UK Music Masters Ltd.

Registered charity 1119372 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as LONDON MUSIC MASTERS, Music Masters, THE LONDON INTERNATIONAL VIOLIN COMPETITION

MUSIC MASTERS BELIEVES IN ENABLING OPPORTUNITY AND INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE IN MUSIC TO INSPIRE POSITIVE CHANGE FOR INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES. IT DELIVERS, MODELS AND IMPROVES ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY STATE SCHOOL MUSIC EDUCATION, TRAINS MUSIC EDUCATORS UK-WIDE AND ADVOCATES FOR AND DRIVES INCREASED ACCESS TO PATHWAYS INTO THE MUSIC SECTOR.

Causes: General Charitable Purposes · Education/training · Arts/culture/heritage/science · website · Get email alerts

Latest income

£1.5m

Latest spending

£1.5m

Registered

2007

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity reported a surplus of £48,674 for the year ended 31 August 2025, with total income increasing by 4.5% to £1,504,715. The trustees consider the level of general unrestricted reserves, which totalled £385,000, to be adequate and within the stated policy target range. The auditors confirmed that the financial statements give a true and fair view and identified no material uncertainties regarding the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.

Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Highest-paid employee band: £70,001 - £80,000 — above the median for charities its size (£70k)

“One employee had total remuneration between £70,000 and £80,000 in the year (2024: one).” — page 29

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Employees paid over £60,000: 1

“One employee had total remuneration between £70,000 and £80,000 in the year (2024: one).” — page 29

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Reserves policy: £385,000 to £400,000 (held: £385k)

“Specifically, the trustees have set a target range for general reserves of £385,000 to £400,000 (2024: £315,000-£345,000), which the trustees estimate is sufficient to meet the charity’s legal commitments should it be required to shut down due to lack of available funds.” — page 11

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts audited by Azets Audit Services. Discloses 6 of 6 completeness components.

Year-over-year changes

Top pay band moved from £60,001 - £70,000 (FY2024) to £70,001 - £80,000 (FY2025).

Comparing this charity’s FY2024 and FY2025 accounts as analysed by this site.

Public fundraising profile: JustGiving — Music Masters (matched by registered charity number).

Funders the charity credits

Named as funders/supporters on the charity’s own website (the charity’s claim, distinct from accounts-verified grants).

29th May 1961 Charitable Trust — “Corporates, Trusts and Foundations 29th May 1961 Charitable Trust” (source page)

Public profiles (found on the charity’s own website): facebook · instagram

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/08/2025)

Total income

£1.4m

Total spending

£1.5m

Cost of raising funds

£284k

Reserves (reported)

£385k

Employees

Reported reserves equal ~3.2 months of spending — below the median for charities its size (median 4.8 months; benchmarks).

Per its annual return, largest income source: Donations and legacies (83% of income) — components as reported reconcile to the return’s total income; not from the accounts narrative.

Per its annual return, cost of raising funds: 19.7% of total income — in the top quarter for charities its size (median 5.2%) (benchmarks).

Trustees · trustee networks

Stuart Graeme Masonchair
Charlotte Alicia Swannell
Dr Gwyneth Kadiatu Kanneh · trustee of 1 other charity
Dr Steven Berryman · trustee of 3 other charities
Emma Jayne Chandra
James Anthony Mark JOSEPH
Lady Victoria Susan Hull Robey CBE · trustee of 3 other charities
Mary Rebekah Kofokasumu
Philippa Thomas
Sarah Serena Bunting · trustee of 1 other charity
Vanessa Elizabeth Richards Colomar

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Throughout England And Wales

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/08/2025	£1.5m	£1.5m
31/08/2024	£1.4m	£1.3m
31/08/2023	£1.3m	£1.3m
31/08/2022	£1.1m	£1.2m
31/08/2021	£1.1m	£1.1m

Common questions

Is UK Music Masters Ltd. financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a surplus of £48,674 for the year ended 31 August 2025, with total income increasing by 4.5% to £1,504,715. The trustees consider the level of general unrestricted reserves, which totalled £385,000, to be adequate and within the stated policy target range. The auditors confirmed that the financial statements give a true and fair view and identified no material uncertainties regarding the charity's ability to continue as a going concern. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Azets Audit Services.

What does the highest-paid employee of UK Music Masters Ltd. earn?

Per its FY2025 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the £70,001 - £80,000 band, and 1 employees earned over £60,000.

Who funds UK Music Masters Ltd.?

Funders whose own accounts filings name UK Music Masters Ltd. as a grant recipient include PAUL HAMLYN FOUNDATION, THE BUFFINI CHAO FOUNDATION, THE FIDELITY UK FOUNDATION, THE VANNECK CHARITABLE TRUST, THE KARLSSON JATIVA CHARITABLE FOUNDATION.

Known funders

Grants to this charity found in funders’ own accounts filings.

Funder	Year	Amount	Purpose (as stated by the funder)
PAUL HAMLYN FOUNDATION	FY2023	£300k	Arts-based Learning Fund
THE BUFFINI CHAO FOUNDATION	FY2024	£250k
THE FIDELITY UK FOUNDATION	FY2024	£149k	Towards new posts of Operations and Systems Manager, Digital Technology Specialist and IT system updates
THE VANNECK CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2022	£118k
THE KARLSSON JATIVA CHARITABLE FOUNDATION	FY2025	£65k	Musicians of Change modules
WELLINGTON MANAGEMENT UK FOUNDATION	FY2021	£51k
THE KARLSSON JATIVA CHARITABLE FOUNDATION	FY2023	£50k	Musicians of Change PGCEi programme
THE KARLSSON JATIVA CHARITABLE FOUNDATION	FY2021	£50k	support of a national teacher training programme
THE MILA CHARITABLE ORGANISATION	FY2024	£50k
THE KARLSSON JATIVA CHARITABLE FOUNDATION	FY2024	£50k	Musicians of Change PGCEi
WELLINGTON MANAGEMENT UK FOUNDATION	FY2022	£50k
THE KARLSSON JATIVA CHARITABLE FOUNDATION	FY2022	£50k
WELLINGTON MANAGEMENT UK FOUNDATION	FY2024	£40k
THE EMMANUEL KAYE FOUNDATION	FY2022	£30k
THE CHILDHOOD TRUST	FY2022	£25k
Q CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2024	£25k
THE CHILDHOOD TRUST	FY2025	£23k
THE CHILDHOOD TRUST	FY2024	£23k
THE MILA CHARITABLE ORGANISATION	FY2022	£15k
THE BUFFINI CHAO FOUNDATION	FY2023	£13k
THE CHILDHOOD TRUST	FY2022	£13k
THE ALBERT AND EUGENIE FROST MUSIC TRUST CIO	FY2024	£12k
THE MAGENI TRUST	FY2023	£10k
THE MILA CHARITABLE ORGANISATION	FY2025	£10k
THE MAGENI TRUST	FY2022	£10k
THE BRITFORD BRIDGE TRUST	FY2025	£10k	Secondary
THE CLORE DUFFIELD FOUNDATION	FY2024	£10k	Arts, heritage and education
THE SCOPS ARTS TRUST	FY2021	£10k	Music Education & Engagement (children)
THE SCOPS ARTS TRUST	FY2022	£8k	Grants awarded and paid during the period
THE BUFFINI CHAO FOUNDATION	FY2022	£8k
WELLINGTON MANAGEMENT UK FOUNDATION	FY2023	£7k
THE ALBERT AND EUGENIE FROST MUSIC TRUST CIO	FY2023	£6k
THE SCOPS ARTS TRUST	FY2023	£5k	Other
HYDE PARK PLACE ESTATE CHARITY	FY2022	£5k
Q CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2023	£5k
HYDE PARK PLACE ESTATE CHARITY	FY2023	£5k	Providing relief for those in need or sickness and the advancement of life
MARIA BJORNSON MEMORIAL FUND	FY2024	£5k
THE ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER FOUNDATION	FY2024	£5k	Music and Theatre Grant
SCHRODER CHARITY TRUST	FY2024	£4k
LORD BARNBY'S FOUNDATION	FY2025	£3k
The Ashley Family Foundation	FY2022	£3k
The Patricia Routledge Foundation	FY2025	£3k
CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS' LIVERY CHARITY	FY2024	£3k	Other grants
THE CHILDHOOD TRUST	FY2023	£3k
DR RADCLIFFE'S TRUST	FY2024	£2k	Pathways – Chamber Ensemble and Summer Performances
THE MAGENI TRUST	FY2024	£2k
THE MAGENI TRUST	FY2025	£2k
THE GOLSONCOTT FOUNDATION	FY2025	£1k
THE GOLSONCOTT FOUNDATION	FY2024	£1k
WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF BASKETMAKERS 2011 CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2022	£1k	Small charities, mostly from London

Government & lottery funding

Grants to this charity published as open data by government and lottery funders (360Giving).

Funder	Date	Amount	Purpose
The Mercers' Company	12/10/2018	£34k	Grant to UK Music Masters Ltd

Funders of similar charities

Funders whose accounts show grants to charities similar to this one (and no recorded grant to this charity) — a starting list for fundraisers.

Funder	Similar charities funded	Amount to them
THE CHARLES WOLFSON CHARITABLE TRUST	1	£900k
THE YOUTH ENDOWMENT FUND CHARITABLE TRUST	1	£289k
IMPETUS - THE PRIVATE EQUITY FOUNDATION	1	£289k
THE NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR YOUTH MUSIC	1	£110k
THE GEOFFREY AND PAULINE MARTIN TRUST	1	£32k
THE HARDING TRUST	1	£25k
EDWARDS FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUST	1	£22k
THE HEADLEY TRUST	1	£20k

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with THE PREMISES MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAMME.

THE PREMISES MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAMME income £170k
EARLY MUSIC AS EDUCATION income £137k
THE MUSIC IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS TRUST income £1.1m
THE ASSOCIATED BOARD OF THE ROYAL SCHOOLS OF MUSIC income £50.9m
THE MUSIC FOR SCHOOLS FOUNDATION income £608k
AUDIOACTIVE income £1.4m

Side by side with its peers

Charity	Income	Top pay band	Staff >£60k	Reserves vs policy	Fundraising cost	Going concern
UK Music Masters Ltd.	£1.5m	£70,001 - £80,000	1	within	—	no doubt
THE PREMISES MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAMME FY2025	£170k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
EARLY MUSIC AS EDUCATION FY2025	£137k	—	0	within	—	no doubt
THE MUSIC IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS TRUST FY2025	£1.1m	—	—	unclear	—	no doubt
THE ASSOCIATED BOARD OF THE ROYAL SCHOOLS OF MUSIC FY2025	£50.9m	—	—	unclear	—	no doubt
THE MUSIC FOR SCHOOLS FOUNDATION FY2025	£608k	—	0	above	—	no doubt

Each row is that charity’s latest analysed filing; every value is quote-backed on its own page.