music charity and was founded in 1738 as the Fund for Decay’d Musicians by London’s most prominent and forward-thinking musicians of the day. Some of the Society’s earliest members included Arne, Boyce, Sammartini, Edward Purcell and Handel for whom the Society was a favourite charity. Today the membership has grown to
1,500 professional musicians across the UK, all of whom have joined purely for altruistic reasons to inform the Society of colleagues in need.

The aims of the Royal Society of Musicians remain as relevant in 2017 as they were in the earliest days - providing vital funding and support to musicians and their dependents unable to work due to accident, illness or old age.All donations received by the Society are given directly to musicians in need.  Being a charity run by musicians for musicians, we are therefore uniquely placed to understand the challenges faced within the profession. The Society also prides itself on being the only music charity in the UK able to respond immediately to those in distress and our excellent working-relationships with like-minded organisations and charities ensure we are able to provide the most appropriate support.

278 years."

http://www.royalsocietyofmusicians.org/