Continuo Foundation Awards Grants to 31 Period-Instrument Ensembles

The organization has allocated £100,000 to a range of projects, including concert tours and recordings

As part of its ninth round of grant funding, the UK's Continuo Foundation has distributed a total of £100,000 in grants to 31 different period-instrument ensembles, to allow them to realize various projects such as concert tours and recordings.

Among the grantees are seven emerging groups (formed since 2020) and twenty-four established ensembles. Between them, they will undertake a total of 80 performances in 50 locations across the UK, in a range of venues that include art galleries, churches, and community spaces as well as concert halls.

One of the emerging ensembles selected is the London-based Serpentine Trio, which was formed in 2022. They will undertake an audiovisual project that features works by Marais, Forqueray, Couperin, and d'Hervelois. Inspired by ‘Le Grotto de Versailles,’ the resulting recording will have a narrative structure inspired by Homer’s Odyssey, and the group will use strategic digital promotion to reach as broad an audience as possible. 

To date, the Continuo Foundation has distributed more than £950,000 in grant funding to deserving period-instrument ensembles. The full list of grant recipients for the current round can be found here.

"This grant will be transformative for Serpentine Trio, enabling us to bring our artistic vision to life at the highest level," said viol player Özgür Kaya. "With this support, we can produce a visually and sonically stunning film that reinterprets French Baroque music for a modern audience, bridging the worlds of historical performance and contemporary culture."

"Most importantly, this grant empowers us as emerging artists, giving us the platform to experiment, innovate, and share our passion for early music in a way that resonates with today’s listeners," Kaya added. "We are deeply grateful for this opportunity and for the Foundation’s belief in our project — Continuo’s support is not just funding a film; it is helping shape the future of historically informed performance."