The Albert And Eugenie Frost Music Trust Cio

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £529,013 (2024 expenditure)
• Total Income: £478,076 (2024)
• Decision Time: Not applicable - proactive trustee selection
• Grant Range: Variable - includes £5,000 RPS prizes and significant multi-year residency funding
• Geographic Focus: United Kingdom
• Application Method: No open applications - trustees proactively select organizations

Contact Details

Address: 47 Olive Road, London NW2 6UE

Email: frostmusictrust@gmail.com

Phone: 020 3774 4861

Note: The trust does not accept unsolicited applications. Contact for information purposes only.

Overview

Founded in 1993 and reconstituted as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) in October 2020, The Albert and Eugenie Frost Music Trust honors the legacy of Albert Edward Frost CBE (1914-2010), a prominent British businessman and keen violinist, and his wife Eugénie Maude Barlow (died 2008). Albert Frost, who served as finance director of Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) and sat on boards including Marks & Spencer, British Airways, and British Steel, was famous for announcing that business meetings must end promptly because he had “an appointment with Beethoven” to keep. The trust operates with an investment-based income model, generating approximately £478,000 annually to support young string players across the UK with particular emphasis on chamber music. The trust acquired funds from its predecessor charity (1031462) in February 2022 and maintains an active grant-making program supporting residencies, prizes, and educational initiatives in regions facing challenges in financing classical music education.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

RPS Albert & Eugenie Frost Music Trust Prize: £5,000

• Awarded to violin, viola, or cello players performing in trios or quartets
• Supports performance opportunities, particularly in chamber music
• Strong preference for British players (one non-British player may be included in ensembles)
• Determined through annual YCAT (Young Classical Artists Trust) auditions
• Method: Annual competition/audition process

RPS Emily Anderson Prize: £2,500

• Supported by the trust
• Awarded to outstanding young violinists of any nationality
• Method: Annual competition

String Quartet Residencies: Multi-year funding (amounts not publicly disclosed)

• Two-year residencies providing “significant financial support”
• Recent example: Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama residency for Carducci String Quartet and Fibonacci Quartet
• Includes funding for high-profile concerts, chamber coaching, mentoring, and community workshops
• Trust currently supports residencies in four regions of the UK
• Method: Proactive trustee selection

Grants to Music Education Organizations: Variable amounts

• Organizations include The Centre for Young Musicians
• Other schools of music and charitable organizations working with young string players
• Method: Proactive trustee selection

Priority Areas

• Young string players (violin, viola, cello) in the UK
• Chamber music development and performance opportunities
• Music education at elementary and advanced levels
• Regional access to classical music education in underserved areas
• Performance opportunities through public concerts and recitals
• Scholarships to schools of music and individual students
• Early career professional musicians developing chamber music careers

What They Don't Fund

The trust's proactive model means they do not fund:

• Unsolicited applications from any source
• Projects outside their core focus on string instruments (violin, viola, cello)
• Non-UK based organizations or musicians (with rare exceptions for prizes)
• Individual instrument purchases (though they support the broader Loan Fund for Musical Instruments separately)

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

The trust is governed by five trustees who serve without remuneration:

1. Andrew John Sindall - Chair (appointed 20 October 2020)
2. Julian Robert Milford - Trustee (appointed 09 February 2023)
3. Lesley Clare Hatfield - Trustee (appointed 07 December 2021)
4. John Spencer McCuin - Trustee (appointed 07 December 2021)
5. Dr David Allen Woodrow Waterman - Trustee (appointed 20 October 2020)

Governance Approach

According to the Charity Commission records: “It is a small charity and does not invite speculative applications. The Trustees are pro-active in seeking organisations they wish to help.”

This approach reflects Albert Frost's personal philanthropy style - as noted in his biographical information, he “sought no recognition for many acts of personal generosity” and was personally engaged in musical causes throughout his life.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The trust does NOT accept applications. This is explicitly stated in all public documentation.

The trustees proactively identify organizations and musicians they wish to support based on:

• Their knowledge of the UK string music education landscape
• Partnerships with organizations like the Royal Philharmonic Society and YCAT
• Strategic assessment of regional needs in classical music education
• Observation of emerging talent and established programs

Exception: RPS Prizes

Musicians can be considered for the RPS Albert & Eugenie Frost Music Trust Prize through the annual YCAT audition process, which has its own application procedures managed by YCAT and the Royal Philharmonic Society.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable for general funding. For RPS prizes, decisions are made following annual auditions (typically held in February each year).

Success Rates

Not applicable - no open application process exists.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no open application process exists.

Application Success Factors

For Organizations Hoping to Be Noticed

While direct applications are not accepted, organizations working with young string players in chamber music contexts may increase visibility by:

1. Demonstrating regional need: The trust explicitly supports “regions which currently have many challenges in financing classical music education”

1. Focus on chamber music: The trust's emphasis reflects the founders' passion for string quartets and chamber ensembles

1. Working with young musicians: Both students and early-career professionals are priorities

1. British string players: Following the founders' wishes, there is a clear preference for UK-based musicians and programs

1. Educational and performance integration: Recent funded programs combine coaching, mentoring, community workshops, and high-profile performances

1. Partnerships: Organizations working with YCAT, Royal Philharmonic Society, or other established music education bodies appear in the trust's funding portfolio

Language and Values

Based on the founders' biography and trust activities:

• Quality and excellence in string performance
• Chamber music tradition and its continuation
• Accessibility in regions facing financial challenges
• Next generation of musicians
• Community engagement alongside professional development

Recent Funded Projects

• Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama: Two-year residency for Carducci String Quartet and Fibonacci Quartet (2024)
• The Centre for Young Musicians: Ongoing support
• Royal Philharmonic Society prizes: Annual awards to emerging chamber musicians
• Three other regional residencies (locations not publicly disclosed)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. No application process exists - This trust cannot be applied to through traditional grant-writing channels, making it unsuitable for most grant-seeking organizations

1. Trustee networking matters - Organizations may only access funding through trustee awareness and proactive selection; building relationships with trustees or partner organizations (RPS, YCAT) could theoretically increase visibility

1. Hyper-focused mission - The trust has an extremely specific focus: young string players (violin/viola/cello only) in UK chamber music contexts; organizations outside this niche should not expect consideration

1. Regional strategy - The trust deliberately targets four regions across the UK facing challenges in classical music education funding; demonstrating genuine regional need could be relevant

1. Multi-year commitment model - Recent funding suggests preference for sustained partnerships (two-year residencies) rather than one-off projects

1. Performance and education integration - Funded programs combine professional performance opportunities with educational outreach and mentoring

1. Alignment with founders' values - Understanding Albert Frost's personal passion for chamber music, string quartets, and his business background informs the trust's strategic, selective approach to philanthropy

References

1. UK Charity Commission - The Albert and Eugenie Frost Music Trust CIO (Charity #1191904), Full Print Page. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5167272/full-print -

1. UK Charity Commission - The Albert and Eugenie Frost Music Trust CIO, Trustees Page. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5167272/trustees -

1. Find That Charity - GB-CHC-1191904 The Albert and Eugenie Frost Music Trust CIO. https://findthatcharity.uk/orgid/GB-CHC-1191904 -

1. Royal Philharmonic Society - “Prizes for outstanding string players.” https://royalphilharmonicsociety.org.uk/rps_today/news/prizes_for_outstanding_string_players -

1. Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama - "Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama unveils innovative residency for two award-winning string quartets," October 2024. https://www.rwcmd.ac.uk/news/royal-welsh-college-of-music-drama-unveils-innovative-residency-for-two-award-winning-string-quartets -

1. The Violin Channel - “The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama Announces New Resident Ensembles,” October 2024. https://theviolinchannel.com/the-royal-welsh-college-of-music-and-drama-announces-new-resident-ensembles/ -

1. Charity Choice - “Albert And Eugenie Frost Music Trust.” https://www.charitychoice.co.uk/albert-and-eugenie-frost-music-trust-91357 -

1. Wikipedia/Biographical sources - Information about Albert Edward Frost CBE (1914-2010), quoted in various search results regarding his career at ICI, board positions, and musical philanthropy