The Andrea Bocelli Foundation (ABF) and Community Jameel, two international philanthropic organisations, have launched a scholarship at the Royal College of Music (RCM) in London.
The Andrea Bocelli Foundation-Community Jameel Scholarship will support students every year from 2020/21, with a preference for vocal students.
The announcement was made during a visit to the RCM on 25 November 2019 by Andrea Bocelli, the world-renowned singer and founder of ABF, and Mohammed Jameel KBE, founder of Community Jameel.
The Andrea Bocelli Foundation-Community Jameel Scholarship was established by an endowment that is part of the More Music: Reimagining the Royal College of Music Campaign. A major aim of the campaign is to expand the RCM’s scholarship programme to widen access to excellent music education, and the new scholarship will be used to support students who study full-time at the RCM and will be awarded on merit at audition and need, helping talented students to overcome barriers and access world-class training. In the 2018/19 academic year the RCM gave £3million in scholarships to over half the student body and it aims to offer financial support to 75% of students by 2020.
Andrea Bocelli founded ABF in 2011 to empower people and communities and help them overcome barriers in order to reach their full potential. Many of the foundation’s core values are shared by Community Jameel, a global philanthropic funder with a focus on creativity, entrepreneurship, innovation, and youth. Community Jameel has a commitment to promoting learning in the arts, including through Art Jameel, an organisation that supports artists and creative communities, which Community Jameel founded in 2003.
Andrea Bocelli said:
‘The Andrea Bocelli Foundation believes that music education can become an integral part of the lives of children and youth. In fact, the Foundation’s staff and volunteers work tirelessly to include and promote world-class programmes and methodologies that leverage music as a powerful tool to promote the discovery and full expression of the self.
‘We are thrilled to take a new step in support of our commitment to music education with the establishment of the Andrea Bocelli Foundation-Community Jameel Scholarship.’
Fady Jameel, President, International of Community Jameel, said:
‘With our goal of innovating for a better future, we have found in the Royal College of Music a global institution taking a creative approach to delivering musical education for all. In partnership with the Andrea Bocelli Foundation, and inspired by Maestro Bocelli himself, we are committed to improving access to the best vocal training for aspiring, talented singers from around the world. We look forward to future Andrea Bocelli Foundation-Community Jameel scholars attaining the highest peaks of musical accomplishment.’
RCM Director, Professor Colin Lawson, said:
‘We are extremely grateful to the Andrea Bocelli Foundation and Community Jameel for their strong commitment to the Royal College of Music’s More Music Campaign. This new scholarship will give young singers each year the remarkable opportunity to study at the RCM without financial burden.’
Header photo: Andrea Bocelli hears a young singer at the Royal College of Music © Chris Christoudoulou
