The Haberdashers’ Company has enjoyed working in partnership with the Guildhall School for over twenty years. Since 1999 we have supported a wide range of students, enabling them to study at this prestigious institution, despite challenging economic backgrounds.

Ella de Jongh performing the role of Silvia in Mascagni’s Zanetto, November 2020. Photo credit Mihaela Bodlovic

Guildhall has risen to fourth place of all higher education institutions for Music in the 2021 Guardian University Guide music league table and is ranked as one of the top ten performing arts institutions in the world (QS World University Rankings 2020).

Over this time we have supported in excess of 60 students, each specialising in a different area, including violin, jazz guitar, trumpet and répétiteur.

One of our current awardees is Ella de Jongh, who is in the second year of her Advanced Certificate in Opera Studies (soprano).

Ella is grateful for the time she has spent on the course, saying ‘my experiences have meant I’m more courageous as a performer, I am braver with the artistic choices I make…. I have found ways of working which are more efficient and smarter’.

Given Ella’s financial background and personal circumstances (her family has experienced trauma and hardship) it is truly inspiring to understand her hopes for the future: ‘my long term ambitions are to make a living as an opera singer. I’d love to be able to go back to conservatories and inspire the next generation of artists through masterclasses and share my experiences of the industry and how companies such as the Haberdashers’ helped me’.

She goes on to thank the Company ‘I would like to extend my thanks, once again, for enabling me to pursue the dream I’ve had for so long – I really do have to keep pinching myself!’

Thanks to former Company Contact Andrew Macdonald, Liveryman, for his eight years’ service in this role. We are grateful to Charles Talbot, Liveryman, for taking up the post.