The Benedetti Foundation’s annual Ambassador and Youth Ambassador Programmes return from September 2026 and provide impactful development opportunities for students, emerging musicians and young professionals by developing leadership skills, growing an enthusiasm for performance and gaining insight into the creative industries

The Benedetti Foundation’s Ambassador Programme (aged 18+) and Youth Ambassador Programme (aged 15 – 18) will return in September 2026. The Foundation’s fully funded training gives participants the opportunity to attend music events, gain mentorship from leading experts, and develop skills as performers, teachers, and workshop leaders in insightful sessions and collaborative learning experiences.

The aims of these programmes are to create a legacy of world leading and innovative musicians and educators. The time the Ambassadors and Youth Ambassadors spend with the Foundation is transformational in shaping their careers and in turn the experiences of the next generation of learners.

Ambassador Programme

The Ambassador Programme is a free professional development opportunity for emerging musicians and educators (aged 18+) who want to develop their teaching, workshop leading, and performance skills. The programme will run from September 2026 - April 2027.

Ambassadors will receive mentorship from leading industry experts and participate in collaborative learning experiences to develop confidence and knowledge as music educators and performers. In both online sessions and in-person opportunities, Ambassadors will also explore new approaches to creative music-making.

The programme is open to students and young professionals across the UK, Ireland, and internationally from different musical disciplines including instrumentalists, singers and workshop leaders. Participants will have the opportunity to connect with fellow musicians who are dedicated to developing their practice, and the Ambassador Programme will be led by Rachel Cooper and Lucy Drever.

The programme offers three development strands, allowing ambassadors to focus on areas most relevant to their interests and experience:

• Benedetti Ambassadors – Introduction to String Teaching & Workshop Leading

For students and early-career musicians exploring teaching or workshop leading. Sessions are dedicated to further understanding the music education sector, building confidence and developing expertise as music leaders and workshop facilitators. Sessions include:

-  2× monthly mentor sessions + 2× talks (online)

-  2× in-person days (inspiration + practical)

-  1+ Benedetti Session/Residency (or online alternative)

-  Focus Areas: Communication, Lesson Planning, Wider Community and Career Building Blocks

• Benedetti In Practice Ambassadors - Reflecting on practice

For musicians with existing teaching and workshop experience, this strand offers a space to reflect, develop, and strengthen practice with mentor support. Sessions include:

-   2× monthly mentor sessions and 2× talks (online)

-  2× in-person days (inspiration and practical)

-  1+ Benedetti Session/Residency (or online alternative)

-  Focus Areas: Communication, Lesson Planning, Wider Community and Career Building Blocks

• Performance Intensive Ambassadors

An auditioned programme for higher education string players, focused on performance, mentorship, and industry insight, with the opportunity for masterclasses and inspiring sessions with artists including Nicola Benedetti. Sessions include:

-  Monthly mentor sessions (online)

-  2× Benedetti Session weekends

-  2× in-person days (masterclass + inspiration)

-  Performance and peer collaboration opportunities

Lucy Dreversays: ‘We’re delighted to welcome students and early career musicians to apply for the Benedetti Ambassador Programme. With this year’s programme being split into three specialist strands, we’re excited to be able to focus support on participants’ different interests and stages of experience. The Introduction to String Teaching & Workshop Leading strand will deepen participants’ understanding of the music education sector and develop skills as workshop leaders. Alongside this, the Benedetti In Practice Ambassadors strand strengthens existing leadership experience, giving participants a reflective space to collaborate with peers and hear from mentors and guest speakers. I hope any emerging educators, leaders, and musicians will consider joining us.’

Rachel Cooper commented: ‘We are thrilled to invite string players to audition for the Benedetti Ambassadors Programme, now featuring a specialist performance pathway for the first time. The Performance Intensive will give higher education string players the opportunity to further develop their performance skills in masterclasses and sessions run by world-class musicians including Nicola Benedetti. As well as attending the immersive Benedetti Session weekends, we’re delighted to offer the Ambassadors monthly mentor sessions to develop their performance craft whilst gaining invaluable insight from those at the heart of the music industry.’

Youth Ambassador Programme

In its third year, the Youth Ambassador Programme is a free leadership and career development programme for young musicians (ages 15–18) with a curiosity to learn more about a future in music or the creative industries.

The Youth Ambassador Programme is an immersive opportunity for young musicians across the UK to develop skills as a young creative leader, build confidence and gain insight into music careers beyond performance. Throughout the programme Youth Ambassadors will receive mentoring and guidance from industry professionals across the sessions and hear from inspiring guest speakers sharing their journeys within the creative industry. Participants will connect with peers across the UK, whilst developing skills in communication and reflection, and growing as a creative.

Calum Huggan, Head of Youth Ambassador Programme says: ‘We’re delighted that applications are now open for the third year of the Youth Ambassador Programme. We want to showcase the different pathways available in the music industry and help nurture curiosity among young musicians. Through mentor sessions and hearing from guest speakers, Youth Ambassadors will explore a wide range of careers across the music and creative industries whilst developing skills as young leaders. I really hope any young person of 15 – 18 who is interested in music might consider signing up and join us on the Youth Ambassador Programme.’

The Youth Ambassador Programme consists of two separate cohorts across the academic year; the first cohort will run from the 14 September – 30 November 2026, and the second cohort from the 18 January – 22 March 2027. Each cohort includes:

• 5 Mentor Sessions (in small groups)

• 4 Guest Speaker Sessions

• 1 In-Person Workshop Day

How to apply

For full details and to apply, visit: https://www.benedettifoundation.org/

Deadline to apply for both programmes is Friday 26 June 2026

Images can be downloaded here.

For further press information please contact:

Rebecca Driver Media Relations

Tel: 07946 130905 | Email: rhiannon@rdmr.co.uk 

www.rdmr.co.uk