Community Jameel teams up with Andrea Bocelli Foundation to nurture world-class singers

The Saudi Arabian organisation is helping offer scholarships to London's prestigious Royal College of Music

Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli performed in a special episode of 'The Late Show with James Corden'. EPA

Saudi Arabia's Community Jameel has joined forces with the Andrea Bocelli Foundation to help foster musical talent around the world.

The social enterprise organisation, based in Jeddah, launched an international scholarship with the charity of the Italian opera singer this week, which will help send talented young singers attend London's Royal College of Music.

The announcement was made at the prestigious British by conservatoire Bocelli and Mohammed Abdul Latif Jameel, founder of Community Jameel, on Saturday.

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The scholarship will be open to up-and-coming singers around the world, including those from the Middle East, and will enable recipients to study full-time at RCM.

Hopefuls will have to audition to be in with a chance of the prize, with scholarships awarded on "merit and need".

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“In partnership with the Andrea Bocelli Foundation, and inspired by Maestro Bocelli himself, we are committed to improving access to the best vocal training for aspiring, talented singers from around the world," Fady Jameel, international president of Community Jameel, said in a statement.

According to the RCM, more than £3 million (Dh14.2 million) was given in scholarships in the last academic year, with the college hoping to offer financial support to 75 per cent of its students by 2020.

Community Jameel, which was founded in 2003, is behind Art Jameel, a renowned platform that support the arts and culture scene in the Middle East, as well as initiatives such as Abdul Latif Jameel Hospital, the first non-profit rehabilitation hospital in Saudi Arabia.

The Grammy-nominated Bocelli revealed earlier this year that he was inspired to launch his namesake foundation in 2011 by Mohammed Abdul Latif Jameel. The tenor made the revelation on stage at the Winter at Tantora festival in February, according to the Saudi Arabia embassy in Italy.