The Constant & Kit Lambert Junior Fellowship is held for one year and is only available to students on the Artist Diploma (ArtDip) in Performance and Artist Diploma (ArtDip) in Composition programmes.
All fellows are expected to develop musical and communication skills by undertaking further intensive study, working with students internally and doing all they can to raise the profile of the RCM externally. They play a full and active part in the musical life of the RCM as well as functioning as RCM ambassadors. They have full use of the RCM Library with its wealth of material and work in close contact with the Creative Careers Centre, the RCM’s centre for professional skills and publicity services.
Constant and Kit Lambert Fellowship applications for 2024-25 has now passed. Applications will reopen for 2025/26 Fellowships in Autumn 2024.
Rieko Makita is a multi-award-winning Japanese pianist based in London.
Growing up in Sydney, Rieko moved to London to pursue her dreams as a performer and undertake the Master of Performance course at the Royal College of Music. She was a recipient of an RCM Scholar Award and Nosward Charity Award. She was selected as the 2021 piano fellow for the Philharmonia MMSF Instrumental Fellowship Programme and became an ambassador for the Benedetti Foundation in 2022. Currently, she is a DEBUT Classical Artist, actively working to promote classical music to a wider audience.
In addition to her piano performances, Rieko is also passionate about composing music. Her works have been performed at Shoreditch Treehouse in 2022 and at the RCM Museum as part of the 2023 FestivALL.
This year, Rieko will be undertaking the Artist Diploma course at RCM, supported by the Help Musicians Postgraduate Award. As the Constant and Kit Lambert Junior Fellow, she looks forward to collaborating with performers, composers, and visual artists to curate concerts that promote Asian music and culture at the RCM.
The funding for the junior fellowships includes a substantial sum to be put towards the course fees, usually the full Home fees, plus a bursary in the region of £5,000. These figures should be taken into account when planning your budget.
The programme of study for junior fellows is determined by the structure of the Artist Diploma in Performance and Artist Diploma in Composition courses, which are based on one-to-one provision and practical project work, tailored to your particular career aspirations.
Junior fellowship funds may also be used for tuition in related areas of study, such as masterclasses, coaching, language study, related instruments and costs associated with starting out in the profession.
As a junior fellow working with other RCM students you will be required to:
Applicants should already have successfully completed formal studies at a level equivalent to a postgraduate diploma or degree or be completing these studies in the academic year in which the application is made. Applications will be considered from those with equivalent experience.
Applicants need to be able to demonstrate substantial successful experience in their specialism, the motivation and determination to continue intensive studies, and the desire to develop their skills by working regularly with other musicians within and outside the RCM.
If you are not a UK resident, you must obtain permission to be in the UK from the UK Border Agency in order to hold a fellowship. Students on the Artist Diploma programme at the Royal College of Music are eligible for Student Visas.
Find out more about visa applications
These conditions are set by the UK Government and can change. Please ensure you visit their website for the most up-to-date information.
Applications for 2024-25 are now open for the Constant and Kit Lambert Fellowship. The application deadline is Friday 2 February 2024.
Applicants are required to submit a portfolio supported by a letter of application, which should indicate your suitability for the fellowship and your readiness to present yourself as an emerging professional.
Your application should contain:
Find out more about portfolio contents
Applicants interested in this junior fellowship must complete a two-part application process, which consists of:
Plus:
Applicants who have not applied for both components by the closing date will not be considered for this junior fellowship.
Full-time students going into their second year of study may also apply, and will need to specify in their application that they are applying for their second year of the programme.
Please note that the junior fellowships for students on the Artist Diploma in Performance and Artist Diploma in Composition programmes are not renewable, and may be held for one year only.
You should submit your portfolio online using a single combined PDF through the RCM submission portal. The information you upload to the portal does not constitute your entire application, but does form an integral part of it. You should ensure you have provided everything that is required. Incomplete applications may not be considered.
When using the submission portal you will be asked to create a user name and password, and to provide an email address. You should select 'junior fellow' from the list of programmes and the appropriate principal study instrument. There are no restrictions to the file size or type.
If you experience any problems uploading your portfolio please contact Lizzie Sambrook.
Assistant to the Artistic Director and Events & Fellows Coordinator
020 7591 4370
Shortlisting for junior fellowships will take place once the RCM’s audition process is complete. Only students offered a place on the Artist Diploma in Performance will be considered.
Interviews will be held at the College on Monday 22 April 2024.
Should you be invited to interview, you will be required to bring original documentation (visa, passport or leave to remain in the UK) confirming that you have permission to be in the UK.
In your interview you will be required to:
Results will be conveyed as soon as possible after the interviews have taken place.
You will not be expected to perform on the day of the interview.
Interviews will be held at the Royal College of Music in London.
As a Junior Fellow you will be expected to:
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