Now is your chance to nominate new members to join the London Youth Folk Ensemble 2022-2023!

Do you know a dedicated London-based young musician aged 11-19 (up to 24 years old for deaf and disabled young people) in need of a bursary?

We want more young people from a wider range of backgrounds and socio-economic circumstances to benefit from joining London Youth Folk Ensemble. To support this, we have set aside a limited number of bursary places to enable keen young musicians, whose families would not otherwise be able to afford the existing concessionary fees for the Ensemble, to take part. This is usually a partial bursary which provides a substantial discount to the concessionary rate. In exceptional circumstances a full bursary may be given. To help us reach the young people who would most benefit from this opportunity, we have created this new nomination process.

WHO CAN NOMINATE?
We accept nominations from music leaders, teachers, youth workers, social workers, community leaders and any adults that work with the young person and can vouch for their dedication to music. However, we cannot accept applications from parents/guardians. We will contact them for permission if their child has been given a provisional place.

Nominators can nominate as many young people as they wish (using one form per young person) but note that we only have a limited number of bursaries available.

We will be considering nominations up until 5pm on Thursday 29 September but encourage nominations as early as possible.

WHO CAN BE NOMINATED?
We accept nominations for London-based young musicians in challenging circumstances who fulfil the nomination criteria (see below).

LYFE is open for improver to advanced level musicians of any instrument who should be confident using their instrument to play independently but do not need to have passed any particular grade. All music is taught by ear and no previous experience of folk music is needed.

Nominees must be aged between 11 and 19 (up to 24 years old for deaf and disabled young people) on 1 September 2022. They need to live or go to school or college in a London borough.

Read more about the Ensemble on our website: https://www.efdss.org/lyfe

NOMINATION CRITERIA
It is important to the English Folk Dance and Song Society that we are able to reach young musicians who will benefit most from the opportunities that membership in the Ensemble offers.

Nominees must fulfil Criteria 1 and Criteria 2 and at least one statement from Criteria 3 to apply for a bursary place in the London Youth Folk Ensemble.

Nominees are also expected to be able to attend our Sampler Session on Sunday 18 September.

All rehearsals with the London Youth Folk Ensemble are expected to take place at Cecil Sharp House, in Camden, north London. Should this not be possible due to a change in Government guidelines, rehearsals with the London Youth Folk Ensemble will take place online. If we are required to work online, the nominees will need access to the internet and a suitable device (computer/phone/laptop) with a camera to participate in the sessions . For more information, see our website: https://www.efdss.org/lyfe

Criteria 1:
Commitment to music and music-making in, or out of school. Not a current or previous member of the London Youth Folk Ensemble.

Criteria 2:
Suitable technical ability on their instrument (confident using their instrument to play independently).

Criteria 3 – must fulfil at least one of the following:
 
• Recipient of Free School Meals (FSM)
• Young Carer
• In Care / Looked After
• Refugee / Asylum Seeker
•      In financial need of a bursary
• Other challenging circumstances

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Final deadline for nominations will be at 5pm on Thursday 29 September.

Places will be offered based on how the nominee meets the Nomination Criteria and the nominating adult's Statement of Support provided on the nomination form.

The nominating adult and the parent/guardian of the nominee will be informed via email of the outcome of the nomination by the afternoon of Thursday 15 September at the latest.

Please contact us if you have any questions, education@efdss.org