To help children afford a classical music education regardless of their financial background: Decca announces auction in support of the 2021 Decca Bursary

The Decca Bursary supports young artists overcoming barriers when entering the classical world – be it music lessons, access to instruments, equipment or courses spanning niches within the genre. It provides grants to children at the very beginning of their musical journey, funding tuition, instrument/equipment purchase or hire, and music courses within the classical genre. It also supports schools to buy new classical instruments for peripatetic lessons, to help children afford a classical music education regardless of their financial background.

Quotes from two of the 2020 awardees:

"The funding has been really helpful for my child who loves her music but it can be financially difficult to fund"

"Without the grant, we wouldn't have been able to keep up the lessons"

Decca has announced an auction to support this year's Bursary. Taking place on-line with a deadline of 4pm (BST) on 6 July, the auction has some striking items up for auction, many of the sort of personal access which can be difficult otherwise.

• Andrea Bocelli: 2 VIP tickets to any Andrea Bocelli UK tour date in 2022 with an exclusive meet and greet following the show
• Benjamin Grosvenor:  2 tickets to Prom 42, ‘Benjamin Grosvenor performs Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4’ on 7th September 2021 at 730pm at the Royal Albert Hall, London. An exclusive peek behind the scenes at the Royal Albert Hall and meet Benjamin himself.
• Jess Gillam: Join saxophonist, Jess Gillam, as she records her next tracks in the studio and spend the day with Jess and her ensemble at a London recording studio in August and see and hear the process in action.
• Sheku and Bramiah Kanneh-Mason: Meet two of the Kanneh-Masons, Sheku and Bramiah, for a private online meet and chat! Also includes a signed LP cover, notepad, copy of ‘The House of Music’ and signed Collector’s Edition ‘Carnival’ print. 
• Lise Davidsen: Meet Norwegian soprano Lise Davidsen for an intimate one-to-one conversation
• Karl Jenkins: A signed conductor’s baton used by Sir Karl Jenkins, signed Adiemus score, and signed tile pages of Adiemus and Palladio, each framed in A4 beech frames.
• Pavarotti art-work: Hand painted by Will McNally exclusively for the Decca Bursary auction. Painting is 90x60cm, hand painted onto canvas using acrylic.
• Craig Armstrong: Signed score book of Piano Works by Craig Armstrong, composer to Romeo and Juliet, The Great Gatsby and Love Actually. 
• Miloš Karadaglic: An opportunity to learn from one of the greatest classical guitarists of our time, Miloš Karadaglic is offering a 45 minute, one to one Zoom classical guitar lesson. Open to both beginners and seasoned professionals.

Full details from the Decca Bursary website