Celebrating the Fund's 90th birthday

The Musicians Benevolent Fund is 90 years old this year, and in celebration we are collaborating with musicians, music lovers and organisations to hold 90 events in 2011.

The anniversary year was launched with A Date to Remember at the Swiss Church, Covent Garden. John Mark Ainsley (tenor), Simon Lepper (piano) and the Badke Quartet treated the audience to a performance of Vaughan Williams' On Wenlock Edge. The evening celebrated the life of tenor Gervase Elwes whose unexpected death in 1921 caused his friends to set up the Musicians Benevolent Fund 90 years ago. You can read more about the event on the A Date to Remember news story.

90 years: 90 big ideas is well underway with people all across the country pledging their support with a huge variety of events. There have been fundraising concerts, collections taken at birthdays and other celebrations, quiz nights and much more. In January, the Arensky Chamber Orchestra (ACO) performed at Cadogan Hall, joining forces with the leader of the BBC Symphony Orchestra Andrew Haveron for a fascinating musical collision of Vivaldi and Piazzolla. The ACO kindly offered all Friends of the Fund a discount on ticket prices, and we were pleased to help publicise the event.

Take a look at the 90 years: 90 big ideas page to find out more about what is going on this year, and for information on how you can get involved. Don't forget to browse through the listings in the Events Calendar for upcoming events in your area.