The Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation has agreed to fund a scholarship at Birmingham City University's Royal Birmingham Conservatoire starting in the 2018/19 academic year.
The scholarship will support an undergraduate student on the BA (Hons) acting course. It will cover the successful applicant’s course fees over three years and will be awarded on the basis of both financial need and merit, particularly singing ability.
Commenting on the award, Professor Stephen Simms, vice-principal – acting at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, said, “we’d like to thank the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation for this incredibly generous scholarship which will help us to continue attracting the most gifted actor-singers, irrespective of their financial circumstances.”
The Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation was set up by Lord Lloyd Webber in 1992 to promote the arts, culture and heritage. It has now awarded grants of £19 million to support training and personal development as well as other projects that enrich the quality of life for individuals and communities.
David Grindrod of the Foundation said, “I’ve been impressed with the excellent training in actor-musicianship at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and the quality of its graduates. I’m delighted the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation is supporting a scholarship there, widening access to the arts for talented young people who wouldn’t otherwise be able to take part.”
Earlier in 2018, Lord Lloyd Webber visited Royal Birmingham Conservatoire ahead of a gala concert at the college. Students performed for him a sequence from the rock musical Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson.