About the Trust
Philip was a keen musician who appreciated a wide variety of styles; he should have gone on to study Music and English at Lancaster University.
Objectives of the Trust
The Philip Bates Trust aims to advance the education of young people under the age of 25 in the arts by:
The provision of awards to encourage and support their pursuit of creative and artistic achievement.
The provision of financial support to projects or workshops, which aim to develop creative and artistic interests and skills in young people.
Forthcoming Events
Games and Quiz Night
10th March 2018, Arden Hall, Castle Bromwich
Ashleyan Opera Prize
17th April 2018, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
A Touch of Basil 2018
29th September 2018, Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School
Philip Bates Prize for Composers and Songwriters
November 2018, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
Click event name for more details
Games and Quiz Night
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News
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Please support Philip Bates Trust for no cost
If you shop online regularly you can now support us at no extra cost to yourself through easyfundraising. Nearly three thousand online retailers, including amazon and ebay, will donate a percentage of what you spend to your chosen charity – and we’d be so grateful if you’d choose us! All you need to do is register with them at www.easyfundraising.org.uk and choose Philip Bates Trust as your cause so that we can receive your bonuses. When you shop online, first log on to easyfundraising then access your online store through them. Alternatively, you can download the donation reminder toolbar to sit top right on your browser and click on that when you’re on your chosen shopping site. Participating retailers include large companies such as John Lewis, House of Fraser, Debenhams, Next, Boots, Argos, Viking and Currys PC World, plus many travel and holiday booking sites. There’s also an easyfundraising app available to download for your mobile from google play or apple... read more
It’s Time for A Touch Of Basil!
This year’s concert will be on 30th September 2017 at 7:00 p.m. at Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School. Performers will include: Ex Cathedra Academies of Vocal Music Andrew Randall & Katie Gilbert, Ashleyan Opera Prize Winners “Sleep” by Sam James, Philip Bates Prize for Composers and Songwriters Winner Georgina Bloomfield – violin Basil’s Bunch Bishop Vesey’s Percussion Ensemble John and Sarah Saunders – flute and recorder Nicholas Lee – violin, Philip Bates Performance Prize Winner Susan Bates – soprano Stephen Davis – tenor Heart of England Singers Martin Bates – conductor Tickets including programme: In advance: Adults – £10 Children and Students – £7 Group: Four tickets – £32 On the door: Adults – £11 Children and Students – £8 0121 747 5705 for... read morePhilip Bates Prize for Composers and Songwriters 2017
Entries from all over the UK are now invited for the 2017 Philip Bates Prize for Composers and Songwriters. Composers between the ages of 16 and 25 may submit works in any style by Friday 7th July 2017, the application deadline. Shortlisted entries will be given a public performance at the final on Tuesday 7th November, when the winning pieces will be chosen. Shortlisted composers must supply their own pre-rehearsed performers at the final and the chosen winners will receive a cash prize. This exceptionally broad competition has recognised talent in a variety of genres in the past. It encourages entries in everything from classical, jazz and folk to singer-songwriter ballads, Asian music and rock, as long as the work is suitable for live performance and appealing to a wide range of concertgoers. Works should last between 6 and 12 minutes and should be for one or two singers / vocalists with between two and five instrumentalists. Philip Bates, a young man from Castle Bromwich with a promising musical future ahead of him, was tragically killed shortly after his nineteenth birthday in March 2000. To honour his memory, the Philip Bates Trust (founded to encourage young musicians like Philip) and leading music college Birmingham Conservatoire (part of Birmingham City University) jointly run the annual Philip Bates Prize for Composers and Songwriters. The competition offers three cash prizes, all donated by the Philip Bates Trust. Birmingham Conservatoire and the Philip Bates Trust award one £300 prize each. There is also a £200 prize awarded by the audience. Only one entry may be submitted per composer and entries should be sent... read morePhilip Bates Prize for Composers and Songwriters 2016 – 1st November
Don’t miss this exciting evening – it’s nearly here! Come along and vote for your favourite new piece of music! Tickets will be available on the door- performance starts at 7.00. Composers between the ages of 16 and 25 from all over the UK have submitted works in any style to the Philip Bates Prize for Composers and Songwriters. Seven shortlisted entries will be given a public performance at the final on Tuesday 1st November in Birmingham Conservatoire’s Recital Hall, when the winning pieces will be chosen. This exceptionally broad competition has recognised talent in a variety of genres in the past. It encourages entries in everything from classical, jazz and folk to singer-songwriter ballads, Asian music and rock, as long as the work is suitable for live performance and appealing to a wide range of concertgoers. Philip Bates, a young man from Castle Bromwich with a promising musical future ahead of him, was tragically killed shortly after his nineteenth birthday in March 2000. To honour his memory, the Philip Bates Trust (founded to encourage young musicians like Philip) and leading music college Birmingham Conservatoire (part of Birmingham City University) jointly run the annual Philip Bates Prize for Composers and Songwriters. The competition offers three cash prizes, all donated by the Philip Bates Trust. Birmingham Conservatoire and the Philip Bates Trust award one £300 prize each. There is also a £200 prize awarded by the... read more
It’s been an Epic summer….
This summer I embarked on what is sure to be an exciting and life-changing journey with the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain (NYT). At 24-years-old I thought I had missed the boat on joining this world-renowned organisation, but having met a fellow NYT member earlier this year, I learned of the opportunities available with the company, and the benefits of being one of the older members. Each year around 5,000 young people audition for NYT, with only 500 successful applicants going on to take part in the summer courses which lead to company membership. This year, I took part in Epic Stages, a course designed to equip young actors with the skills and knowledge needed to enter the industry. It was an intensive four-week course held at Rose Bruford college and brought together some of the most incredible talent from across the country. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Epic Stages. I was part of an all-female group which is something new NYT introduced this year. We worked closely with a professional director and writer to create a new piece of theatre using our own stories and backgrounds. It was so interesting. Over the course of the four weeks, we devised various pieces of theatre to explore different elements of our identity which fed into the final performance. Everyone was so unique with different experiences of the world. It was this diversity that brought us all together as an ensemble delivering a very impactful performance. Throughout the course, we also took part in workshops in voice, ensemble singing, clowning, music and physical theatre. We had talks from industry... read more
Newsletter 2016 and A Touch of Basil’s new venue
This year’s newsletter is now available (and can be downloaded here) Most people will be aware of the necessary change to our venue for the 2016 Touch of Basil. It will take place at Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School in Sutton Coldfield on October 1st. Philip was a student there until 1999 and there is a music room at Bishop Vesey’s dedicated to his memory in regular use for instrumental lessons and practice throughout the week. The concert will take place in Big School starting at 7pm and will again be filled with performers associated with Philip’s trust. The winners of the two school prizes at John Willmott and Bishop Vesey’s schools will be there along with Ashleyan Opera Prize winner Andrew Randall and a winning piece from the Philip Bates Prize for Composers and Songwriters. Georgina Bloomfield 12, will join us for the third time to thrill with her brilliant violin playing. The young voices of Ex Cathedra will also return to show some of the most celebrated music education in the country and Bishop Vesey’s own music department will be represented by a clarinet quartet. Thanks to all the staff there for their ongoing... read more
Calling all composers aged 16 – 25
Entries from all over the UK are now invited for the 2016 Philip Bates Prize for Composers and Songwriters. Composers between the ages of 16 and 25 may submit works in any style by Friday 8th July 2016, the application deadline. Shortlisted entries will be given a public performance at the final on Tuesday 1st November, when the winning pieces will be chosen. Shortlisted composers must supply their own pre-rehearsed performers at the final and the chosen winners will receive a cash prize. This exceptionally broad competition has recognised talent in a variety of genres in the past. It encourages entries in everything from classical, jazz and folk to singer-songwriter ballads, Asian music and rock, as long as the work is suitable for live performance and appealing to a wide range of concertgoers. Works should last between 6 and 12 minutes and should be for one or two singers / vocalists with between two and five instrumentalists. Philip Bates, a young man from Castle Bromwich with a promising musical future ahead of him, was tragically killed shortly after his nineteenth birthday in March 2000. To honour his memory, the Philip Bates Trust (founded to encourage young musicians like Philip) and leading music college Birmingham Conservatoire (part of Birmingham City University) jointly run the annual Philip Bates Prize for Composers and Songwriters. The competition offers three cash prizes, all donated by the Philip Bates Trust. Birmingham Conservatoire and the Philip Bates Trust award one £300 prize each. There is also a £200 prize awarded by the audience. Only one entry may be submitted per composer and entries should be... read moreThe Ashleyan Opera Prize
The Ashleyan Opera was created by Philip’s grandparents Stanley and Margaret Asher ran from 1959 for almost 50 performances well into the 21st Century. They performed grand opera to the delight of audiences in Leicester at The Little Theatre and Leicester Haymarket. When the group closed for the final time the money left in their funds was donated to Birmingham Conservatoire to award a prize each year to a postgraduate vocal student at the start of their career. It has run for 9 years since 2007 each year attended by Margaret Asher herself and eminent judges from the opera world to make the final decision. You can see the Prize winners listed over on our Prizes and Awards... read more
Online Donations
With the new website we will be introducing online donations. This is new territory for the Trust and we hope that it will make life easier for our supporters and us. Donations can be made via the Paypal button in the footer of the website. read more