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
Composition Prize
November 2016
Games and Quiz Night
11th March 2017, Arden Hall
A Touch of Basil 2017
30th September 2017 at Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School
Click event name for more details
Philip Bates Prize for Composers and Songwriters 2016
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News
Philip 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... 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... 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... 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... 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.... read more
Online Donations and Ticket Sales for A Touch Of Basil
With the new website we will be introducing online donations and ticket sales. This is new territory for the Trust and we hope that it will make life easier for our supporters and us by partly automating both of these important activities. Donations can be made via... read more
Ashleyan Opera Prize 2015
What a fantastic evening’s entertainment we experienced with ten post-graduate singers hotly contesting this year’s Ashleyan Opera Prize. Phillippa Lay has a very promising powerful soprano voice but needs to work on opening up her high notes. Zulkifi bin Zainul,... read more
Our Last Concert at the ABH
Our first Touch of Basil was held in the Adrian Boult Hall of Birmingham Conservatoire in September 2000. We were told at that time that we were unlikely to be able to use ABH for too long in the future because it was to be replaced. The concert on September 26th 2015... read more
Newsletter Mailout 2015
Have you ever wondered how your newsletter gets produced and sent to you? Well here’s where it all happens – the Action Committee and friends spend a busy few hours folding and stuffing the newsletters and any flyers into envelopes which then have to have... read more