03 January 2024
- Student news
My journey to the Academy: Prapti Debsarker
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The Widening Participation team works with individual departments at the Academy to develop projects and events
We identify, support and mentor young people from groups currently under-represented among those who choose to study at conservatoires.
'I really enjoyed having my composition played and listening to what other people wrote and their influences. Also I enjoyed receiving information regarding music at uni and different opportunities available'
16-year-old Composer Club participant
Since 2020, the Widening Participation team has worked with more than 650 young people through a range of activities including short term projects and workshops, summer schools, and ongoing mentoring support.
Projects are led by expert tutors from Junior and Senior Academy, external workshop leaders, and high-profile musicians through collaborative projects with partner organisations.
Senior students on the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes are offered opportunities to support Widening Participation projects to enhance their practice as workshop musicians and leaders.
Projects we run
Composers Club | Jazz Club | Percussion Club | Audition Club | Mentor Club | Springboard Grade 5 Theory Summer School | Inner Ear Summer Programme | Community First String Experience | Musical Theatre Outreach Workshops | Alexis Ffrench Masterclass
'I loved the advice we were given. It was really genuine and helpful. It was fun also to be able to express ourselves through improvisation'
17-year-old Alexis Ffrench Masterclass Participant
Many young people have attended several Widening Participation projects as a way to support their ongoing musical progression, and audition fee waivers to Junior Academy programmes are offered to all young people who have taken part in Widening Participation activities.
Former participants have gone on to gain places at Junior Academy, Junior Jazz, Junior Academy Musical Theatre and the BMus undergraduate degree courses here at the Academy, with others gaining places at Junior Trinity and undergraduate courses at the Royal Northern College of Music and University of Cambridge.
How to get involved
'I was able to experience many excellent performances and learn about lots of new techniques of performance, for example learning how to relax when under stress. I found the one-to-one lessons to be very helpful to me and through all of this I believe my skills as a musician greatly improved'
14-year-old Inner Ear Summer Programme Participant
Young People (aged 11-18) and Parents/Guardians
- We send out emails to let previous attendees know about upcoming project activities, so keep an eye out for these in your inbox.
- If you haven’t attended any projects before, you may hear about opportunities through your music teacher at school, or main contact at your local Music Hub if you are involved with them.
- You can also find out about project opportunities through our social media channels.
State Schools and Music Hubs (in London)
- We contact schools and Music Hubs directly to ensure they have the information required to identify young people who would benefit from involvement in projects.
- We can arrange visits to schools or Music Hubs to run a one-hour Audition Club workshop, offering support and handy advice for young people who are thinking about applying for advanced musical study at a university or conservatoire. Please contact us directly if you would like to arrange a workshop for your school or Music Hub.
Images: Charlotte Levy
