Birmingham Contemporary Music Group philanthropist celebrates 100th commission

Music enthusiast and philanthorpist Michael Squires is celebrating his 100^th commission via Birmingham Contemporary Music Group’s (BCMG) Sound Investment scheme. The Solihull-based retired KPMG partner has donated over £12,000 over 27 years to support composers writing new works.

Squires’s donations have supported the creation of 90 works which have already premiered, another eight which are currently in progress, and two further works which he expects to fund before the end of the year. He has also been the sole commissioner of some works, donating the composer’s fee in full.

Squires said: ‘If you’re interested in music and you are fortunate to be in a position to offer support, then it’s important to get out there. There’s also the joy in finding something new, rather than sticking to the familiar. The new works of today are the classics of tomorrow!’ He added: ‘I have invested in every scheme that’s been open to the public since 1998.’

Launched in 1991, BCMG’s Sound Investment programme is one of music’s earliest crowd funding schemes. The programme offered potential investors a list of commissions to support, with donors allowed to attend rehearsals and spend time with composers and musicians. Investors can contribute as little as £150, and so far over 500 donors have contributed more than £300,000 to the scheme.

Squires’ own contributions have supported the work of composers including Master of the Queen’s Music Judith Weir, Howard Skempton, Sir Harrison Birtwistle, Julian Anderson, Rebecca Saunders, Thomas Adès, Colin Matthews and Oliver Knussen. His next commission premiere will be Sound Investment works by Ondřei Adámek and Rohan De Saram, on 4 September at CBSO Centre.

You can find out more about BCMG’s Sound Investment programme here.