The Stradivari Trust Marks 40 Years of Supporting Musicians with Gala Concert at Smith Square Hall 

On Thursday 4 December, The Stradivari Trust will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a gala concert at Smith Square Hall, London.

The evening’s concert programme has been chosen to honour both the Trust’s anniversary and cellist Natalie Clein’s long association with the organisation. Conducted by Roger Benedict, Sinfonia Smith Square will perform Schumann’s Cello Concerto with Natalie. Also on the programme is the second movement of Schubert’s String Quintet with members of the orchestra. The concert also celebrates Natalie completing her scheme and becoming an alumna of The Stradivari Trust. 

Natalie says, “Thanks to The Stradivari Trust I met the instrument of my life – my soulmate! The cello has accompanied me through the last 25 years of my playing life and has become a deep part of my musical voice. How very lucky I feel that the Trust was able to help me in this way.” 

Founded in 1985 by Cambridge entrepreneur and philanthropist Nigel Brown OBE, The Stradivari Trust has enabled Britain’s finest musicians to acquire instruments of the highest calibre. The Trust’s inaugural scheme supported violinist Nigel Kennedy in acquiring the ‘La Cathédral’ Stradivari violin, an acquisition that laid the foundations for a model of syndicated ownership that has since become unique in its field. Contributors to each syndicate acquire shares in the instrument which the musicians buy back gradually over a set period, enabling them to eventually own the instrument. 

Over the past four decades, the Trust has facilitated more than 60 such schemes, with instruments collectively valued in excess of £30 million, benefitting musicians including Steven Isserlis, Lawrence Power, Jennifer Pike and Natalie Clein. In addition, to commemorate the Trust’s founder, the ‘Nigel Brown Fine Instrument Fund’ has been set up which welcomes donations eventually used to acquire certain fine instruments more quickly, before the fundraising has been finalised.

Dr Colin Smithers, Chairman of The Stradivari Trust, says, “The Stradivari Trust makes it possible for outstanding musicians to own their own fine stringed instruments. As we mark our 40th anniversary, we pay tribute to Nigel Brown’s remarkable vision, which has changed the course of many musical careers, and we celebrate the outstanding artistry of Natalie Clein and our contributors past and present. 

There is a demand from talented musicians for more schemes and to do this we now need to find the next generation of contributors. It is our experience that everyone benefits: the artists get to play on instruments they could not otherwise access, and the contributors get to be part of that artist’s growth as well as owning a slice of the fine instrument that’s value grows with the market.”

The Stradivari Trust is a registered charity no. 1105562