Recipients are selected by competition in two stages.
The preliminary competition takes place at Grasmere Church in July. Those selected perform a 10-12 minute programme in public in front of three judges whose task it will be to select four competitors to go forward to the final stage of the competition held at Levens Hall in September.
Selected finalists will be required to perform a programme of 15-20 minutes for three different judges who will then award the prize for the year, currently £1000, with other finalists each receiving £250.
To be eligible to apply for the award:
- you must have been born/educated in Cumbria
- you must be aged 17-22 at the beginning of July in the year of the award
- you must have studied music or be currently studying at grade 8 or above.