A new piano scholarship has been launched at the RSAMD. Yamaha has agreed to provide Scotland’s international conservatoire with £3,000 each year to fund a student selected on the grounds of outstanding ability and financial need.
The 25-year-old Korean pianist Yoon-Kyung Kim – first prizewinner at the Beethoven Intercollegiate Competition last year – is the first recipient of the award. Kim graduated with a postgraduate diploma and a Masters degree in performance and is continuing her advanced studies at RSAMD.
Philip Jenkins, head of keyboard at the Glasgow conservatoire, described it as ‘wonderful’ that ‘a company of Yamaha’s standing has chosen to partner the RSAMD in this scholarship’. ‘Our keyboard department is widely regarded as the most successful in the UK,’ said Jenkins. ‘It prides itself on the excellence of its staff, students and outstanding facilities. The Yamaha Piano Scholarship is of real significance to us and I am delighted that Yamaha has chosen the academy for this unique partnership.’
‘Yamaha is committed to supporting up-and coming students in realising their dreams of becoming professional piano performers,’ pointed out Mike Ketley, senior director at Yamaha. ‘This scheme compliments our ambition of inspiring more people to play and perform music and we look forward to future Yamaha piano scholars making an impact on the global piano scene.’