Loughborough Endowed Schools Music School Music Scholarships & Exhibition Awards Information for Parents
Scholarships The LES Music School offers scholarships to talented musicians offering two or three instruments (plus a willingness to contribute to choral activity if voice is not one of their instruments ). Awards are usually based on a contribution towards music tuition fees over the course of the pupil s time at Loughborough Endowed Schools. The amount may vary depending on the instrument and level of attainment reached. At all levels we are looking at musicality and potential as much as technical prowess; we do not stipulate a particular grade for the second instrument. However, those playing minority orchestral instruments (whether as principal or second study) may be given a little latitude, whereas the standard of pianists who apply is generally around one grade higher. Also with pianists, the second instrument takes on increased importance as their ensemble opportunities are more limited. Criteria: The below criteria relates to the principal instrument studied: Year 7 entry Year 9 entry Grade 4 and above Grade 6 and above Year 12 entry Grade 8 and above We expect individuals to perform at distinction standard whatever their grade. Expectations of Scholars: Pre-Auditions: Parents who are considering putting their child in for a scholarship are encouraged to make contact with the Director of Music and arrange an informal pre-audition. Please email or telephone the school for more information. Increasingly we do not audition candidates without going through this stage. The purpose of the pre-audition is to give the Director of Music an opportunity to advise on how best to prepare for the audition and to make candidates feel less nervous about the process. Pupils from Fairfield are also expected to pre-audition but may also wish, in the first instance, to talk to Mrs McGee, Head of Junior Music, as well as their child s Individual Music Teacher. If your child successfully gains a scholarship, they are expected to have their music lessons at the LES Music School; any exceptions are entirely at the discretion of the Director of Music. There will be an expectation that he or she fully participates in extra-curricular activities, committing to regular rehearsals for termly concerts as well as regular performances in lunchtime recitals. It is important that our Music Scholars know and feel that they are at the forefront of the musical life of the Endowed Schools, both in the contribution they make and the sense of pride and responsibility they feel. New award holders will take part in the New Scholars and Exhibitioners Recital which takes place early in the autumn term.
Applying for a Scholarship Scholarships are awarded following an audition by a panel chaired by the Director of Music who may be joined by colleagues with particular instrumental expertise as well as an independent advisor, often one of our Visiting Fellows. The audition itself takes approximately 25 minutes. The audition will include appropriate sight-reading, scales, arpeggios, aural tests and of course the prepared pieces. We also ask that all candidates prepare a verse of a hymn or folk song to sing unaccompanied; this is in addition to any prepared piece for those candidates offering voice as an instrument. The Music School provides an accompanist (apart from pianists) and candidates will be given 15 minutes prior to their audition to rehearse their chosen audition piece(s). All pieces for instrumentalists and singers must be accompanied with the exception of the unaccompanied song or hymn. Applications should be sent to the Director of Music. Auditions are held in January around the time of the entrance exams to Loughborough Grammar School and Loughborough High School. We ask parents to consider carefully before making an application, especially if they have not attended a pre-audition. It is highly unlikely that pupils will be given an award unless they are at or near the levels indicated, and we must reserve the right to not audition a candidate if we feel that the experience would be counter-productive. We would reassure parents that we value the music making of all our pupils regardless of whether or not they hold an award. Application forms can be obtained from the Music School website or from the School Registrar After the Closing Date: If your child is invited to audition, you will be contacted by the Music School during the week following the closing date for applications with details of the audition time. For details of the closing date for scholarship applications, please consult our website at. The outcome of the audition will be communicated to you in writing. Any scholarship offers will be made as part of the general offer letter sent out by the schools.
Exhibitions The LES Music School offers exhibitions for excellence on individual instruments. The awards seek to reward and recognise musicians who have flourished and developed at the Music School but did not receive a scholarship upon entry. It is also equally possible that a candidate who does not quite meet the standards for a music scholarship may nonetheless be successful in winning a music exhibition in their first term at LGS/LHS. Exhibitions are awarded internally every September and are tenable for one year at a time. The value of the award is variable and contributes to the cost of music lessons taken at the Music School. Criteria: To apply for an Exhibition Award, the following criteria applies: Year 7/ 8 Grade 5 and above Year 9/10 Grade 6/ 7 Year 11-13 Grade 8 The standard required for pianists is generally around one grade higher. Expectations of Exhibitioners: If your child successfully gains an exhibition, there will be an expectation that he or she fully participates in extra-curricular activities, committing to regular rehearsals for termly concerts as well as regular performances in lunchtime recitals. It is important that our Exhibitioners know and feel that they are at the forefront of the music life of the Endowed Schools, both in the contribution they make and the sense of pride and responsibility they feel. New award holders will take part in the New Scholars and Exhibitioners Recital which takes place early in the autumn term.
Applying for an Exhibition Exhibitions are awarded following a short audition by the Director of Music. The Music School provides an accompanist (all instrumentalists and vocalists must perform an accompanied piece) and candidates will be given 5 minutes prior to their audition to rehearse their piece. The audition itself takes approximately 10 minutes and candidates will be asked questions about their piece and their motivation for applying for an award. Scales, sightreading and aural skills will not be tested. We ask potential candidates to discuss their application with their individual music teacher prior to submission. Applications should be sent to the Director of Music. Auditions are held early in the autumn term. Application forms can be obtained from the Music School website After the Closing Date: If your child is invited to audition, you will be contacted by the Music School via email shortly after the closing date. For details of the closing date for exhibition applications, please consult our website at. The outcome of the audition will be communicated to you in writing.
LES Music School Philip Tomlinson Building Burton Walks Loughborough Leicestershire LE11 2DU