Shropshire Music Trust strives to bring the best of classical, contemporary and world music to communities in Shropshire and to encourage audiences to share in the joy of high quality, live performances. It is run by a board of committed trustees working closely with Artistic Director John Moore and prides itself on a strong outreach programme to connect schoolchildren with professional musicians through masterclasses and workshops.
Currently, the Trust is engaging in a project to bring instrumental tuition to several schools in the county and is planning a new programme of children’s workshops delivered by The Dante Quartet.
The Trust has its roots in the Shrewsbury Music Series, which was established in 1983 by freelance arts manager Kate Hogwood with a debut season featuring The Nash Ensemble, Peter Donohoe, the Wallfisch Weinberg Trio and the Coull Quartet.
In 1991, thanks to Kate’s vision, the organisation rebranded as ‘Shropshire Music’, expanding its concerts to venues in Bridgnorth, Telford, Whitchurch and Little Ness. The programming embraced a wide spectrum of genres, presenting performances by Steeleye Span, Bournemouth Sinfonietta, Evelyn Glennie, Richard Stilgoe and the Britannia Building Society Band.
The 2013-14 season marked SMT’s 30th anniversary and featured: Britten Sinfonia, Pasadena Roof Orchestra, London Baroque, Kasai Masai African music and dance, Ex Cathedra and the Carducci Quartet.
Over the years, SMT has benefited from the support of Arts Council England, local authorities, private grant bodies, business sponsors, individual donors through the SMT Supporters Scheme and a dedicated team of volunteers. Collaborations with national touring programs and organisations such as City of Birmingham Touring Opera, Contemporary Music Network, Early Music Network and Orchestras Live have enabled performances by groups like the London Mozart Players, English Chamber Orchestra and Academy of Ancient Music and soloists such as Tasmin Little, Nicola Benedetti, Freddy Kempf, and Alison Balsom.
Outreach initiatives have been central to SMT's mission, bringing music to schools, health and care settings, village halls, and smaller centers. Projects have included collaborations with Wem Town Hall and ‘Music in Quiet Places’, as well as long-term engagements with specific community groups.
The COVID-19 pandemic interrupted the 2019-20 season, prompting SMT to adapt by offering online content such as ‘The Music Room’, presented by Shropshire-based violinist Zoë Beyers. The 2021-22 season saw a cautious return to live performances, with a full program of 11 concerts in Shrewsbury venues, including a series by the Carducci Quartet and performances by Ex Cathedra, Fretwork, Moishe’s Bagel, and Lizzie Ball with Miloš Milivojević.
The Trust has been strengthened by the addition of Artistic Director John Moore, following his retirement as Director of Music at Shrewsbury School. An esteemed conductor, pianist and composer, with strong relationships with professional musicians across the UK and beyond, John is ideally placed to design memorable seasons for the Trust.
Shropshire Music Trust's 40th anniversary season in 2024 included performances by The Dante Quartet, pianist Dinara Klinton and the Onyx Brass Quintet and culminated in a gala concert with Ex Cathedra. The gala also showcased Shropshire talents Una Pavlovic-Alldridge (violin) and Edward Harris-Brown (piano/composer) who premiered a new sonata.
The 2024-25 season continues SMT's tradition of presenting distinguished artists and ensembles and includes: the Dante Quartet, pianist Alim Beisembayev, the Carducci Quartet, the Julian Bliss Septet, Ex Cathedra and Royal Harpist Alis Huws, among others.
The Trust was very sad to lose its Chair, David Waterhouse, who passed away in October 2023, and was a towering figure in Shropshire's cultural scene.
With the recent appointments of violinist Zoë Beyers as honorary patron and Dr Jane Povey as the new Chair, Shropshire Music Trust remains committed to its mission of bringing high-quality, diverse musical experiences to Shropshire, fostering community engagement and wellbeing, and supporting educational outreach through its innovative programming and collaborations.
Browse the Season Leaflet Archive.
