Andrea Bocelli and Community Jameel give generous donation to RCM More Music Campaign

Monday 25 November 2019

On 23 November 2019, renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli, founder of the Andrea Bocelli Foundation (ABF), visited the Royal College of Music alongside Mohammed Jameel KBE, founder of Community Jameel. During the visit they launched a new scholarship established by endowment as part of the More Music: Reimagining the Royal College of Music Campaign.

The Andrea Bocelli Foundation-Community Jameel Scholarship is designed to open the door to up-and-coming singers to join the RCM, one of the world’s greatest conservatoires. The scholarship will be used to support students who study full-time at the RCM and will be awarded on merit at audition and need, helping talented students to overcome barriers and access world-class training.

Andrea Bocelli comments: ‘The Andrea Bocelli Foundation believes that music education can become an integral part of the lives of children and youth. In fact, the Foundation’s staff and volunteers work tirelessly to include and promote world-class programmes and methodologies that leverage music as a powerful tool to promote the discovery and full expression of the self. We are thrilled to take a new step in support of our commitment to music education with the establishment of this scholarship at the Royal College of Music, one of the world’s most esteemed institutions, in collaboration with our cherished partner Community Jameel.’

Fady Jameel, President, International of Community Jameel, said: ‘With our goal of innovating for a better future, we have found in the Royal College of Music a global institution taking a creative approach to delivering musical education for all. In partnership with the Andrea Bocelli Foundation, and inspired by Maestro Bocelli himself, we are committed to improving access to the best vocal training for aspiring, talented singers from around the world. We look forward to future Andrea Bocelli Foundation-Community Jameel Scholars attaining the highest peaks of musical accomplishment.’

RCM Director Professor Colin Lawson comments: ‘We are extremely grateful to the Andrea Bocelli Foundation and Community Jameel for their strong commitment to the Royal College of Music’s More Music Campaign. This new scholarship will give young singers each year the remarkable opportunity to study at the RCM without financial burden. One of the More Music Campaign’s key aims is to make music education available to all; philanthropic partners such as this are vital to this vision.’

The RCM is the top conservatoire in the UK for Performing Arts according to the QS World University Rankings. The College’s More Music Campaign represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the conservatoire and double the size of its South Kensington campus. Along with building brand new facilities, the RCM is fundraising to expand its scholarship programme and ensure that no talented musician is denied an RCM education for want of funds. In the 2018/19 academic year the RCM gave £3million in scholarships to over half the student body and it aims to offer financial support to 75% of students by 2020.

Andrea Bocelli founded ABF in 2011 to empower people and communities and help them overcome barriers in order to reach their full potential. Many of the foundation’s core values are shared by Community Jameel, a global philanthropy with a focus on creativity, entrepreneurship, innovation and youth. On stage at the 2019 Winter in Tantora Festival in Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia, Andrea Bocelli explained how Mohammed Jameel had inspired him to pursue philanthropy and found the ABF. Community Jameel has a commitment to promoting learning in the arts, including through Art Jameel, an organisation that supports artists and creative communities.

Visit the More Music: Reimagining the Royal College of Music webpage to find out more about the Campaign.