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The Benedetti Foundation announces its 2026 programme of activity
BBC Radio 4 Appeal: Nicola Benedetti presents the Benedetti Foundation’s BBC Radio 4 Appeal, broadcast on 18 January on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds
Live Sessions: two Benedetti Sessions, ten Residency Sessions, six adult learner days
Benedetti Digital: new refreshed framework for all the Benedetti Foundation’s digital activity
Ambassador Programme will now align with the academic year and the new cohort will start in September 2026
BBC Radio 4 Appeal
The Benedetti Foundation has been selected for BBC Radio 4’s Appeal, a weekly three-minute programme highlighting the work of a charity and inviting listeners to support its mission. The Foundation’s Appeal will be fronted by Nicola Benedetti and broadcast on 18 January with a repeat on 22 January, and also available on BBC Sounds. Every contribution helps the Benedetti Foundation to fulfil its mission of working towards a future where every young person experiences the joy, creativity and connection that high-quality music education brings – transforming lives, communities and society. A donation of £35 covers the cost of a young person attending a live Benedetti Session. Donations can be pledged after the first broadcast on 18 January – search online for BBC Radio 4 Appeal.
Live Sessions
Benedetti Sessions, Residencies and Adult Learning
The Live Sessions are transformative three-day orchestral and musicianship workshops and week-long residencies that are high energy, high inspiration in-person workshops that put leading music educators in front of young people, students, teachers and adults. They provide a common goal to work towards, as well as being a place to make connections, and to collectively share the greatest examples of music education.
There will be two live Benedetti Sessions in 2026 in Aberdeen (5 – 7 June) and Cardiff (13 – 15 November). The Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced Orchestras will come together as a mass ensemble to work on a new arrangement for three string orchestras. Participants will also work on one piece in individual orchestras and will receive music and tutorial videos in advance to help prepare. The Introductory Orchestra will work on one piece written specially for them as well as taking part in creative workshops throughout the day.
The Residency Sessions target places which rarely benefit from high-quality music-making opportunities, either due to remote locations or deprivation. The Residency Sessions are delivered in partnership with local music services to provide a motivational opportunity for young people and a source of support and uplift for instrumental teachers. Collaboration is at the heart of these sessions. They are designed closely with partner organisations to ensure they are of greatest benefit in enhancing their day-to-day work. During each residency, the Foundation will visit local schools to lead primary music workshops and host professional development sessions for primary classroom teachers and instrumental teachers, as well as delivering a Benedetti Sessions Strings Day. During this year, the Foundation will work with 10,000 young people through this programme. In 2026, the Residencies include North & South Lanarkshire (19 – 23 January), West Lothian (27 – 30 January), Scottish Borders (9 – 13 February), Antrim (25 Deb – 1 March), East Ayrshire(11 – 13 March), Anglesey and Gwynedd (23 – 27 March), Hertfordshire (13 – 17 April), Bedford, Luton and Milton Keynes (20 – 24 April), Tees Valley (27 April - 1 May), Shropshire (15 – 19 June).
In 2020 when the Foundation held its first Virtual Sessions, it quickly became clear that a new strand was developing in adult learning. The Foundation was overwhelmed by the response from adults who wrote in high numbers to say how much the online activity had helped them during the challenges of the pandemic. Many people were furloughed and lacked any structure or purpose to their days, and this opportunity helped them to dust off their instruments and gave them a community to join. This community has continued to grow and develop with regular online activity and more recently, adult string learners have had the opportunity to attend a one-day session in person. This will continue with six one-day sessions in 2026 in all four nations across the UK. Dates and location to be announced.
Benedetti Digital
The Benedetti Foundation’s digital and live education work including its much-loved Mini Sessions will now form part of a refreshed framework under Benedetti Digital. This new structure allows the Benedetti Foundation to better reflect the breadth, depth, and reach of its activity, while creating a more intuitive experience for its community.
Benedetti Digital will encompass five core strands:
Benedetti Live Online (Ex Mini Sessions) – live, interactive online sessions
Benedetti Playback – access to recorded sessions and on-demand resourcesSpotlight Sessions – interviews and features with inspiring musicians, educators, and organisations
With Nicky – a dedicated series of online tutorials led by Nicola BenedettiGlobal/Virtual Sessions – large-scale, interactive online workshops bringing participants, tutors, and artists together from around the world
Benedetti Live Online sessions (formerly Mini Sessions) are short, focused online workshops led by inspiring tutors from The Benedetti Foundation. Covering everything from instrumental technique and musical wellbeing to teaching practice and creative skills, they’re open to young musicians, adult learners, teachers and parents. Sessions are low-cost, bursaries are available, and all registrants receive access to the recording [Benedetti Playback] even if unable to attend live. The 2026 activity will be announced in the new year.
Spotlight Sessions
Spotlight Sessions is a new series of interviews and features with inspiring musicians, educators and organisations. Starting in February 2026, the first series will include interviews with Manchester Camerata’s Music in Mind Programme, bassoonist and broadcaster Linton Stephens, the One-Handed Instrument Trust,
Music and The Deaf and Black Lives in Music.
Ambassador Programme
The Benedetti Foundation’s Ambassador Programme is a training scheme for young professionals (c.19-35) dedicated to developing their practical, instrumental teaching and workshop leading skills, as well as growing their love for performance. After overwhelming feedback, the Foundation is aligning the programme with the academic year from 2026 so the next cohort will start in September and not February. More information to follow on when applications will open for 2026 but in the meantime anyone interested can register interest here.
For further press information please contact:
Rebecca Driver Media Relations
Tel: +44 (0)7989 355446 | Email: rebecca@rdmr.co.uk