Husband and wife Robert and Judy Birtwistle shared many things: a lifelong passion for music; a belief in the power of education; and a desire to ensure future generations of musicians had access to the support needed to reach their full potential. They also shared a generous spirit, which is evident in their bequest to The University of Western Australia.

According to the wishes of both Judy and Robert, a UWA alumnus (BSc ‘39), the Rob and Judy Birtwistle Scholarships Fund has been established, empowering an endowed postgraduate music scholarship, beginning in 2026.

The Rob and Judy Birtwistle Master of Music (Performance) Scholarship is a prestigious scholarship to be awarded in perpetuity, honouring theirpassion for music and education. It is a remarkable and visionary gift that will leave an indelible mark on the Conservatorium of Music.

The scholarship will support outstanding academic achievementand empower a cohort of talent to reach new heights, to focus on their craft unhindered by financial pressures. 

The Conservatorium of Music places performance at its core and this scholarship will nurture and ensure that gifted postgraduate performers continue to excel. Through their studies and later through their careers, each scholar will expand the Conservatorium of Music’s influence, potentially working with award-winning researchers and artists – the impact of the bequest rippling far beyond individual students.

The scholarship will alsostrengthen UWA’s reputation as a home for world-class musical training, attracting the brightest musicians, collaborations and performance projects that will enrichnot only the creative fabric of the Conservatorium, but also Western Australia’s orchestras, ensembles, festivals, classrooms, and community spaces for future decades.

The Birtwistle’s bequest is a testament to the extraordinary power of generosity to transform lives and inspire entire communities. Their legacy will echo for years to come – through every rehearsal room, every performance, and every career that begins under the scholarship bearing their names.

It is a powerful reminder of the role philanthropy plays in shaping the future, one that upholds the belief of Robert and Judy in the value of education, creativity and artistic excellence, which will reverberate through generations of musicians – and resonate far into the future.