Music education needs people who can lead with skill, care and commitment. The Benedetti Foundation’s Ambassador Programme is helping train the next generation of music educators to do just that.
Founded by violinist Nicola Benedetti CBE in 2019, the Benedetti Foundation is closely connected to the classical music community. It supports access to music for all – through workshops, live events, school visits and teacher training. Since its launch, the Foundation has reached over 100,000 people in 137 countries.
PPL Giving – our £1 million annual initiative to help build a sustainable music industry for future generations – supports the Foundation’s Ambassador Programme, a fully funded training scheme for music students and early-career professionals aged 19 and over.
Now in its fifth year, the programme runs from February to December and helps young musicians build the skills needed to lead workshops, teach others, and continue their own creative development.
Participants receive mentoring from experienced tutors, take part in a series of online training and career talks, and gain hands-on experience by shadowing and supporting Foundation-led music sessions across the country.
Ambassadors also develop presentation and planning skills, take part in small group projects, and explore the wider role of music in schools, communities and public life.
“Ambassadors have reflected that it has opened them up to a whole network of likeminded people,” the Foundation said. “It has given them more confidence and helped give them practical experience they can apply in their own work, which can be used in future work or has been invaluable for their CV.”
Nearly 500 Ambassadors have been a part of the programme since 2020. Participants come from a range of musical backgrounds and are selected via a short application and audition video. Alongside strong performance skills, the Foundation looks for people who are engaged and committed to inspiring and communicating with young musicians of all abilities.
“PPL’s support has allowed us to deliver our Ambassador Programme to our 2025 cohort of over 100 participants,” the Foundation explained. “The funding allows us to engage with leading professionals in the music and education world to deliver a truly unique and meaningful experience.”
The programme continues to evolve, too. One of their focuses this year is gathering in-depth feedback from the current cohort of Ambassadors and looking at how the training can respond to the changing needs of the arts sector.
“The programme is now well established, but we want to make sure its content and focus remains current and relevant to the many changes and challenges that the arts sector is experiencing at the moment.”
Applications to join the Ambassador Programme open in November. For more information, visit the Benedetti Foundation’s official website.
