First Freddie Mercury scholarship launched

Freddie Mercury (Image credit: Getty)

The first ever Freddie Mercury scholarship has been launched.

The Academy Of Contemporary Music revealed the new scheme – which is endorsed by the organisation’s patrons, Queen’s Brian May and Roger Taylor. It’ll fully fund a student’s three-year university course and is worth up to £27,000.

Taylor says: “Freddie’s name endures in so many ways, so it’s therefore great to have this scholarship celebrating his musical genius.”

The ACM has a partnership with Metropolis Studios – one of the world’s largest independent recording facilities – and students are permitted unlimited access. It was there in 1991 that Mercury recorded Innuendo, which would be his last album with Queen.

Guitarist May adds: “This scholarship will be a lasting tribute to Freddie and the path he blazed. He would be happy to see young talent being helped to blossom.

“Of course Metropolis holds a very special place in Queen history, and it’s a pleasure to continue that link.”

Queen and Adam Lambert will headline Isle Of Wight festival on June 12.

Former TeamRock news desk member Christina joined our team in late 2015, and although her time working on online rock news was fairly brief, she made a huge impact by contributing close to 1500 stories. Christina also interviewed artists including Deftones frontman Chino Moreno and worked at the Download festival. In late 2016, Christina left rock journalism to pursue a career in current affairs. In 2021, she was named Local Weekly Feature Writer of the Year at the Scottish Press Awards.