Applications for Fresh Sounds 2022 are now closed. Watch this space for news about the current awards and for future opportunities.

About the Award

Fresh Sounds offers two £1,500 bursaries and mentoring programmes to two young Milton Keynes-based musicians or ensembles/bands to support their path to becoming professional musicians.

Each bursary can be used to pay for either training (including further education), equipment, recording, touring, marketing or promotions. It is awarded as a grant and does not need to be repaid; it is a donation to the recipient.

The mentoring programme will be managed by The Stables and will include tailored insights into the music industry. Areas to be covered are likely to include informal and formal training plus advice on how to secure paid gigs, develop a fan base and earn money from writing, recording and performing music. The detailed mentoring programmes will be created with with the successful candidates in response to their own ambitions and knowledge gaps.

Criteria

You must be a musician who lives in the unitary authority of Milton Keynes - see map at the bottom of the page
You can perform any style of music and do not need to have taken any formal music examinations
You should be of a high standard and demonstrate that you have performed to audiences in a variety of ways
You must be aged between 16 & 25 years old.
Open to young music creators who are songwriters, composers, artists, bands, producers or performers who are writing and performing their own music.

We will be looking for:

extraordinary musical talent
originality
serious effort in developing your music and your career so far

If you have any questions about the award scheme or how to apply, please email Graeme Surtees, Head of Learning & Participation at The Stables education@stables.org

Background to the Award

This award has been made possible through support from MK Community Foundation (Christopher Hopkinson Memorial Music Fund) and The Wavendon Foundation.

MK Community Foundation is the leading grantmaking charity in Milton Keynes. They gave away more than £1.9 million in support to the local community in 2019, including Bursaries and Awards for individuals.

The Wavendon Foundation was founded by Sir John Dankworth and Dame Cleo Laine with the aim to assist those needing help in pursuing or continuing their chosen career in the performing arts.

Unitary authority of Milton Keynes