Introducing our new Senior Scholars!
This year, with generous support from The KM Foundation, we’re pleased to award 25 Senior Scholarships to outstanding musicians aged 15-19 years old! We are excited to forge a new partnership with the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire enabling us to award five Senior Scholarships to talented young musicians in Birmingham, alongside 20 exceptional young instrumentalists from London boroughs.
Our Senior Scholar programme offers a full and varied programme of events across the year to support the wellbeing and skills development of the young musicians, open creative pathways and increase access to careers in the music industry.
Our Senior Scholars are integral to our Youth Forum, meeting regularly across the year to discuss relevant topics, hear talks given by experts in the industry and feed into the planning of our 15th Anniversary celebrations.
Alongside a number of continuing Senior Scholars, we’re thrilled to introduce new award recipients for 2025-26:
Evan, age 17, Guildhall School of Music & Drama Junior Department, Oboe
Evan studies oboe with Philip Haworth at Junior Guildhall, where he combines first-study oboe with piano, chamber music, and conducting. Now in his fifth year there, he plans to continue oboe performance at Conservatoire after sixth form. He holds the ARSM Diploma with distinction and Piano Grade 8 distinction, and was formerly on the ABRSM Youth Advisory Board where he contributed to discussions aimed at improving music education. His performance highlights include playing with the Glyndebourne Sinfonia in the world premiere of Jonathan Dove’s ‘Uprising’, recording with the Docklands Sinfonia for the Estuary Festival, and the UK’s first Carnegie Hall Link-Up concert with the LSSO, with whom he has toured nationally at the Barbican and internationally.
Eleanor, age 15, Lambeth Music Service, Violin
Eleanor was a London Music Fund Scholar through Lambeth Music Service from 2019-23. She is currently preparing for the LTCL diploma, and is actively involved in ensembles including the National Youth Orchestra (Inspire & Open), Chineke! Junior Orchestra, and LPO Junior Artists, with performances at the Royal Festival Hall, Barbican Centre, and Smith Square Hall. She was awarded the Violin Cash Prize at the Croydon Performing Arts Festival (2025) and won multiple categories at both the Southend Festival (2024) and Woking Music Festival (2024). She has taken part in two residential programs with NYO and Chineke! and is currently a Youth and Senior Advisory Board Member for ABRSM.
Danielle, age 16, Lambeth Music Service, Clarinet
Danielle was a London music Fund Scholar from 2018-22, learning through Lambeth Music Service. She plays clarinet to Grade 8 standard and is a leading member of the Lambeth Youth Symphony Orchestra and a Music Ambassador at her school where she is studying A-Level Music. Danielle recently performed at Southwark Cathedral as part of celebrations to mark 312 years of Archbishop Tenison’s history, as well as compering Lambeth Music Service’s end of year Gala at the Queen Elizabeth Hall.
Mayukhjit, age 15, Redbridge Music Service, Flute and Piano
Mayukhjit was a London Music Fund Scholar from 2021-25 with Newham Music Service with whom he was a Learning Ambassador. He has completed his ARSM Diploma with distinction in Western flute, studying through Guildhall School of Music and Drama Junior Department, and is also preparing for his ABRSM Grade 6 piano through Redbridge Music Service. Alongside this, Mayukhjit plays Indian flute (Bansuri), Oboe, Violin, Recorder and Piccolo. Mayukhjit has won several national and international music awards and performed at venues including BBC Maidavale studios, UK Parliament, The Stoller Hall, The British Library and Trafalgar Square. His passion for promoting music via YouTube has earned him over 3300 subscribers!
Tanusha, age 15, Sutton Music Service, Flute
Tanusha was a London Music Fund Scholar through Sutton Music Service from 2021-25. She plays with Sutton Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Sutton Youth Wind Orchestra, with whom she has performed at prestigious venues such as the Royal Albert Hall and the Royal Festival Hall. Tanusha participated in the late Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee celebrations and was awarded the Queen's Platinum Silver Coin in 2022. She has played at the MFY National Festival 2023 in Birmingham with Sutton Youth Wind, and also took part in Sutton Football Club’s 125th Anniversary performance. She is currently an active member of the Sutton Music Youth Forum.
Aoife, age 15, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Junior Department, Viola
Aoife is a talented viola player and singer currently playing at grade 8 level and working towards her diploma in viola and violin. She enjoys playing in chamber ensembles and hopes to study music at Higher Education level. She particularly enjoyed playing in the NCO for 3 years and hopes to audition for the NYO when she finishes her GCSEs. Aoife also enjoys playing tennis and singing to songs on TikTok!
Davina, age 15, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Junior Department, Composition, Tenor Saxophone, Oboe and Cor Anglais, Piano
Davina is a multi-instrumentalist studying composition, piano, saxophone and oboe all at a grade 8 level. An exceptionally talented musician, Davina has won RBC’s composition prize for two years in succession. She has recently begun her third year with Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Junior Department alongside the new and exciting prospect of being a Senior Scholar, both expanding her musical horizons and developing her instrumental journey as a mentor. She is also honoured to be a member of the Chineke! Junior Orchestra.
Edward, age 17, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Junior Department, Bassoon
Edward has been playing bassoon for 6 years and is currently working towards his grade 8 exam. He started his musical journey playing the double bass, but quickly found it wasn't for him. He then wanted to play oboe or the trombone but the trombone teacher had a full schedule of students and so he was pushed towards the less common instrument of bassoon! Edward was inspired by his first bassoon teacher who was really fun and had some amazing stories and last year went on to join the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Junior Department where he now studies with Jo Mayne. Edward intends to study either engineering or music at higher education!
Luke, age 15, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Junior Department, Piano, Saxophone, Bassoon
Luke started piano lessons at 10 years old, having shown a keen interest in teaching himself at home on his keyboard. Music became a huge part of his life and he was accepted into the Junior Birmingham Conservatoire at age 13. Luke has recently been awarded his LTCL diploma on piano and also studies saxophone, where he has so far achieved a Grade 8 in Jazz and a Grade 7 in Classical. This year, he has started studying bassoon as he would like to be part of the Conservatoire orchestra. Outside of his studies at the Conservatoire, Luke loves to be part of anything musical - he's heavily involved in the music department at his school, plays first saxophone for the Worcestershire Youth Jazz Orchestra, acts as an accompanist for a local community choir and plays keyboard and sings in a rock band. Luke is looking forward to travelling down to London and taking part in the LMF events this year!
Max, age 17, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Junior Department, Piano and composition
Max has been playing piano for over 10 years and currently studies at the Junior Royal Birmingham Conservatoire under Jan Loeffler (Head of Keyboard). In 2023, he was awarded a distinction in his ARSM Diploma. Since then, he has participated in both national and international competitions, winning prizes at the Bromsgrove Young Musicians' Platform and the New Talent Festival. He has performed masterclasses with Boris Giltburg, Julian Lloyd Webber and Joanna MacGregor. He is in his final year of IB, studying music, Spanish and philosophy. In his spare time, he enjoys composing, jazz piano, choral singing and photography and hopes to attend a conservatoire after finishing his studies at school.
We look forward to working with our new award recipients and welcoming back continuing Senior Scholars in 2025-26!