Funtington Music Group

Charitable Donations

Funtington Music Group (FMG) was awarded Charitable Status at the end of 2004.  This has meant that there has been more money available through the Gift Aid Scheme to fulfil the original objectives of the Group in support of musical education.

The Robert Headley Fund was set up in memory of the FMG founder to help students who are preparing for the start of their musical careers and has been able to award grants to graduates for fourth year professional studies where family incomes are not able to sustain full costs.

In 2005 a first award of £1000 was made to Rachel Staley, a University of Chichester graduate, who obtained a place at Birmingham Conservatoire.  This was followed in 2006 by a grant of £500 to local cellist, Ella Rundle, to help her purchase an instrument worthy of her developing talent.  Ella started at the London Guildhall School of Music in September 2007.

A grant of £2000 was awarded in 2007 to Gerri Rawlings to help finance her Performance Diploma Course at the Royal Northern School of Music and in 2008 we made awards of £1000 to Robert Trainer at Trinity College, London and to Penelope Appleyard at Birmingham Conservatoire.

In 2009, £1500 was awarded to soprano Anna Thurland to study Specialist Performance at the Birmingham Conservatoire and £1000 to pianist Ben Lathbury for the MA Performance Course at Chichester University.  In 2010 awards of £1000 each were made to pianists Tej Lander at Southampton University and Ben Socrates at Trinity College, London.

Two extra grants of £750 were made in 2011 to pianist Rob Westwood and violinist Li Ka Chung, who have enrolled in a new fourth year course at Chichester University.  These are in addition to grants of £1000 awarded to counter-tenor Toby Forster at Trinity College, London and flautist Jasmine Selby at Cardiff University.

The Robert Headley Fund has also awarded prizes worth £1000 each year for adjudicated performances at University of Chichester Student Showcase Concerts.

Letters from Bursary Award Holders

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