The GPT has just set up a mentorship scheme for aspiring professional pianists of Grade 8 standard or above who currently attend a state school and are considering a professional career in music. Over the course of the 2025/26 academic year, three pianists will participate in two masterclasses and receive three one-on-one mentoring sessions with pianist Clare Hammond.
The demands of the music profession are intense, particularly during the early stages. We believe that the advice of an experienced mentor at this crucial stage would be extremely beneficial to aspiring professional pianists. In providing specialist, high-level coaching to young musicians at a key point in their development, we aim to foster capabilities, resilience, and an enduring love of music that will prepare them for this demanding career path.
The scheme is administered in partnership with Gloucestershire Music, the county’s music service which engages over 10,000 students from Gloucestershire schools each year. Through Gloucestershire Music, students can access activities such as Whole Class Ensemble Tuition, peripatetic music lessons, music centres and county music groups, and be in receipt of specialist training from the country’s leading orchestras and conservatoires. Gloucestershire County Council is the Hub Lead Organisation as part of the Gloucestershire, Swindon and Wiltshire Music Hub.