Welcome to the Vaughan Williams Foundation – one of the foremost sources of funding for recent and contemporary music in the UK
The Vaughan Williams Foundation is a new grant-giving charity which upholds the values and vision of the celebrated composer Ralph Vaughan Williams and his wife Ursula Vaughan Williams.
Our principal aims are to honour RVW’s desire to support his fellow composers, and to help make his own work widely accessible to the general public.
VWF was founded in 2022, 150 years after the composer’s birth, and brings together the two charities originally set up by Ralph (RVW Trust) and Ursula (Vaughan Williams Charitable Trust).
Funding
VWF supports the work of British/Irish composers from the last 100 years, as well as projects which further the knowledge and understanding of the life and music of Ralph Vaughan Williams, and of the work of Ursula Vaughan Williams.
Applications for funding are now open. Ensembles, organisations and individuals are invited to apply.
The Foundation also offers annual Vaughan Williams Bursaries for postgraduate composition students.
RVW150
12 October 2022 marked the 150th anniversary of the birth of Ralph Vaughan Williams, and the launch of this Foundation and #RVW150 celebrations continued into the summer of 2023.
Find out more about the composer and explore some of the projects which happened in the anniversary year
READ THE LATEST
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Vaughan Williams Foundation
@vwfndn
“A majestic performance, brimful of lofty spectacle, abundant temperament and stunning accomplishment” – @GramophoneMag on @the_halle’s recording of Vaughan Williams’ A Sea Symphony.
Ralph Vaughan Williams Society #RVW
@rvwsociety
It is with great sadness that the Ralph Vaughan Williams Society announces the passing of our President and internationally renowned conductor, Sir Andrew Davis CBE.
Let us take a moment to revisit this stunning performance (advert may play beforehand):
Riot Ensemble
@riotens
@kwilliflute @VWFndn We will also present new works by @rncmlive students and the rest of the programme, performed by RNCM New Ensemble, features music by Cheryl Frances-Hoad, Joe Bloom, Asteryth Sloane and Gabriella Smith’s Maré. So all round not an evening to be missed!
⬇️
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Vaughan Williams Foundation
@vwfndn
For those with an interest in in English operas – the rest of the letter lays out the plot of the opera Hugh The Drover.
Find the full version in our archive here: https://bit.ly/3Q0DE10
PhoenixSingers
@phoenixsingers4
Waves, undulating waves 🌊 #RVW A Sea Symphony, an epic work for large choir and orchestra, shot through with stirring and vivid musical depictions of the sea in all its moods… tickets from only £20 🌊
#choir #choralmusic #SnapeMaltings #suffolk #vaughanwilliams #seasymphony
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Vaughan Williams Foundation
@vwfndn
We support composers, and also work furthering the knowledge and understanding of the life and music of Ralph Vaughan Williams, and of the work of Ursula Vaughan Williams.
Our next general funding application deadline is May 1.
Find out more here: https://bit.ly/4450CKA
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Vaughan Williams Foundation
@vwfndn
“A beautiful musical play about the life and times of Ursula Vaughan Williams, second wife of Ralph. Featuring new music inspired by the man himself, the amazing Clara Coslett sings, plays the violin and acts in the main role.”
A Lark opens at @DorkingHalls this evening.
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Vaughan Williams Foundation
@vwfndn
The lament of many a composer we suspect! 🎶
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Vaughan Williams Foundation
@vwfndn
A sweet letter from Ursula Vaughan Williams to Joan Shaw, revealing the few things a composer needs!
We assume that by ‘Martin’ she is referring to Martin Shaw, Joan’s husband, who composed Morning Has Broken.
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Vaughan Williams Foundation
@vwfndn
Vaughan Williams wrote his first score for the 1941 propaganda film ‘The 49th Parallel’ and went on to score another 10 films, including the celebrated ‘Scott of the Antarctic’.
📻 Find out more in this @BBCRadio3 Sound of Cinema podcast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001cyly
THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
Featured Letter
Get to know the man and his music
RVW’s wide-ranging correspondence – with family, pupils, fellow composers, conductors and performers – paints an intriguing portrait of the man, as well as providing fascinating insights into his major preoccupations: musical, personal and political.
Our searchable database includes over 5000 annotated transcriptions of his correspondence all available to read online.
Letter of the Day
Letter from Ralph Vaughan Williams to Ursula Wood
Letter No.: VWL1546
[July 1941]
My Dear
Here are 2 letters, one from Bruce Richmond1 and the other from Fox Strangways2 – do not return.
Have a good time on your holiday.
Love
RVW
Nothing from Max yet.3
1. Originally introduced to VW by his brother, Hervey, Sir Bruce Richmond had been the first Literary Editor of The Times and then founded the Times Literary Supplement.
2. Arthur Henry Fox Strangways, music critic and founder of the quarterly Music & Letters. VW appears to have been writing on UW’s behalf to literary friends – perhaps recommending her poetry for publication or suggesting her as a potential reviewer.
3. Presumably Max Beerbohm, now a neighbour in Dorking.
