Bursaries

The Music Bursary for Performance

The Music Bursary for Performance was first awarded in 2015 and already has a distinguished list of recipients. The bursary, worth £5,000, is awarded to a student who is Irish born or first generation, continuing their music education in Britain.

Students are nominated by this country’s leading music conservatoires and colleges to attend auditions held in the Wigmore Hall in London in November. The successful recipient also receives a London debut at an Irish Heritage event.

The Music Bursary for Composition

The Music Bursary for Composition which was introduced in 2018, is open to young Irish born and first generation Irish composers studying at recognised music conservatoires and other colleges in Ireland and Britain. The recipient of the successful composition receives an award of £3,000 to be used in furthering their artistic and professional development with their new composition receiving its world premiere at an Irish Heritage event in London.

The Homan Potterton Bursary for String Instruments

This bursary was presented in summer 2021 by Alex Heusen in memory of Homan Potterton, a former Director of the National Gallery of Ireland and supporter of Irish Heritage. The bursary is open to Irish born and first generation students from the island of Ireland undertaking post-graduate degree courses at the leading music conservatoires and colleges in Britain.

The bursary operates in parallel with the charity’s music bursary for performance and is awarded to the musician who performs best at the adjudication day in the Wigmore Hall each November. The recipient receives a cash prize of £3,000 and a performance opportunity at an Irish Heritage event in London.

The Brackaville Bursary for Vocal Studies

The Brackaville Bursary for Vocal Studies which was launched in 2019, is open to Irish born and first generation students attending recognised music conservatoires and colleges in Britain. It operates in parallel with Irish Heritage’s existing bursary for performance and is awarded to the singer who performs best in the auditions for the latter in the Wigmore Hall in London each November. In addition to a cash award of £2,500 the recipient will receive a performance opportunity at an Irish Heritage event in London.

The Accompanist’s or Special Award

In addition, Irish Heritage presents an Accompanist’s or Special Award (valued at £500) associated with the Blackwater Valley Opera Festival. There are performance opportunities both with Irish Heritage and at Blackwater Valley Opera Festival which takes place annually each summer in Waterford, Ireland. Visit blackwatervalleyopera.ie for more information.