London, UK, November 23, 2019 | The Andrea Bocelli Foundation (ABF) and Community Jameel, two global philanthropies, today launched an international scholarship at the Royal College of Music (RCM) in London, opening the door to up-and-coming singers to join one of the world’s greatest conservatoires based on merit and need.
The announcement was made during a visit to the RCM by Andrea Bocelli, the world-renowned singer and founder of ABF, and Mohammed Jameel KBE, founder of Community Jameel, alongside the leaderships of both organisations. The celebrated star and others attended a signing event with RCM Director Professor Colin Lawson and listened to a performance by talented young singers from the RCM Opera Studio, a dedicated training centre for the opera stars of tomorrow. The Andrea Bocelli Foundation-Community Jameel Scholarship was established by an endowment that is part of the More Music: Reimagining the Royal College of Music Campaign. 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, the renowned tenor, 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. Earlier this year, on stage at the Winter in Tantora festival in AlUla, Saudi Arabia, Bocelli explained how Mohammed Jameel, Community Jameel’s founder, 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, which Community Jameel founded in 2003.
Maestro Andrea Bocelli stated, “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.” The Maestro added, “We are thrilled to take a new step in support of our commitment to music education with the establishment of the Andrea Bocelli Foundation-Community Jameel 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.”
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.
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 musical education available to all; philanthropic partnerships such as this are vital to this vision.”
Representatives present at the launch of the new initiative included Stefano Aversa (ABF Chairman), Veronica Berti (ABF Vice Chairman), Laura Biancalani (ABF President) as well as Fady Jameel (Chairman of Art Jameel and President, International of Community Jameel), and Hassan Jameel (President, Saudi Arabia of Community Jameel).
