2008 Winner John Randall – Photo Gary Corbett

Quick. It’s Musicians Benevolent Fund Peter Whittingham Award time

-A main award of £4,000 is available annually (there wasn’t one in 2009) to help fund a specific project which will enhance the musical and professional development of the artist or group.

-Further discretionary awards may also be offered.

-The Fund say that “the form of the project is not specified though the panel will be looking for proposals that are creative and have contemporary significance in fitting with today’s changing music industry.

-“Applications for funding courses of study, including research, or for purchasing instruments and equipment will not be considered, and it is unlikely that the panel will consider a project that is purely recording based. Examples of previous successful proposals include delivering a programme of workshops, a mini jazz festival and an innovative website documenting the group’s progression through audio and video.”

-Closing Date for applications is November 5th. A panel nominated by the Musicians Benevolent Fund will do a first screen the appplicants and put a number forward for audition

-Auditions will be December 10th

-This year’s panel, chaired by the late Peter Whittingham’s son Chris, includes John Cumming, Abram Wilson, Liane Carroll and Steve Rubie.

-The award is open to those who are studying full time on a recognised jazz course or in the first two years of entering a professional career.

– In addition to the cash, there is the offer of free attendance on Musicians Union Seminars, Workshops and Courses

HERE’S THE LIST OF RECIPIENTS SINCE 2000

2000 Paul Bartholemew and Dave O’Higgins
2001 Tom Arthurs
2002 Paul Towndrow
2003 Soweto Kinch (Andrew Morgan – Music Education Award)
2004 Andrew Stamatakis-Brown (Gwilym Simcock – Music Education Award)
2005 Led Bib(Chris Mapp, Andy Davies and John Barwood – Development Awards)
2006 David O’Brien (Matt Calvert and Seb Pipe – Development Awards)
2007 Empirical (Trish Clowes – Development Award)
2008 John Randall
2009 No Main Award (John Cervantes and Tim Evans -Development Awards)
2010 YOUR NAME HERE (OR HERE!)

THE FULL DETAILS INCLUDING CONTACT NUMBERS FOR MORE INFORMATION ARE HERE (The Awards staff are very helpful indeed.)