John Studzinski on classical music philanthropy in the Financial Times

Friday, 8 May 2015

John Studzinski has been featured in the Financial Times talking about classical music philanthropy and the music the Genesis Foundation has commissioned.

In an article about how music, particularly long-forgotten musical masterpieces, are being recorded thanks to cultural foundations and innovative crowdfunding, John Studzinski is quoted saying he believes recorded music – especially “spiritual or sacred music [which] is the closest proxy to replicating silence and quiet” – is a luxury we’re valuing more as more and the world becomes increasingly urbanised and noisy.

The article cites “creating new audiences” as the focus of his philanthropy, mentioning the series of recordings the Genesis Foundation has funded on the Coro label with The Sixteen, particularly Spirit, Strength and Sorrow, the most recent commission of three new settings of the Stabat Mater by composers Alissa Firsova, Matthew Martin and Tõnu Kõrvits. Another focus is establishing what he calls “cultural memory” which plays an important role in what the arts are about. Talking about his commissions he says: “I’m more interested in commissioning sacred music and sacred art because [they make] a broader statement about our time.”

In addition to The Sixteen’s recording of Genesis Foundation commissions, Genesis Sixteen is also name-checked in the article as an example of how the Foundation sponsors a training programme for young choral singers. As Studzinski explains, “The nurturing, mentoring and creation of networks for young artists was a specific goal when the Foundation was formed in 2001, since which time it has devoted more than £10m to opening opportunities to exceptional young artists from diverse backgrounds, setting them firmly on the path to fulfilling their creative and professional potential.”

The article was featured in The Financial Times’ How To Spend It magazine.

To read the article in full click here.