Benslow Music Instrument Loan Scheme celebrates 90th anniversary with new building

Benslow Music Trust president, Judith Weir CBE, has officially opened the trust’s new premises in Hertfordshire, UK. The Aston Building is the latest facility for the Benslow Music Instrument Loan Scheme (BMILS), which celebrates its 90th anniversary this year.

The new building will provide a secure environment for the instruments as well as spaces where students can practice and try out potential loans and a workshop space for BMILS’ on-site luthier.

Etta Dainty, head of BMILS said ‘There should be no barrier to young people pursuing their musical dreams, and at BMILS we strive to make ourselves visible and available to potential borrowers from all backgrounds.’

Since its inception in 1932, BMILS has become the UK's largest music instrument loan scheme and has facilitated the loan of instruments to young artists over the last nine decades. BMILS has assisted several BBC Young Musician of the Year finalists, an RPS award winner and a BBC Guardian Young Composer award winner as well as a variety of academics.

Loans from BMILS’ collection of over 1,600 musical items are available to UK residents between the ages of 7 to 25 currently taking a full-time music course. The scheme currently serves over 475 current active borrowers who pay an annual loan charge of 5% of the item value (bursaries are also available).

You can find more information about the Benslow Music Instrument Loan Scheme here.