music changes young people’s lives
financial support
FOSYM Awards and Grant Applications
Please refer to the FOSYM Award Guidance Document on our publications page to check your eligibility for FOSYM financial support, or contact FOSYM via our enquiries email for more information.
FOSYM can help towards the cost of activities such as:
- Regular instrumental or vocal lessons for a set period of time;
- Membership of a music group or ensemble;
- Purchase of instruments or music-related equipment;
- Sheet music for an exam or course;
- An instrumental or vocal exam entry;
- Attendance at a music audition or interview for a music course at a College or University;
- Attendance at a Masterclass or short course that will help musical development;
- Attendance at a concert or musical event that will enhance learning.
Find out what your donation can do
FOSYM makes Grants to Staffordshire Schools and actively seeks other funding streams to support music activities and projects in schools
FOSYM makes Grants to Staffordshire Music Centres for a variety of activities to support music making in local areas.
To apply for FOSYM financial support or for more details please contact Entrust Music Service Staffordshire, who administer awards and grants on FOSYM’s behalf.
ENTRUST MUSIC SERVICE CONTACT DETAILS
Email: musicservice@entrust-ed.co.uk
Telephone: 0333 300 1900 and ask to speak to the Music Service Team about FOSYM Awards and Grants.
Parents/ Carers will need to be able to give the following information when making contact:
- Name of child, name of school your child attends.
- Parent/carers email address, parent/carers contact telephone number.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
FOSYM is grateful for generous financial support from:
THE LAVEY FUND
The Lavey Fund was established by the Bebbington family who are valued members of FOSYM. Young aspiring instrumentalists continue to be supported in the Staffordshire Young Musician of the Year Instrumental Competition and other events.
THE MURFIN FUND FOR PERCUSSION
The Murfin Fund was established in 2018 by a generous gift in memory of Paul Murfin, a percussionist and Staffordshire teacher. It is being used to support young percussionists to obtain special tuition.
Stafford Choral Society
Stafford Choral Society was formed in 1946 and gave its first concert in December of that year performing Messiah under the direction of Dr Coleman. In 1974, the Director of Music for Staffordshire, John W R Taylor, took over the reins. He continued to rehearse and perform a wide repertoire of large-scale choral works including works by Rossini, Kodaly, Elgar, Verdi and Ralph Vaughan-Williams until his death in 1981. Leslie Smith took over as Musical Director in 1986, leading the Society for twenty-nine years. Stafford Choral Society’s Golden Jubilee was marked with a performance of Verdi’s Requiem in Lichfield Cathedral and celebrated the millennium at Lichfield Cathedral with a performance of Mendelssohn’s Elijah.
Since then, the choir has enjoyed several conductors including David Young, Ellie Slorach, and currently Charlie Perry. All have introduced the choir to an ever widening repertoire.
In 2017 SCC instigated an annual Bursary award designed to support a young singer financially and provide a performance opportunity with the choir. Winners of the bursary have included Ed Robinson (2017), Alice Dix (2019) and Josie Lamplough 2022 – all who have been contestants in, or winners of the Staffordshire Young Singer of the Year. The competition has been supported financially by FOSYM since it began several years ago.
The Trustees of FOSYM are delighted that Stafford Choral Society has agreed to work in partnership and will award bursaries directly to the winners of the three singing categories at the Staffordshire Young Musicians Competition this year, and into the future.
The Taylor Family - in memory of John and Margaret
The John W R Taylor Memorial Fund was established in 2012 in memory of a former Staffordshire Director of Music, at the behest of his widow, Mrs Margaret M Hassall BEM, who is a Patron of FOSYM. Young aspiring singers continue to be supported in the Staffordshire Young Musician of the Year Vocal Competition.