Royal Academy of Music Launches Sir Elton John Exchange Program

Up to 20 participants a year from London's Royal Academy of Music and its partner conservatoires will benefit from exchanges of varying length —  short collaborative projects, a single term, or a full year of tuition at their host institution.

Endorsed by world-renowned singer, pianist, and composer Elton John, an alumnus of the Royal Academy of Music, the Global Exchange Programme will primarily be supported by an existing fund created by Elton to provide scholarships for talented musicians.

Institutions that will participate in the exchange include The Juilliard School (New York), Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris, Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Sibelius Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki, University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, Hanns Eisler Academy, Berlin, The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Music and Performing Arts in Munich, Reina Sofía School of Music (Madrid), The Glenn Gould School of The Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto, and the Tokyo University of the Arts Faculty of Music and Graduate School of Music.

"My passion is to help nurture the next generation of global artists," Elton John said in a statement. "Music can and should transcend borders, and I am delighted to be supporting a scheme which offers high-level, tangible opportunities to talented young musicians coming together from many different countries.