I am delighted to present the Annual Review of activities for our 2010/2011 season.

Our Music Club Awards Scheme auditions took place in early October 2010. 12 chamber ensembles were chosen for audition following applications from almost 40 groups. The number of concerts awarded was 20 for the 2011/12 season. The principal Award Winners chosen were the Fournier Piano Trio, Greenwich Piano Trio, Nemtsov Duo (cello & piano duo) and the Renard Ensemble (wind trio). A full list of forthcoming concerts can be seen on the next page.

The Music Club Awards Scheme season given by our 2009 Award Winners got under way in January 2011 and was completed in March. All five 2009 Award Winners, the Idomeneo Quartet (string quartet), Nephele Ensemble (flute and string trio), Ashok Klouda and Joseph Middleton (cello & piano duo) and the Piatti Quartet (string quartet) were much enjoyed in Music Clubs from Dumfries in the Borders, Inverness in the North, to Skye & Islay in the Western Isles and Orkney in the Northern Isles.

The 2011 Blair Atholl Showcase took place from the 18th to 26th June at Lude House, Blair Atholl. 16 wonderful young musicians attended this year’s event. Thanks to typical generosity from the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation in particular, the event broke even this year. Audience numbers were healthy and all the young musicians benefitted hugely from our wonderful Tutors’ care and support.

Fundraising in 2010/11 proved successful given a nervy financial climate. Funding for the Blair Atholl event continued from the ever supportive Esmee Fairbairn Foundation. Generous help was also forthcoming from the PF, Lendrum, Bacher and Binks Trusts. Support for the Music Club Awards Scheme was also extremely strong from the D’Oyly Carte Trust, Samuel Gardener Trust, Garfield Weston Trust and the PF Charitable Trust. Individual donations were also most generous during the year. We are extremely grateful to all who have supported the Trust over the past year.

Whilst the Trust ran a small operating loss during the year it is hoped, given the positive notes on fund raising in year, that we are successful in raising suitable funding for the core activities in 2011/12.

Our 2011 Auditions for the Music Club Awards Scheme took place on 24th September in London. We are delighted to announce that the Andrews/Massey Duo (flute & harp), Castalian String Quartet, Gildas Quartet and the Ueda/Rinaldo Duo (violin & piano) have been awarded 24 concerts between them for the 2012/2013 season.

We are extremely excited to be celebrating an important milestone in the Trust’s achievements in 2012. On 12th May 2012 we are promoting a concert to mark our having sponsored 500 Concerts in Scottish Music Clubs in our 22 year history. This special concert will take place at Linlithgow Arts Guild. Please keep an eye on the website for details.



Jonathan Tunnell artistic director