A bursary worth £1,500 and a programme of professional mentoring is being made available to help further the career path of a young, talented Milton Keynes-based musician or band.

The winner of the bursary will be able to use their £1,500 award for training, equipment, recording, marketing, promotion or touring. The mentoring programme will be managed by The Stables in Milton Keynes and will include insights into the music industry, tailored to the bursary winners’ career needs and ambitions. It will provide advice on how to navigate the music industry, how to develop as a successful artist and create a fanbase, and how you earn money from writing, recording and performing music.

The Fresh Sounds bursary scheme has been made possible with support from Milton Keynes Community Foundation and the Christopher Hopkinson Memorial Music Fund, and is being managed by The Stables.

Fresh Sounds is open to songwriters, composers, artists, bands, producers or performers aged between 16 and 24 from any genre of music, who live in the unitary authority of Milton Keynes and who are ready to take their music career to the next stage.

Graeme Surtees, Head of Learning and Participation at The Stables, commented: “Milton Keynes is home to some amazing and creative young musicians, but it can be hard for them to make careers and get established in the music industry. This bursary can help them overcome some of the barriers to getting started, knowing where to go to for advice and finding the resources to make those early steps happen.”

Full details of Fresh Sounds can be found at Fresh Sounds. The closing date for applications is Friday 29 November.

Milton Keynes-based Young Musicians to Get Support to Boost Music Career