About Us

The Radford Charitable Trust has Trustees, who are supported in the day to day running of the organisation by a Secretary and Grants Administrator and an Instrument Loans Administrator.

The Radford Charitable Trust was set up in 1970 with money given by Maisie and Evelyn Radford to advance musical education and to help musicians in Cornwall.

The Radford sisters were well known for their work in music in the county since they came to live in Cornwall in 1911. They started the Falmouth Opera Singers in 1923. Their productions of classical opera included the first performance of Mozart’s Idomeneo in England, and performances of Gluck’s operas: these were acclaimed by musicians throughout the country. They worked for many years for the Cornwall Music Festival and brought music personally to villages up and down the county.

Their concern was always that individuals should be able to realise their musical potential and that they should not be held back by lack of opportunity to study. The Trustees have fulfilled this purpose in a variety of ways. Grants have been awarded for tuition and for help with advanced studies, loans and grants have made possible the purchase of better instruments for advanced students and the Trust has run orchestral courses and workshops for players of all stages.

Since 1970, the Trust has supported hundreds of young musicians through grants or instrument loan. Even a small amount of financial help if given at the right time can have a beneficial effect out of all proportion to the money provided.