In January 2023, the London Symphony Orchestra launched LSO Conservatoire Scholarships, a programme for exceptional musicians facing financial barriers, to support their postgraduate study at the world’s leading conservatoires.
Applications are now open for the 2026/27 academic year. The deadline to apply is midday on Tuesday 10 March 2026.
| Sections | Orchestral / Instrumental musicians |
| Deadline | Nov 2025 - Mar 2026 |
| Finals | Jun - Jul 2026 |
| Where | London, United Kingdom |
| Age groups | Postgraduate instrumentalists of any age |
The LSO Conservatoire Scholarships provide financial support and mentoring to talented postgraduate instrumentalists facing financial barriers, ensuring that recipients can focus fully on their studies during this critical time in their education.
Each year the LSO will award ten new individuals with scholarship support of up to £16,000 per academic year to contribute to living and maintenance costs while studying, lasting for the duration of their postgraduate course. Scholars will also receive mentorship from an LSO member of the same instrument, including coaching sessions, side-by-side rehearsal and performance opportunities with the full Orchestra, and ongoing career advice.
The applications (including completed application forms, video recordings, references and documentation confirming family income) are due by the deadline of 10 March 2026. After applying, applicants should allow at least two months for their application to be processed, and will be notified in writing as to the outcome of their application. The chosen candidates will then be invited for an audition in London in June/July 2026.
The programme is open to postgraduate instrumentalists of any age or nationality, who meet all the following eligibility criteria:
- Are facing financial barriers, with an overall family income of less than £58,500 per annum
- Have been awarded a scholarship place for a postgraduate course at one of the leading 10 conservatoires in the world*, focused on classical study of an orchestral instrument
- Have previously studied at undergraduate level at a UK conservatoire or university
Full details of eligibility criteria and supporting evidence requirements can be found on the application form.
*For the purposes of this programme, the LSO is using the top 10 conservatoires as ranked in the QS World University Rankings 2025: 1. Royal College of Music; 2. Royal Academy of Music; 3. Conservatoire national supérieur de musique et de danse de Paris; 4. Guildhall School of Music & Drama; 5. Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien; 6. Royal Conservatoire of Scotland; 7. New York University; 8. Juilliard School; 9. The Royal Danish Academy of Music; 10. Royal Northern College of Music
1. Completed application form
2. A video recording that includes at least three contrasting pieces from different periods, lasting a maximum of 15 minutes. Recordings must have been made within six months of the application and may be submitted by links to online recordings (a created YouTube playlist is ideal). The submissions may be compiled from different recordings within the last six months.
3. Two references supporting the application: one from the applicant's current teacher, and one from a prominent musician.