RWCMD launches fund with Sir Bryn Terfel

The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (RWCMD) has launched a new scholarship fund in partnership with Welsh bass-baritone and college vice president, Sir Bryn Terfel. Sir Bryn launched the new initiative at RWCMD’s Canu’r Dydd (Sing the Day) fundraising event on Saturday (25 February).

Cronfa Syr Bryn Terfel will support projects and commissions that celebrate the Welsh language and culture, starting in 2024 with a new international biennial song prize during which competitors will be required to perform at least one song in Welsh and one in their own language. The competition will be open to singers from conservatoires across the world, with a £5,000 prize up for grabs.

Sir Bryn said: ‘With funding for arts education and the arts in general constantly squeezed and under pressure, it’s becoming more and more difficult for our next generations – particularly those who don’t start with financial advantage – to come through as I was able to do… My wife Hannah and I are working closely with the leadership and development teams at the College to find and inspire the first philanthropists and donors who will join us on this exciting journey to build a new and lasting fund and to create the opportunities and support that are so desperately needed.’

The fund will also build on the existing Sir Bryn Terfel Foundation to offer multiple scholarships and bursaries supporting students studying singing in a variety of genres at RWCMD. The fund forms part of RWCMD’s wider scholarship and bursary programme, which in 2021 saw bursaries of up to £1200 given to all its new UK undergraduate students with a household income of below £30k.

Over the next 3 years, Sir Bryn hopes to raise major donations to fund this support. He will work with the College to identify lead partners who will contribute founding gifts to build towards a £5m fund. 

RWCMD principal Helena Gaunt and director of music Tim Rhys-Evans said: ‘In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and amidst huge financial pressures, life in the arts is not an easy choice to make, so we need to make sure that future generations of young people feel they can join us to break new ground, create outstanding work and feed into the industry to make positive change.’