Richard Antwi Scholarship announces second 2021 recipient

The annual scholarship was founded in memory of British-Ghanaian music manager, lawyer and entrepreneur Richard Antwi. Universal Music UK will fund the award, which will see Green-Holder attend the University of Westminster’s Music Business Management MA course, before joining the Universal Music UK Graduate Programme.

Both awards comprise full course fees, and a bursary of £10 400 (about $14 400), mentorships from both the RAS team and Universal Music UK internal resources; professional executive coaching and support on a career pathway into the industry via work placements aligned with the scholar’s professional focus, skills and aspirations.

“It’s a wonderful milestone for Richard’s scholarship to partner with Universal Music UK to bring through the second scholar this year,” a statement said. “With thanks to Universal Music UK and congratulations to Idris, he hugely impressed the team and Universal Music UK with his passion, creativity and ambition”.

“Having dyslexia, the education system, in general, has been challenging for me, but I’m excited to return to studying and apply everything I’ve learnt in my career to the Music Business MA,” Green-Holder said. “It feels like a new beginning to me. I feel extremely blessed to be a recipient of the Richard Antwi scholarship and be on this journey as part of Universal Music UK’s graduate programme. I didn’t meet Richard in this life, but I am now feeling first-hand the impression he has left on the world, and for that, I am forever grateful.”

The news follows the recent announcement of Shanice Edwards as the first beneficiary of the schorlarship this year, and brings the tally of recipients to four since the inception of the programme in 2016.

Green-Holder was born and raised in Handsworth Birmingham, from Jamaican heritage. He studied Social Work at the University Of West London, with an initial dream to work within the mental health sector. For five years, he has worked within the social care industry, working with vulnerable young people and project management in the housing sector. Two years ago, he started a music management company catering to black music artists from the West Midlands. 

The Richard Antwi Scholarship returned after a hiatus in 2020, it is now funded by major record labels, music publishers, and several of the top independent music companies and music law firms including Sony Music UK, Universal Music UK, Warner Music UK, Sony Music Publishing, XL Records, Beggars Group, Young, Clintons, Hoare Associates and Modest.