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Applications are now open for the University of East Anglia Music Centre Award for international students. Click here to learn more about this opportunity and apply for it.
Opportunity Details
UEA Music Centre awards a number of Music Centre Awards every year, to new and current students who show exceptional musical achievement and commitment.
The awards are for musicians of any instrument or voice and any style or tradition – including different national traditions. They are intended to encourage recipients to develop their musical and leadership skills and contribute significantly to music at UEA. A high standard of performance is expected, but equally important is a clear commitment to take leading roles in the musical life of the University.
Application is after entry to UEA, generally the second week of the autumn semester.
The awards are made for one year, but if the holder wishes to continue and can demonstrate to the Director of Music that they have made significant contributions during that year, they are welcome to re-audition for the next year and the award may be renewed. If at any point the Director of Music has concerns, the holder of an award may be invited to discuss their involvement in musical life. If it is felt that the holder is not willing or able to make the required contribution, the award may be withdrawn.​
To find out how previous Music Centre Award holders have benefited from their awards, please visit our previous Music Centre Award holders and Scholars profiles.
The awards are worth £800 per year. Where the Director of Music considers that a candidate has not met the required standard but shows promise, a smaller sum may be awarded to support their development towards a main award in a subsequent year. The award holder is expected to use the money to develop their musical skills and resource. Instrumental or vocal lessons can be arranged as part of this expectation.
No qualifications need to have been taken. A high standard of performance can be demonstrated at audition. In the case of a musician performing in a style or tradition without a formal method of assessment this is particularly important. For those used to the graded exam system it may be useful to say that a performing standard of Grade 8 and above is a benchmark. Neither Grade 8 nor any other exam need either have been taken or passed.
Please note that if you currently have a UEA Music Scholarship, you are not eligible for a UEA Music Centre Award.
The application process has three main parts:
You will need to submit either an online application form or a hard copy application form and provide details about your current and previous musical activities. We will ask you to outline your life so far as a musician, to tell us about some of your most exciting musical experiences and impressive musical achievements. We will ask you to think about how you might continue your musical activities at UEA (e.g. what from your research about the university has particularly caught your eye, what in your current musical life would you like to bring with you). We will also ask what you think are the special qualities that would make you a good award holder (e.g. your excellent leadership skills perhaps, or your ability to listen and find solutions to problems) and we will ask for examples of projects and work you have already done which show your special qualities. Please note that your commitment to contribute to musical life, and ability to be specific about how you intend to do this, will be extremely important in our decision making. The application deadline for the 2024 Music Centre Awards is 11am on Thursday 3 October 2024.
If you application is accepted, you will then be invited to a short interview with the Director of Music where we will discuss your application, giving you a chance to expand on the information you put in your application form. We will ask you about your musical ambitions and personal qualities, and there will be the opportunity for you to ask us about anything to do with the musical life of the university. Interviews for the 2024 Music Centre Awards are scheduled to take place on Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 October 2024.
If, during your interview, you make a convincing case for the contribution you can make to music at UEA, you will be invited to an audition. The audition will last ten minutes, during which you will be asked to perform three contrasting items of a maximum total length of ten minutes. Two of these should be pieces you feel show you at your best (they can be accompanied or unaccompanied), while the third should be a short unaccompanied study or folksong. An accompanist will be provided where requested and you will be offered a short rehearsal before your audition. It is possible to audition using backing tracks if you prefer, but if the music you choose has an accompaniment, it is expected that you audition using either a live accompanist or such other accompaniment/backing as you choose. Performing unaccompanied in this circumstance will be looked on unfavourably. Composers should submit performances of their works if possible, accompanied by scores. Auditions for the 2024 Music Centre Awards are scheduled to take place on Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24 October 2024. Please see the Music Centre Award Terms and Conditions for important information about the audition process.
If you have any questions about the awards, please email [email protected].
Terms and Conditions
See the music section of our General Terms and Conditions
Apply for University of East Anglia Music Centre Award for International Students