Last summer, to a sold out Royal Albert Hall, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra performed an emotional memorial tribute to five-time Oscar winning composer John Barry, conducted by RCM alumnus Nicholas Dodd. The memorial intention was twofold: to celebrate the work and life of a great composer and conductor who provided the scores for no less than one hundred and twenty five films (twelve of them Bond films), and  to use the proceeds to establish The John Barry Scholarship for Film Composition at the Royal College of Music.

The Composition for Screen masters course is a coveted and competitive two year programme. “We will get around fifty to eighty  applications per course,” explains Area Leader In Composition For Screen, Vasco Hexel. The applicants are reduced to ten finalists, three are chosen to go before the scholarship panel (which includes John’s wife Laurie Barry, Barbara Broccoli, Sir Michael Parkinson, Sir George Martin, David Arnold and Nicholas Dodd) until the final candidate is chosen. The course attracts some of the most talented young film composers from around the world, many of whom have gone on to score major films in Hollywood and Europe.

“It’s the first time we have had a dedicated scholarship for the course” adds Hexel, “and it covers all costs, including living  expenses, and includes students from outside the EU.”

For further details on the Masters Programme in Composition for Screen At the Royal College of Music, visit www.rcm.ac.uk/screen

If you would like to make a donation to John’s scholarship please contact Nicholas Selman, Development Manager (Scholarships & Academic Awards) at the Royal College of Music:  +44 (0)20 7591 4320  or  nicholas.selman@rcm.ac.uk