Thank you for your interest in Spode Music Week, which is a registered charity, registration number 1026975.

The charitable aims of the organisation are: "TO PROMOTE, IMPROVE, DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN EDUCATION IN (AND APPRECIATION OF) THE ART AND SCIENCE OF MUSIC IN ALL ITS ASPECTS, ESPECIALLY OF THE ROMAN LITURGY, BY THE ORGANISING AND RUNNING OF AN ANNUAL RESIDENTIAL MUSIC WEEK CONTAINING LECTURES RECITALS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRACTICAL MUSIC MAKING."

The Trustees of the organisation oversee the administration of a number of charitable funds, with the object of promoting these aims.

These fund a number of bursaries to enable people to participate in the week, who might otherwise be unable to afford the cost of attending. The course does not currently operate any bursary scheme for those aged below 16. There are certain restrictions attached to each fund, so please ensure that you are eligible before applying. Application is by completion of this form, which must be received before the end of May to be considered for the following August's course.

The Pepler Fund was named for the course’s founder, Fr Conrad Pepler OP. Bursaries from this fund are available to someone who has already attended at least one Spode Music Week in the past (whether as an adult or as a child). A Pepler bursary covers half the cost of the week - the recipient must still pay the other half. The same recipient can only receive a Pepler bursary twice.

The Pesuvius Fund was created in 2003 in memory of William White. It is named after a comic character created by Will called "The Bearded Lady of Pesuvius". Will played this character in a number of sketches in the last night concert over many years. The fund normally covers the full cost of attending the week. Recipients must be aged 16-25 at the time of attending the week. There are no restrictions on the number of times the bursary can be awarded. Applications to this fund must be made by the parent when the applicant is aged 16 or 17.

The Hélène Fund was created in 2007 to remember Dr Hélène La Rue, a long-standing member of Music Week. The recipient must be a student studying music or a closely related subject. Students studying music at A-level, degree, part-time degrees, joint degrees and post-doctoral studies are all eligible. The bursary covers the full cost of the week and there are no restrictions on how many times it can be rewarded to a single recipient. That said, preference is normally given to people who have not attended before.

The Priory Fund is open to both male and female Dominicans in training. Bursaries from this fund cover the full cost of the week but only one is awarded each year.

The RSJ Fund was set up in memory of Robert Sherlaw Johnson. He had attended Music Week for over forty years and was the course director from 1971-1993. After his retirement, he remained an important member of the committee and played a crucial role as the Director of Liturgical Music until his death in 2000. The fund is used to commission new music and champion young composers.

Applications are considered by a meeting of a dedicated sub-committee, with applicants informed of outcome by email, by end of the following June.

Successful applicants attending the week do so on the understanding that they will take full part in the week's activities, in line with the aims and spirit of the week, and the content of their application, and to undertake a small number of practical duties, which will be outlined in the event of an offer of a bursary being made.

Full details of the week can be found on the website: http://www.spodemusicweek.co.uk/

If you have questions or queries, please do not hesitate to contact me: admin@spodemusicweek.co.uk

With warm regards,
Rupert White
Administrator - Spode Music Week