We’re committed to supporting young composers from underrepresented backgrounds.
That’s why we launched Samuel Coleridge-Taylor Prize in 2023 as part of our commitment to enable more young people embark on a career within the classical music industry.
The Prize
The winner of the prize receives a bursary of £1000 to support their professional development. This can be used to fund expenses such as further mentoring, purchasing equipment or software, or contributing to recording costs.
Selected finalists will also have the opportunity to workshop their piece with our players and a professional mentor.
Applications for our 2025 Prize are now closed.
Hear from our first winner
Why we created the Prize
Research shows that people from poorer backgrounds are far less likely to engage with the arts, and the same is true for people of global majority heritage. Equally, those who are disabled, come from a lower socioeconomic group or don’t have higher level qualification are less likely to participate.
- Less than 1% of performers in UK orchestras are from global majority backgrounds (‘When the Music Dies’, Jo Yee Cheung, Royal Northern College of Music and Independent Society of Musicians)
- Less than 44% of new graduates at a leading music conservatoire attended state schools (‘When the Music Dies’)
- 80% of Disabled people surveyed find music-making a positive experience, but only 61% know how and where to access financial support to make it viable (‘Reshape Music’, Youth Music)
- The attainment gap between disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged pupils in music GCSE is 20 months, meaning their performance is 20 months being their peers. This is the highest gap of any subject. (‘Education in England’, Education Policy Institute)
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Meet our finalists
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Generously supported by D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust.