradley. The standard was very high. John commented that they all could have been winners.