A helping hand for Hartlepool’s outstanding young musicians

Published Wednesday, 11th November 2020

Some of Hartlepool’s most talented young musicians have received scholarships from the town’s Preston Simpson and Sterndale Trust.

The Trust – an educational charity administered by Hartlepool Borough Council – gives grants of varying amounts up to £1,000 to young people aged 14-25 who live in or have strong links with Hartlepool to help them with their musical studies.

This year it has awarded grants totalling £7,515. The recipients were:

Grace Allen; Rose Allen; Emily Barnard; Ben Bartlett; Gabriel Blake; Ella Bolton; Georgia Burrows; Olivia Carey; Sarah Jayne Conning; James Ellingford; Alice Ferguson; Sarah Feroz; Erin Gallagher-Smith; Charlotte George; William Hartley; Catherine Herring; Adele Hewitson; Abby Laidler; Georgia Lennon, Mia Robertson; Sophie Shotton; Romilly Swingler; Aaron Turner; Jasmine Weatherill; Thomas Wilkinson; Rebecca Wright and Jessica Yong.

Neil Sild received the Trust’s special award, the Gavin Smith Award.

Chris Simmons, Chair of the Trust, said: “Many congratulations to all the recipients of this year’s scholarships – they are truly outstanding and a credit to Hartlepool.

“I would also like to thank everyone who has contributed to the Trust over the past year – their generous donations are vital in helping us to continue our work in supporting the town’s young musicians to reach their full potential.

“We are truly sorry that this year, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, we haven’t been able to hold our annual concert featuring our scholarship winners, but we send them our warmest wishes for every success in their future musical studies.”   

For more information about the Trust, please call Judith Oliver on 01429 523914 or email judith.oliver@hartlepool.gov.uk