Tree of Strings is a charitable music project launching in early 2026. We bring together education, support for young artists and world-class performances in unique venues in the South West.
Our goal is to create live music experiences that feel intimate, adventurous and welcoming. We bring high-quality education into local schools, promote exceptional young artists at the start of their careers and curate performances in inspiring places.
We exist to help more people feel that classical and contemporary music belong to them.
Tree of Strings brings together three branches of musical life.
We work with schools and local partners to offer creative projects and opportunities with professional musicians. These sessions are designed to spark curiosity and confidence. We want pupils to feel that music can be playful, absorbing and part of everyday life.
We provide performance platforms for exceptional soloists and ensembles at the start of their careers. Tree of Strings wants to be a place where young musicians can take artistic risks, develop new projects and build lasting relationships with audiences, mentors and fellow performers.
We programme events that place musicians and audiences close together, in remarkable venues, where the landscape is often part of the experience. The repertoire is rooted in classical music but not limited by it, mixing familiar works with new ideas and unexpected collaborations.
Live music in the UK is under pressure. Touring is harder, local provision is shrinking and it is increasingly difficult for young artists to build sustainable careers. At the same time, many people who might love this music still feel it is not really “for them”.
Tree of Strings is our response. We want to create spaces where high-level music-making feels relaxed rather than formal, where audiences feel welcome, whether it is their first concert or their hundredth, and where talented young artists can grow. We work closely with local communities, schools and partners to build something that is rooted in place and open to everyone.
Our home ground is the South West of England, with a particular focus on Dorset and the surrounding counties.
We collaborate with schools, venues and community partners in coastal towns and rural villages, as well as in historic churches and halls that offer a strong sense of place. From time to time, we also connect with audiences further afield through touring projects and partnerships.
Cellist, curator and educator Adrian leads the musical direction and programming for Tree of Strings, bringing together established artists and emerging talent in concerts across the South West.
Elinor oversees daily operations and strategic development for Tree of Strings: connecting artists, venues, schools and supporters, and keeping education, development and performance work joined up.
Ellen designs and delivers full-school workshops and year-group sessions across the academic year. She connects this to our wider programme so the children can meet artists and perform together.
