Funtington Music Group

Robert Headley Memorial Fund

Letters from Bursary Award Holders

Penny Appleyard (2008): “The grant I received from the Funtington Music Group has been invaluable and I feel very fortunate to have received it in order to help with my fees at the Birmingham Conservatoire. It was a weight off my shoulders to know I had some financial help, making it possible to make a swift transition from University to Music College. Being at the conservatoire has provided me with vital training and experience and I have grown as a performer during my time here. I am growing closer to achieving my ambitions, am performing increasingly as a soloist, and have been able to develop my specialism in singing early music. This is thanks, in part, to the initial security provided by the grant I received, allowing me to commence the course at the time I was ready to do so.”

 Ben Lathbury(2009): “Having been an undergraduate student from 2006-2009, I fully appreciate the pros and cons of student life.  One major pro is the reliant nature of the various Local Education Authorities who provide student loans to all students who care to apply for them.  Not only does this allow students more flexibility in their day to day lives with regards to food, bills, rent and socialising, it also covers the tuition fees for the institution and offers a relatively simple payback scheme.  When I began my Masters course in September 2009, I discovered that this benefit was no longer offered.  Therefore, faced with the prospect of paying nearly £4000 in tuition fees as well as having to provide rent, bills and food every month, one would imagine many students will find themselves working so much that they neglect the course they are working so hard towards! This is a rather unfortunate irony and one I found myself faced with when I made the decision to undertake the course.

However, thanks to a generous donation of £1000 from the Robert Headley Fund of the Funtington Music Group, I find myself able to ease up on the hours I have to work.  Even freeing up as little as 8-12 hours a week (the average extra hours I would have had to work at the minimum wage to make up the surplus costs) I am finding much more time to fit in the coursework, as well as the practice that I need to be doing, in order to achieve the best degree I possibly can.  I am therefore exceptionally grateful to Funtington Music Group and sincerely hope that they will continue this generous service, so that other students will be given the opportunity to continue their education and achieve wonderful things in their respective careers”

Anna Thurland (2009): “Thanks to the support from the Funtington Music Group I have been able to accept a place at Birmingham Conservatoire specialising in performance.  Whilst studying at the Conservatoire I have been able to work with professional singers and conductors such as Jane Robinson, Stephen Barlow, Rosalind Jones and Helen Yorke.  This has given me confidence and developed my performance skills immensely.  I am also performing in the choir at the Conservatoire which will be recording a CD in May.  The opportunities I have been given within the Conservatoire would not have been possible if I had not had the support from the University of Chichester and the Funtington Music Group.  After studying at the Conservatoire I will be working on composing and performing for a film soundtrack.”

[Home] [Introduction] [How to join] [Where we meet] [2010 Programme] [Past Programme] [Programme Reviews] [Charitable Donations] [Student Bursar Holders] [Links] [Committee]