LSO receives £1.2 million donation

The London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) has received a donation of £1.2 million. The orchestra will use the funds to launch a three-year programme supporting postgraduate music students at the world’s leading conservatoires.

The donation was made by Alex Gerko, founder of leading algorithmic trading company XTX Markets and his wife, Elena Gerko, a research economist at the Research Hub of the Bank of England. The Moscow-born billionaire is the biggest single taxpayer in the country.

LSO managing director Kathryn McDowell, said: ‘During the initial stages of the pandemic, [the Gerkos] threw us a lifeline by being the first to make a substantial donation to our Always Playing Appeal and again last year to our Recovery Fund. This latest gift demonstrates a commitment on behalf of Alex and Elena to maintaining the highest standards of musicianship in the next generation, providing opportunity and support, absolutely in keeping with the LSO’s core beliefs.’

The scheme will support ten new students each year, providing £15,000 per year for maintenance costs while studying and offering career development opportunities, including mentoring and coaching plus rehearsal and performance opportunities with the orchestra.

Designed to broaden access postgraduate study for musicians from disadvantaged backgrounds, the programme is open to postgraduate instrumentalists of any age or nationality. In order to qualify for funding, students must be facing financial barriers, have been awarded a scholarship for a postgraduate course at one of the leading 10 conservatoires and have previously studied at undergraduate level in the UK.

Applications for the 2023/24 academic year will close on 31 March. You can find more information including how to apply here.