Engaging Young Musicians Keen to Launch a Career in Empowering Others
A new bursary-supported training scheme is set to boost the careers of two aspiring music leaders keen to inspire people of all ages.
The nine-month BSO Young Associates scheme will equip participants with vital skills in leading music projects in a range of health and social settings.
Performing throughout the South West, from Bournemouth to Bristol, Exeter, Poole and Portsmouth, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra is calling out to young people who are currently underrepresented in the UK’s arts workforce to apply.
Offered by Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO), the bursary-supported placements will provide bespoke mentoring and experiences for passionate creatives aged 18-26.
Young people with a gift for music-making — and a passion for helping and inspiring others — will have the chance to put their heart and soul into motivating people all ages: the BSO Young Associates programme is open for applications until Thursday 3 March.
At the last count, it was reported that people who identify as disabled, or who are from Black, Asian or Ethnically Diverse backgrounds, accounted for just 7% and 13% of those working in the UK’s creative industries respectively [1] — alongside this, despite representing just under one-third of the UK’s national workforce, those from working class backgrounds accounted for just 16% of those working in the creative sector [2].
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra has created its BSO Young Associates programme as a direct response, raising funds through the Big Give Christmas Challenge to help support two aspiring musicians who might not otherwise have the opportunity to undertake an internship or placement to launch a career in the arts.
Bea Hankey, Head of BSO Participate said: “Whether you’re an instrumentalist, producer, or singer-songwriter we want to hear from you! We’re looking for people who are natural communicators, with an unshakable passion for the empowering impact of music and a desire to create positive change at the heart of our communities. In exchange, you’ll receive mentoring from leading practitioners and experiences to help catapult the start of a rewarding arts career.”
Challenging barriers to high-quality music for all, the BSO leads hundreds of events each year, from award-winning work in health and care settings to partnerships with schools and music education hubs. The two BSO Young Associates will have the chance to experience the full range of the organisation’s outreach work, helping those both young and old in a variety of projects.
The BSO is known globally for championing the role of culture in people’s lives. It received the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Impact Award in 2019 for its work in improving opportunities for disabled musicians, and BSO Resound — the world’s first professional disabled-led ensemble at the core of a major orchestra —continues to receive international attention for igniting change.
Dougie Scarfe, Chief Executive of Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra said, “Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra’s vision is to be the cultural heartbeat at the core of our communities, both in and beyond the concert hall — the launch of the BSO Young Associates programme is an exciting moment and we can’t wait to welcome our new recruits.
“The programme has been funded by a philanthropic community through the Big Give campaign, and with additional support from Allianz Musical Insurance, showing the depth of desire to ensure that doors are being held firmly open to the next generation of young people looking to create and shape their place within this brilliantly creative industry.”
Allianz Musical Insurance is a Supporting Partner of the BSO Young Associates programme.
The BSO Young Associates programme is open for applications until Thursday 3 March 2022.
