Audience enjoying a concert at Benslow Music

How Benslow Music makes a difference 

Benslow Music is dedicated to supporting musicians at every stage—whether early career, amateur, or late starters. We provide a safe, collaborative and social space where people can grow and enjoy making music together. 

Benslow Music in numbers (2024) 

ActivityNumber
Young people borrowing instruments 538
Young people supported by bursary scheme 102
Participants attending courses 1925
Courses run 144
Concerts held 33

Key areas of impact 

We offer a wide range of opportunities. Our main focus areas include: 

Music learning that makes a difference to people 

Music makes a difference. It’s beneficial for your mental health and sense of well-being and build communities. 

Music has countless benefits, particularly later in life. It engages every part of the brain, boosts health and wellbeing, and acts like a full-body workout for the mind. Later-starter courses encourage social interaction with like-minded musicians, helping to combat loneliness and build community. 

“The Benslow experience is a brilliant way for likeminded folk with enthusiasm for music making to get together to play and socialise.”

“For anyone who loves making music with others, and wants to deepen their musical understanding and abilities, Benslow is a quality experience.”

“Benslow itself is like stepping off the world for a couple of days and just enjoying the music.”

Loaning instruments to develop young talent 

Having access to a good quality instrument can really help build the skills and confidence of a young musician.  

Here’s what two Instrument Loan Scheme alumni had to say: 

Black and white image of Ben Michaels with the neck of his cello showing

Ben Michaels, cellist

© Emma Werner

“I remember [my Benslow cello] was a three-quarter-size cello that was really lovely. It had a dark patch underneath the bridge which I loved. It was the cello that got me into the National Children's Orchestra and the cello that took me through my grade eight.”

“Loaning instruments has been paramount to my musical journey so far. There are a lot of reasons for that but I think the obvious one is that we weren’t a particularly well-off family when we were growing up. It was so amazing to have my Benslow violin, something that could do all of these things that I didn’t really realise were possible before. It completely changed the nature of what I thought I could do on the instrument, it unlocked all of these things that meant I could push a little harder, see what came out, go for different colours, different things… It completely opened up the spectrum of my creative process and that made it a hundred times more enjoyable.”

Roberto Ruisi, Leader of the Hallé Orchestra
Find out more about Roberto: robertoruisi.com

Roberto Ruisi looking directly into the camera with the ruins of a church in the back ground.

© www.robertoruisi.com

Being trusted with a precious instrument can make a huge difference to a young person starting their musical journey. Over half of the instruments available to borrow from the Scheme are generously provided by musicians. Having someone who believes in your potential, who trusts you with a precious instrument – at a fee that is affordable – makes a real and measurable difference to the young musicians we are lucky enough to work with. 

Instruments are meant to be played, and we encourage young people to connect with the instrument owners, fostering friendships and a sense of community.