SAMRO music bursary applications now open

Over the past 30 years, more than 1 500 promising music students have received bursaries. This year, a number of bursaries at R10 000 each are available to undergraduates and postgraduates in various fields of music study.

Having taken heed of industry needs and developments, SAMRO will now also be providing funding support to third- and fourth-year students majoring in studies relating to community music, music technology and the business of music. Another addition is that of music performance and students who specialise in music performance study are eligible to apply for bursaries in this category.

"We are excited to see the increase in number and quality of applications over the years. The money invested in music bursaries is the seed we plant to grow the music luminaries and legends of tomorrow," says André le Roux, executive general manager of the SAMRO Foundation.

"There's also a growing need for research into, and understanding of, the complex business of music and the technological developments that are affecting how music is produced and consumed. We are introducing these new bursary categories to keep pace with the times and hopefully help contribute to a vibrant and progressive Southern African music industry."

The following SAMRO music bursaries are on offer in 2013:

General Music Study: Western Art Music, Jazz/Popular Music or African Indigenous Music genres (R10 000 each), available to students in their 1st and 2nd years;

Music Education OR Community Music Study (R10 000 each), available to students majoring in one of these specialised courses in their 3rd and 4th years;

Music Technology OR Music Business (R10 000 each), available to students majoring in one of these specialised courses in their 3rd and 4th years;

Performance Study: Western Art Music, Jazz/Popular Music or African Indigenous Music genres (R10 000 each), available to students majoring in performance study in their 3rd and 4th years;

Composition Study (R10 000 each), available to students majoring in music composition in their 3rd, 4th and postgraduate years; and

Indigenous African Music Research (R10 000 each) for postgraduate research students at Honours, Masters or Doctoral level.

Applicants should be registered for a music degree or diploma at a South African university in 2013. Applications will only be accepted once students can provide proof of registration for 2013.

SAMRO music bursary application forms may be downloaded from www.samrofoundation.org.za, or phone +27 (011) 712 8417 for more information.