Every year since our inception in 2002 we have been able to report continued success as a Trust dedicated to supporting singers and other musicians. This year is no different. The Simon Fletcher Charitable Trust continues to be a small but effective charity that with your involvement is able to make a difference in the world of music.
Our growing reputation was confirmed earlier in the year when we received the highest number of applications ever for our annual awards for young singers doing post-graduate studies at leading academies of music. This made selecting a shortlist extremely difficult. But after auditions held in May at the Craxton Studios, Hampstead, our panel were able to select three wonderful young leading artistes in the making.
An award of £1,500 was made to Lucy Hall, a 25-year-old soprano from Reading. A First class honours music graduate who has been studying on the Guildhall’s Artists Masters programme, Lucy has won a place on the prestigious 2011-12 Guildhall Opera course.
A self-funded student, Lucy is not able to receive financial support from her retired parents, one of whom is disabled. “I’m thrilled to given this award,” she said. “It will make such a difference to me completing my course and helping me on my way.”
The second award of £1000 went to another talented soprano, Monica Mcghee, 23, from London, who is about to start on the second year of her Masters in Vocal Performance at the Royal College of Music. Without receiving funding help, Monica would have been unable to continue with her studies. “I am so very grateful to the Trust,” she said, “both for your award and for your contribution towards my studies and future career.”
The third award of £750 went to baritone Ben Mcateer, 24, from Northern Ireland, a chemistry graduate who is studying at the Guildhall. Like Lucy, he is about to embark on the 2011-12 Guildhall Opera Course. “I’m delighted at this good news,” said Ben when told of theTrust’s decision. “I know just how fierce the competition was.”
Also during the year we were able to allocate $Aus.1000 (£Stg. 660 approx) to the Brunswick South Primary School (Melbourne, Australia) to help buy a “good condition second-hand” Yamaha U3 upright piano to replace the school’s old instrument that had been water-damaged beyond repair. Trust supporter Anna Robinson, a former colleague of Simon’s, made the application to the Trust on behalf of the school where she is a music teacher.
We can also announce that the Trust has been able to award Helen Bailey, a 2009 award winner, a top-up grant of £500. Helen has won a place on the Royal Academy of Music opera course, one of only four sopranos to be accepted. Helen has so far funded her studies by teaching and organising fund-raising concerts at which her fellow student singers and instrumentalists perform for free.
November 21st, 2010 saw a most successful fund-raising soiree at the Craxton Studios. “A Winter’s Tale” featured last year’s award winners Bethany Kallan Remfry, soprano, Nicholas Agius Darmanin, tenor, Helen Sherman, mezzo soprano, Eliot Alderman, tenor, Helen Bailey, soprano and celloist Naomi Watts who had received a special award in 2009. The artistes were accompanied by Ben Frost at the piano. As usual, a superb supper was provided by Trust friend Pat Syme and the team from Joseph Catering.
In the year ahead we look forward to the next soiree (at the Craxton Studios on Sunday, 13 November, 2011), further fund-raising, auditions in the spring of 2012 and awards made to more up-and-coming singers and instrumentalists in Simon’s name. Meantime, we thank you for your continued support. Without you none of this would have been possible.
With very best wishes from the Trustees:
Verity Fletcher, chair; Eliot Fletcher, vice-chair; Alex Rumsey, treasurer; Mary Fletcher, secretary; Brian Fletcher, press officer; Chris Loake, Deborah Jones. And with the invaluable assistance of Andrew Sparling, Deborah Davis, Stef Syme and Cecilia Rivers.