Kings Monkton School in Cardiff has announced its plans to offer bursaries for A-Level students wishing to study music. It will be offering scholarships to three students with a subsidy of 40%.
The school has good links with some impressive names in the music industry, including Welsh National Opera (WNO), BBC Now, and Ty Cerdd as well as an established partnership with the International Music School Cardiff, giving pupils access to private music lessons from specialist tutors, and the opportunity to watch or perform in one of two free concerts every term.
Applicants will be required to undergo a four step process which will include having reached at least Grade 5 theory or practical in one musical instrument and also perform live at an audition, in the presence of International Music School (IMS) Cardiff representatives and Kings Monkton School’s Principal. The assessment of their musical knowledge, experience and aspirations will also include a written theory examination and interview.
The three successful applicants will join the school in September 2017 and will benefit from use of the school’s state-of-the-art facilities and access to expert teaching. The school’s A-Level programme blends elements of composition, performance, and music theory designed to hone the skills of promising young musicians.
The school also offers bespoke work experience placements as well as support from music specialists in the form of interview training and mock auditions intended to prepare students for life beyond school.
Pupils will also have opportunities to take part in extra-curricular activities such as joining the school orchestra, becoming a member of the choir, and taking trips to London to watch top West End shows.
The introduction of the music bursaries comes as part of wider changes to the school’s curriculum, which were announced last month. Kings Monkton’s pioneering co-curriculum will come into effect in September 2017, in an effort to further prepare their pupils for life after education.
Pupils will follow bespoke ‘learning pathways’ in natural sciences, business and law, education and humanities, or creative arts designed to give them the strongest chance possible of securing a career in the field of their choice.
Students will also have the benefit of following the co-curricular programme and joining a faculty, choosing between environmental, community and global citizenship faculties, depending on the issues that they find the most interesting. This new initiative will allow pupils to gain transferable skills and a valuable insight into organising and running a conference and fundraising for a charity.
Principal of Kings Monkton, Paul Norton said: “At Kings Monkton we believe firmly that each child has huge potential to succeed, whether their individual talents lie in academia, sports, the creative arts, or anything in between.
“By offering these scholarships we’re aiming to offer even more young people the chance to turn their passion for music into a successful career. We are confident that students with an aptitude for music will benefit greatly from the programme we have in place, and we’re very much looking forward to meeting the talented individuals that apply.
Our new curriculum has been crafted to enable pupils to focus on learning pathways that they enjoy and can get a real sense of achievement from. This will help them develop bespoke skillsets which will prove invaluable in their adult lives and enable them to stand out from the crowd for future employees.”