Continuo Foundation awards £150,000 of grants for period instrument ensembles

The new charity Continuo Foundation has awarded the first round of grants to UK period instrument ensembles, supporting 23 projects in total. 

Established in October 2020 by former City director Tina Vadaneaux, the charity aims to support the community of period instrument ensembles across the UK, many of which are struggling due to the pandemic.

The recipients of this round of grants were the result of a two-stage evaluation process. The trustees sought to balance these recommendations with considerations of financial need and applicants’ access to alternative funding sources.

Supported projects are scheduled to take place from April to September 2021.

The grant recipients are Boxwood & Brass, The Brook Street Band, Consone Quartet, Dunedin Consort, Ensemble Augelletti, Ensemble Hesperi, Ensemble Marsyas, Ex Cathedra, Feinstein Ensemble, Florilegium, Fontanella, Fretwork, His Majestys Sagbutts and Cornetts, Illyria Consort, Joglaresa, La Nuova Musica, La Serenissima, Linarol Consort of Viols, London Handel Orchestra, The Mozartists, Palisander, Spiritato and The English Concert.

Tina Vadaneaux said: 'The number of very worthwhile projects exceeded our available resources by a long way. Subject to raising sufficient funds, we will launch a second grant round in the summer for projects from autumn 2021. We are also seeking additional major donors to provide the core funding required to roll out our longer-term plans to bring innovation and technology to grow the sector and make period chamber music accessible across the UK.'

For further information, visit www.continuofoundation.co.uk/firstroundgrantees.