The Drake Calleja Trust

Name: Tools 4 Music
Address: US
Price range: Free

Drake Calleja Trust

UKDeadline: 2/9/2026

The Drake Calleja Trust awards scholarships of GBP 1,500 to GBP 5,000 per year to outstanding classical singers, solo instrumentalists, and accompanists living and studying in the UK, regardless of nationality.

Award Amount

GBP 1,500 to GBP 5,000 per scholar per year GBP

Scholarship Type

merit-based

Eligibility Criteria

exceptional-musicians
instrumentalists
vocalists
accompanists
uk-studies
age-18-plus

Instruments

multipleall-instrumentsvocal

The Drake Calleja Trust is a UK-registered charity that provides scholarships ranging from 1,500 to 5,000 GBP per year to outstanding classical singers, solo instrumentalists, and accompanists living and studying in the UK. The trust is open to all nationalities and has no upper age limit. Funds can be used for fees, instrument purchase, masterclasses, competitions, recordings, and concerts.

How the Drake Calleja Trust Works

The trust financially and artistically supports talented young classical musicians studying in the UK. Each academic year, scholars receive between 1,500 and 5,000 GBP depending on individual circumstances. The trust also provides performance opportunities and career development support.

Eligibility

Age: 18 or over on September 1 in the year of application. No upper age limit.
Disciplines: Singers, solo instrumentalists, and accompanists. The trust does not support ensembles, composers, conductors, music theatre, or jazz students.
Location: You must be living and studying in the UK. If you are not yet living in the UK, you can apply for an online audition.
Enrollment: You must prove that you will be enrolled as a student at a UK institution for the applicable academic year (2026-27 for the current cycle).
Nationality: Open to UK, EU, and international students.
Standard: Applicants must be of outstanding quality and demonstrate financial need.

Application Timeline for 2026

January 5, 2026: Applications open
February 9, 2026: Applications close at 23:00 (11 PM)
April 2026 (date TBC): Shortlist of auditionees announced
May 2026: Auditions in London and Manchester
June 2026 (date TBC): Results announced

Audition Process

Shortlisted applicants perform at live auditions in London or Manchester:

London: Razumovsky Academy (May 7-8) and National Opera Studio (May 9-10)
Manchester: The Stoller Hall (May 21)
Online option: Available only for musicians not yet living in the UK

Auditionees perform a program of at least two contrasting pieces lasting approximately 10 minutes, followed by a short interview. A free piano accompanist is provided if needed, with 15 to 20 minutes of rehearsal time before the audition.

Application Requirements

Online application form (no other format accepted)
At least 2 video recordings lasting approximately 5 minutes each (YouTube links preferred)
Recordings must be made within the last year
Audition program (can be changed later)
Budget for academic year 2026-27 (outgoings, income, and shortfall)
Personal statement (600 word limit)
Full biography or CV
Name and email address of a referee

Real-World Example

A 22-year-old Romanian soprano studying at the Royal Academy of Music applies for a Drake Calleja Trust scholarship in January 2026. She submits two YouTube videos of her performing Puccini and Mozart arias, a 600-word personal statement explaining her goal to pursue an opera career, and a detailed budget showing her annual costs of 38,000 GBP (tuition: 28,000 GBP, rent: 8,000 GBP, living costs: 2,000 GBP) minus her current funding of 20,000 GBP, leaving a shortfall of 18,000 GBP.

She is shortlisted in April and invited to audition at the Razumovsky Academy on May 7. She performs "O mio babbino caro" and "Voi che sapete" with the provided accompanist, then has a short interview with the panel. In June, she is awarded 4,000 GBP for the 2026-27 academic year. She uses the funds to cover part of her tuition shortfall and to pay for a summer masterclass in Italy.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

If you are a classical singer, instrumentalist, or accompanist studying in the UK, the Drake Calleja Trust is one of the few scholarships with no upper age limit and no nationality restrictions. The 1,500 to 5,000 GBP award can cover a meaningful portion of your annual costs, especially when combined with other funding sources like ABRSM scholarships or institutional bursaries.

The key steps are:

Prepare at least two high-quality video recordings within the year before applying
Write a clear personal statement (under 600 words) explaining your career goals and financial need
Create a detailed budget showing your exact shortfall for the academic year
Submit the online application before February 9, 2026 at 23:00
If shortlisted, prepare two contrasting pieces for the 10-minute live audition

Contact the trust at info@drakecallejatrust.org or call +44 (0) 7973 333770 with questions.

Eligibility Criteria (plain terms)

You must be 18 or older on September 1 in the year you apply. There is no upper age limit.
You must be a classical singer, solo instrumentalist, or accompanist. The trust does not accept ensembles, composers, conductors, music theatre performers, or jazz students.
You must be living and studying in the UK. If you are not yet in the UK, you can apply for an online audition.
You must be enrolled (or able to prove you will be enrolled) as a student at a UK institution for the 2026-27 academic year.
You can be of any nationality (UK, EU, or international).
You must demonstrate both outstanding musical quality and financial need.

Deadlines

January 5, 2026: Applications open
February 9, 2026 (23:00): Applications close
April 2026 (date TBC): Shortlist of auditionees announced
May 2026: Live auditions in London and Manchester
June 2026 (date TBC): Results announced

Past Recipients

The Drake Calleja Trust has awarded over 200 scholarships since 2015. The trust publishes full lists of scholars by academic year on its website.

2025-26 scholars (27 recipients): Tayla Alexander, Lily Mo Browne, Angelina Dorlin-Barlow, Sebastian Hill, Sadra Mashidfar, Daniel Schultz, Miro Treharne, Sam Balchin, Gigi Casey, Jessica Ellis, Charlotte Kennedy, Madeleine Perring, Alexander Semple, Yuxuan Zhao, Hugo Brady, Dida Condria, David Fraser, Kryštof Kohout, Will Prior, Kosuke Shirai, Ugnė Liepa Žuklytė, Madeleine Brown, Emily Crook, Megan Glover, Edward Lloyd, Redmond Sanders, Jude Smith.

2024-25 scholars (22 recipients): Julia Blachuta, Maxim Calver, Sebastian Hill, Strahinja Mitrović, Will Prior, Tom Zalmanov, Hector Bloggs, Dida Condria, Charlotte Kennedy, Alexandria Moon, Mariamna Sherling, Noah Zhou, Maddie Boreham, Emily Crook, Yente Lottman, Aisha Palmer, José Pedro Teixeira, Lily Mo Browne, Megan Glover, Luvo Maranti, Agustin Pennino, Guillem Leon Vivas.

Notable past scholar Alim Beisembayev won the Leeds International Piano Competition in 2021.