Background

The Hinrichsen Foundation was founded in 1976 by Mrs Carla Eddy Hinrichsen to ensure the continuation of the tradition of supporting contemporary music established by the Hinrichsen family as the proprietors of Edition Peters the music publishers, established more than 200 years ago in the German city of Leipzig.

Until 2010 the Hinrichsen Foundation was the beneficial shareholder of Peters Edition Limited, London. In 2011, following the amalgamation of the post-war branches of Edition Peters, the Hinrichsen Foundation became a major shareholder in the company. In 2023 the Foundation successfully sold its interests to a company jointly owned by Wise Music Group and Christian Hinrichsen. The Foundation now derives its income from an investment portfolio.

Approach to grant-making

Since the Foundation was set up, over 1962 grants totalling more than £2.6 million have been awarded.

Throughout this time the majority of awards have been made to subsidise the public performance of works by living composers – these have included performances in standard concert halls, churches, railway stations and other spaces. Awards have also been made to fund scholarships and bursaries at academic institutions or summer schools.

In 1994 the first Hinrichsen Composition Bursary was awarded: to date six awards have been made totalling £70,000, the first three direct to composers and the other three in association with institutions.

In 2012 a New Initiatives Scheme was introduced to provide multi-year support for larger scale projects.  Over a period of three years seven awards were made totalling £150,000, to support a variety of projects including performances, recordings, workshops, commissions and bursaries.

The sale of Edition Peters in 2023 has created an opportunity for the Foundation to set a new and confident strategy in relation to the contemporary music sector. In June 2025, the Foundation announced a £165,000 investment in six pioneering organisations across the UK’s vibrant new music scene.

The announcement coincides with preparations for the Foundation’s 50th anniversary of grant-making in 2026, and signals a renewed focus on building resilience, sharing resources, and establishing creative momentum in the sector.