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The good news is that we have a framework for resuming operations, the sad news is that this won’t be until well after we’d hoped. Nevertheless the UK government’s roadmap announced this week (although it does not specially mention music) does enable us to plan, to re-plan I should say, positively and with an end in sight at last. We hope that we’ll be able to welcome back all our friends to make music here at Benslow again from 17 May – make sure you make a booking on your favourite course(s) before spaces have gone! Our full list of courses from 17 May 2021 is available to view at www.benslowmusic.org/courses.
That we are in a position to be able to plan is a direct consequence of the great goodwill and generosity everyone has shown through our Keep Music at Benslow Alive campaign. The total raised to date, which includes direct donations, transfers of course fees, new and upgraded membership subscriptions and not least Gift Aid, stands at over £311,000 - a fabulous total (remember the initial target). Thank you all so very much.
Not only have you helped us to keep the organisation going and the site ticking over but we’ve been able to establish online courses, to provide performance opportunities to musicians in livestreamed concerts from the Peter Morrison Hall – and to purchase the equipment needed to do this. It’s possible that we’ll be able to spruce up some of the rooms too before you return, though of course we have to continue to be prudent with expenditure.
Much credit to our wonderful staff too for the very considerable hard work which has continued throughout the pandemic, doing so much in keeping our music business alive in the ways described (have you partaken? Please do!), ensuring secure finances, dealing with ever changing course administration, keeping the site alive. Your trustees have not been quiet either, advising, overseeing and agreeing action. Many thanks to them all.
In other news, we’ve taken delivery of a nice Bösendorfer boudoir grand, to be housed in the Fieldfares Ensemble Room. Though relatively small it has a pleasing warm sound and a decently resonant bass. It was fully restored in 1997 and the action has been regulated this month by Tim Harvey, and is on generous loan from the Tschaikowsky family to whom we are most grateful. (The Instrument Loan Scheme has benefited for some time from the family’s loan of several fine violins and bows.) In a pleasing connection, when new the piano had been given to Ulick Tschaikowsky and Doris Oldroyd, both discerning musicians, as a wedding present in 1927 by Editha Knocker, co-founder of our Loan Scheme and a renowned violin teacher. (Benslow Music also benefits from the royalties on her translation of Leopold Mozart’s A Treatise on the Fundamental Principles of Violin Playing.)
Sad to say, Alison Palmer, who for fourteen years has led the Instrument Loan Scheme with great professionalism, dedication and warmth, is to retire at the end of May this year. She has done much, with her team, to enable the Scheme to be the significant provider and support for young musicians it is today and she will be greatly missed – we’ll give her as splendid a send-off as we are able when the time comes. I am pleased to announce that her successor is to be Etta Dainty. Etta, who starts on 4 May to enable transition, trained at RAM, has worked for 14 years at a leading music agency and lives locally – we look forward to working with her.
Keep safe and alert – and keep practising!
Peter Hewitt
Chief Executive
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