🎺🎻 Baroque Orchestra Bursaries: Up to 90% Support for Emerging Early Music Artists

Specialist orchestral experience in early music is rare.

For players of violin, viola, bassoon and harpsichord opportunities to rehearse intensively, explore historically informed performance, and prepare large-scale repertoire simply don’t come along often.

That’s why we offer bursaries of up to 90% for our Baroque Orchestra course, directed by Steven Devine.

These bursaries ensure that talented young musicians can access an immersive, professional-level experience — regardless of financial background.

A Rare Immersive Experience

As Steven Devine describes:

“One of the highlights of any musician’s career is working with young artists as they emerge from the hot-house of learning into the freeway of professional life.

The opportunity offered by the Music Summer School to create a forum where they meet and work with other talent and other disciplines is very rare in the United Kingdom and crucially important…

The fact that the experience is so enjoyable and collegiate and in beautiful surroundings makes everything even better.”

That rare combination — high standards, specialist focus, and a supportive atmosphere — is exactly what our bursary students describe.

Find out more about Steven Devine here.

Why Joining the Course Mattered

For Elizabeth Foxley, the draw was depth and time:

“It was really important to gain more experience playing in a Baroque orchestra and to meet other people my age interested in making music in the same way. It’s rare to have so much rehearsal time and delve deep into pieces without the pressure of a concert on the same evening.”

For Núria Vizcaíno, it was a transformative immersion:

“Being able to take part in the course was essential to develop myself as a musician and personally. I was thankful for the unique experience of being in a mainly early music environment… learning from colleagues even during lunchtime, attending concerts every day, and developing Baroque cello technique within an ensemble.”

For continuo player Kiele Sacco, the course filled a crucial professional gap:

“As a keyboard/continuo player, it is always difficult to gain experience playing large orchestral works outside conservatoire studies. The course ensured that we gained valuable orchestral experience and became familiar with a large work in Baroque Orchestra.”

And for natural trumpet player George Sharman, it was about access to something he rarely experiences:

“I very rarely get the opportunity to play in a large ensemble with the natural trumpet; therefore, this gave me invaluable experience. It also allowed me to meet like-minded musicians and tutors.”

Intensive Repertoire

A highlight for many students is working on large-scale choral and orchestral repertoire, this year the Baroque Orchestra will be working on Bach, Telemann and Fasch.

What They Gained

Across all four testimonials, the themes are strikingly consistent:

• Extended rehearsal time rarely found elsewhere

• Immersion in a dedicated early music environment

• Exposure to major repertoire

• High expectations within a positive, collegiate atmosphere

• Meaningful networking and friendships

Elizabeth describes the atmosphere:

“Very positive, but you also felt pushed to be your absolute best.”

Kiele notes the balance:

“While we aim for high excellence, it’s a supportive course environment where everyone is there to gain experience and build connections.”

And George reflects on the intensity:

“A great amount of playing in a short space of time sped up the learning process for me.”

Confidence That Lasts Beyond the Week

The impact of bursary support continues long after the final performance.

Elizabeth shares:

“The course gave me a lot of confidence, which has definitely helped as I’ve just graduated and still feel new to it all.”

George, now a trumpet student at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, explains:

“It has allowed me to feel much more confident on the natural trumpet — meaning it is much more fun to practice!”

Núria adds:

“It was a week that left a print on me and I will never forget.”

This is what our bursaries make possible: not just participation, but acceleration, confidence, and artistic clarity.

🎻 Could a Baroque Orchestra Bursary Help You?

If you are passionate about early music, our bursaries of up to 90% offer:

• Professional-level orchestral immersion

• Leadership from Steven Devine, Gail Hennessy and Gavin Kibble

• 

  Specialist period-instrument experience

• Large-scale repertoire

• A supportive yet ambitious environment

Talent deserves opportunity. And through our bursaries, we are committed to ensuring it thrives.

Apply for a bursary here.