Fine Music Radio (FMR)

Fine Music Radio (FMR) has broadcast classical music and jazz to Cape Town since 1995 from the Artscape Theatre Centre, on 101.3FM and associated frequencies. FMR runs largely on donations, and most of its presenters and staff work as volunteers.

Registered name

Fine Music Radio (FMR)

Type

Non-profit community radio station (classical and jazz)

Fields funded

Music performance diplomas and degrees

Website

fmr.co.za

People who run the station

FMR’s board brings together long-standing listeners and media professionals. Johann Francois Vos, an attorney since 1975, has belonged to FMR for more than 20 years and has chaired the board for the last eight; he studied music at school and played piano until matric. Board member Chris Nicklin began his career as a journalist at the SABC and later worked in radio and television for the BBC in London.

Promoting tomorrow’s musicians

Fine Music Radio says it is committed to promoting the musical stars of tomorrow. FMR runs a dedicated podcast channel for Youth Music Concerts, and FMR hosts and broadcasts the annual FMR Bursary Trust Music Awards, which champion music students with bursaries.

The Rolf-Stephan Nussbaum Foundation funds the awards, according to a provider record checked in August 2026. The foundation was set up to provide scholarships, bursaries and awards to students studying towards a performance diploma or degree in music.

Part audition, part scholarship

The FMR Bursary Trust Music Awards work like a competition. Students first submit a recorded performance, and the strongest applicants play a live final round at the Baxter Concert Hall in front of a panel. The most recent round closed on 12 June 2026, and FMR runs an annual mid-year cycle, so BursariesAfrica expects the next round to close in June 2027.

Preparing for the next round

Start preparing a recording months before the deadline. Choose repertoire that shows your strengths, record in a quiet space with good sound, and ask your music teacher or lecturer for feedback before submitting. Finalists perform live, so practise performing for an audience as well as for the microphone.

Email FMR’s bursary contact to confirm the rules for the 2027 round, including eligible instruments, age limits and whether students must study in the Western Cape.

Listening to FMR’s broadcasts of past Bursary Trust finals and Youth Music Concerts also shows applicants the standard of performance the panel expects.

Musicians can compare FMR’s awards with other music funders on our music bursaries page.