About us

The Trust offers awards/grants for postgraduate study, performance opportunities to young Australian and New Zealand musicians and performing artists and general help in the furtherance of their careers while resident in the UK.

To ensure its continuance the Trust arranges regular fundraising events and concerts, invariably featuring the talented young winners of the various awards, and relies a great deal on financial support from the business sector, private donors and other loyal supporters.

The Tait Memorial Trust has raised more than £1,500,000 to help support young musicians and dancers from Australia & New Zealand who need financial assistance while they are studying in the U.K. Through the Royal Over-Seas League it grants a scholarship to ‘the Australian musician showing the most promise’ in the Annual Music Competition.  The Trust also contributes financially to the Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge Foundation, Bel Canto Awards and provide a concert platform in London to the winner.

In 2013 the Trust created a new scholarship at the Royal College of Music to be known as the ‘Tait Scholar’. This was followed by the ‘Higgins Scholar’ at the Royal Northern College of Music. In 2014 we created the ‘Leanne Benjamin Awards’ for young Australian dancers with the Royal Ballet School, English National Ballet School. In 2022 The Tait Memorial Trust, John Frost AM and Associated Studios created a bursary to support Australian and New Zealand Musical Theatre performers to train at Associated Studios,

In addition to this, the Trust continues to support its numerous existing awards:

  • The Royal Over-Seas League award chosen by the judges in the annual music competition
  • the Sir Charles Mackerras chair with the Sinfonia Smith Square
  • Performance platform for the winner of the Tait Prize in the annual Bel Canto Awards

 Partners:

Australian Charity Art Auction

Australia Day Foundation

Australian UK Chamber of Commerce

Australian Women’s Club, London

Britain-Australia Society

The Cook Society

KEA New Zealand

Mindberry

Royal Over-Seas League

Roses Only

Voyage Control

Registered charity 1042797
info@taitmemorialtrust.org