The Gloucestershire Piano Trust provides classical music concerts in schools and prisons.

By introducing classical music to schoolchildren and prisoners, many of whom have never witnessed live music before, we aim to inspire, broaden horizons, and enhance listeners’ appreciation of the value of live music. In prisons in particular, these concerts foster a sense of community and are of significant benefit to listeners’ mental health. We also support mentoring and masterclasses for talented young pianists in Gloucestershire, the commissioning of new music, and the recording of music by little-known composers. The Trust works with established classical musicians and music educators, especially renowned local pianist Clare Hammond.

Building on Clare’s pre-existing community work, we aim to arrange 30-36 concerts each year at primary schools, in collaboration with Gloucestershire Music, and 10 concerts at prisons across the South-West and Midlands. This work reaches over 4,000 children and 300 prisoners annually. We are currently running a co-creation project with composer Michael Betteridge at prisons in Staffordshire, and shall set up a mentorship scheme for aspiring young pianists in Gloucestershire from the autumn. Read more about our current projects here.