Continuo Foundation awards £100,000 in fourth round of grants

Music charity Continuo Foundation has announced the recipients of its fourth funding round, with a combined £100,000 going to 24 period instrument ensembles. In a continuation of its ‘Recently Formed Ensembles’ category, introduced in January to support ensembles formed during the pandemic, Continuo is supporting 14 new groups.

Since its founding in September 2020, Continuo has granted a total of £460,000 to members of the UK early music sector. The 24 ensembles receiving grants from Continuo’s fourth round will undertake a total of 67 projects over the next six months. The performances and recordings funded by this round will take place in 45 locations across the UK.

Bass-baritone Jonathan Sells, artistic director of grantee group, Solomon’s Knot, said: ‘It’s not just the money – it is so valuable to be part of the Continuo Foundation community. Continuo is a great ambassador for the whole early music sector, approaching support holistically, giving musicians tools to be more successful and providing a voice for the sector in the UK.’

Also receiving funding in this round of grants are recently formed ensembles including the Cedar Consort, who has won a grant for its tour featuring recorder soloist Tabea Debus, Figure Ensemble, who’ project will juxtapose Carpentier’s Messe pour les trépassées with Fauré’s Requiem, and The Vauxhall Band, who will use their funding to produce a dramatised concert. You can find the full list of Continuo’s grantees here.

Grants from Continuo are open to professional UK-based ensembles of at least three period instrumentalists. Continuo is already working to raise the funds needed to launch the next grant round in January 2023 and has begun to create a much-needed digital hub for the UK early music scene.

You can find out more about the Continuo Foundation including details of how to apply for grants here.