Sir Bryn Terfel CBE and the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama (RWCMD) have launched a new foundation, Cronfa* Syr Bryn Terfel.

The foundation aims to support young artists training at the College through scholarships and bursaries.

“At the start of their careers young artists dream of achieving great things, just as young sports men and women do,” said Terfel in an official press statement. “But with funding for arts education and the arts in general constantly squeezed and under pressure, it’s becoming more and more difficult for our next generations–particularly those who don’t start with financial advantage–to come through as I was able to do.”

Terfel continued, “It now matters deeply to me to get behind them and to establish a permanent foundation here at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama. This is Cronfa, and my wife Hannah and I are working closely with the leadership and development teams at the College to find and inspire the first philanthropists and donors who will join us on this exciting journey to build a new and lasting fund and to create the opportunities and support that are so desperately needed.”

The foundation will also fund projects celebrating Welsh culture and music, including an international biennial song prize starting in 2024.

Singers from the College, as well as those from other UK and international conservatoires, can enter the competition, which requires competitors to include at least one song in Welsh and one in their own language. The winner will receive a £5,000 prize.

*Cronfa is the Welsh word for fund.