Georgia Mae Bishop (23) wrote letters to Chief Minister Ian Gorst and UK Prime Minister David Cameron in May after discovering that her dream post-graduate course at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama would cost £22,000 because, despite holding a British passport, she was deemed to be an overseas student.
Fearing that she would be forced to give up her place at the prestigious school, Miss Bishop began a campaign to raise funds for the course as well as awareness of the difficulties that Channel Island students face when applying for post-graduate studies.
After several months of not knowing whether she would be able to take her place, earlier this month, Miss Bishop started her course – and she hasn’t even had to change her name.
She has received sponsorship from the Jersey branch of the Music in Action Charity as well The John Lobb Trust and The Paul Brown Memorial Fund. She also already received a partial scholarship from the Guildhall School as well as receiving support from UBS Bank.
As part of the sponsorship she has received, Miss Bishop will be performing at the Opera House next month as part of the Jersey Chamber Orchestra.
Miss Bishop, from St Lawrence, left the Island seven years ago to pursue her dream of becoming an opera singer.
She said: ‘I got very helpful support from everyone that I contacted and I am really excited about the course.
‘It was clear that Senator Gorst had taken time to look into my case and he gave me a good explanation about the situation.
‘That was helpful because I think I was frustrated at not knowing why my fees were so high and why there were no post-graduate grants. Once I understood, I was able to look at how to find the right sponsorship.
‘UBS are helping sponsor me for the concert next month and they didn’t even ask me to change my name, which is great.’
Miss Bishop now wishes to thank the charities and organisations who have supported her and hopes that next month’s concert – where she will be performing excerpts from Mozart’s Apollo – will provide a boost to classical music in Jersey.
She added: ‘It is a great opportunity to perform in Jersey and celebrate all the support for the arts in Jersey. There are a lot of talented musicians in Jersey and perhaps a concert like this might help raise the profile of the classical arts.’
Her performance, which is part of ‘The Selfish Giant’ concert, will take place on Saturday 10 October, with performances at 2.30 pm and 8 pm.
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’
- 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 Chethams 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:
