UK tuition concerns: Islander prepared to change name to “Georgia Mae Bishop Generously Supported By Barclays Bank” in return for funding

  • Islander calls for a review of hefty UK study fees for Jersey students
  • Singer Georgia Mae Bishop has written to Chief Minister Ian Gorst and Prime Minister David Cameron about Islanders being classed as ‘overseas students’
  • Miss Bishop has also said she will change her name to include Barclays branding if the bank contributes to her £22,000 study fees

AN Islander has offered to change her name by deed poll – and has written to the UK Prime Minister – after discovering she faces fees of £22,000 to study in London because she is classed as an overseas student.

Georgia Mae Bishop, who is training to be an opera singer, has been offered a place at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

But she says she may have to give up the place if she cannot raise £22,000 in tuition fees – more than double the £9,000 being charged to UK-based students.

Now, in an attempt to get the policy changed or raise funds, she has written to Mr Cameron and Chief Minister Ian Gorst asking for the policy to be reviewed, and has penned a letter to Barclays stating she will change her name to Georgia Mae Bishop Generously Sponsored By Barclays Bank if they contribute towards her costs.

She has not heard back from any of the parties.

Singer Georgia Mae Bishop with former singing teacher Imogen Nicholls

Miss Bishop, who has previously played the title role in Carmen, has also performed as the Witch in Hansel and Gretel and regularly takes part in recitals in the Channel Islands to raise money for Jersey Hospice.

‘It is already a struggle when you have been through the undergraduate system and I have gone down all the usual routes for funding.

‘I have been lucky enough to get a partial scholarship from Guildhall, as well as some other bursaries. For people who are living in the UK to be told that if they want to do any further studies will cost more than £20,000 is unfair.

‘I hope it will raise awareness that this is a situation that is really unfortunate for Jersey students and I am sure that there are others who have had to give up further studies because of the cost.’

The 23-year-old singer added that a friend from Guernsey was unable to attend the Royal Academy of Music last year because of the same issue. Now, Miss Bishop hopes that by writing to Senator Gorst and Mr Cameron, Jersey students might get a fairer deal.

So far she has raised around £11,000 towards the cost of her studies.

‘If someone was willing to give me the money and insisted that I change my name, then I would not back out of it – I am desperate to finish the course.’

Prime Minister David Cameron

The Rt Hon David Cameron

The Prime Minister’s Office

10 Downing Street

London

SW1A 2AA

Dear Prime Minister

A British Citizen?

Congratulations on your recent election success! I was delighted when you were re-elected as Prime Minister.

Please forgive me for troubling you and I hope that you do not think me to be impertinent by writing to you directly, with a matter which you may consider to be trivial. However, you are a gentleman of considerable gravitas and as your son was christened by my singing teacher’s husband I did not think you would mind me doing so.

I have been offered a place on the Artist Masters course at the World-renowned Guildhall School of Music and Drama commencing in September 2015. Here I will receive specialist vocal technique training from distinguished singing teachers, alongside the intensive study of foreign languages, stage-craft, interpretation and artistic techniques and performance masterclasses.

However, despite my passport clearing stating that I am a British Citizen (my father was born in Oxford), I consider it to be outrageous that I am viewed as being an international student and am required to pay fees of £22,180 per year, instead of the usual £9,000. Moreover, I am also ineligible for a student loan, a tuition grant or any other form of subsidy from the UK/Jersey Governments.

I have always considered myself to be British and have lived in England for the past seven years and although I have never earned enough to pay lncome Tax I have a National lnsurance Number and intend to contribute at the earliest opportunity.

By having three jobs, combined with scholarships from the Guildhall School, Help Musicians UK and the John Lobb Trust, I have been able to raise £11,000. Unfortunately, this is still less than half of what is needed to cover my fees alone and I fear that I will not be able to take up my place as I have already applied for every single scholarship, bursary, hardship fund and financial aid available to me.

I consider that I am not being treated fairly, and would be most grateful to you if you would kindly look in to my case to see if I should only pay £9,000 and the request for the higher amount is merely an administrative oversight.

I very much look forward to hearing from you and thank you very much in anticipation.

With kindest regards

Yours sincerely,

Georgia Mae Bishop

MISS Bishop wrote the same letter to Chief Minister Ian Gorst, asking if Jersey students were second-class British citizens.

And in her quest to secure funding to continue her studies, she also approached Barclays, offering to change her name and perform for staff or clients in return for a contribution towards the bill she faces for her studies.

Writing to the bank she said: ‘As a matter of urgency, I need to raise the remaining £11,180 (including a non-refundable deposit of £3,327 which is due in July). As far as my credit rating is concerned, I have no personal assets and the only thing that I can offer as security is a desire to succeed and a commitment to work hard. Notwithstanding this, is there anything that you or your organisation can do to help me?

To thank you, I would be delighted to arrange a performance (or series of performances) either solo, as part of a close harmony female trio, or with my peers in the opera company that I run (PuzzlePiece Opera). This could be for your staff, your clients, or your friends and family at home.

Finally, such is my desire to attend Guildhall; I would even be prepared to change my name by deed poll to: “Georgia Mae Bishop Generously Supported By Barclays Bank” until such time as I graduate.

I very much look forward to hearing from you and thank you very much in anticipation.

With kindest regards

Yours sincerely

Georgia Mae Bishop’

Georgia Mae Bishop is training to be an opera singer

  • Miss Bishop is a mezzo-soprano from St Lawrence
  • She is currently studying at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance with Linda Hirst
  • Previously she studied voice and piano at Chetham’s School of Music while completing her A-Levels
  • She has performed a range of contemporary roles both as a soloist and in a chamber ensemble, and in numerous premiere performances of works by Trinity Laban composers
  • Miss Bishop gives regular recital performances with duo partner Ashley Beauchamp, the pair have performed across London, as well as in Jersey and were recently finalists in the Elizabeth Schumann lieder competition

Watch Miss Bishop sing on YouTube below:

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