Continuo Foundation appoints Ashley Solomon as Patron

Continuo Foundation is delighted to announce the appointment of Ashley Solomon as a Patron of the charity, reinforcing its commitment to supporting the next generation of Early Music artists and their projects.

Ashley Solomon is a leading figure in historical performance, combining an international performing career as a Baroque flautist and recorder player with long-standing academic leadership. His appointment reflects a shared emphasis on artistic excellence, intellectual rigour and the development of emerging talent.

He is Chair and Head of Historical Performance at the Royal College of Music, where he has taught since 1994 and was awarded a Personal Chair in 2014. He is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music and a Fellow of the Royal College of Music, widely recognised for his contribution to practice-based research and doctoral supervision.

As a performer, Solomon has appeared as a soloist in major international venues and has recorded extensively for Channel Classics. His work is noted for its stylistic clarity and historically informed approach, balancing scholarship with direct communication.

He is also co-founder and director of Florilegium, one of Britain’s longest-established period-instrument ensembles. Formed in the early 1990s, the group has maintained a flexible structure, enabling it to work across a wide range of repertoire while remaining closely engaged with both audiences and young performers.

Commenting on his appointment, Solomon says, 'I am thrilled to have been asked to join Continuo Foundation as one of its Patrons alongside Dame Emma Kirkby, Rachel Podger and Mary Bevan. Since the formation of the Foundation, the Historical Performance movement has experienced a new lease of life, as £1 million-plus in grants has supported innovative and exciting performances and groundbreaking recordings.'

Solomon has been a consistent advocate for the idea that Early Music should not be treated as a specialist enclave. Instead, he argues that historically-informed performance can broaden musical understanding and sharpen listening across the wider classical field.

Education and professional development remain central to his work. At the Royal College of Music, he has overseen a period of significant growth in historical performance, observing a generation of musicians increasingly able to move between modern and period practices. He has also spoken publicly about the pressures facing early-career musicians, particularly in the aftermath of the pandemic and amid continued funding constraints.

Tina Vadaneaux, Founder and CEO of Continuo Foundation, comments, 'We are thrilled to have Ashley joining us as a Patron. He brings not only decades of experience in multiple facets of the Early Music sector, but also provides Continuo with a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing the next generation of period instrumentalists.'

In this context, he has highlighted the importance of targeted support structures such as Continuo Foundation, which provide early-stage ensembles with the resources and confidence needed to establish sustainable careers.

'Continuo’s remarkable impact has bolstered fragile careers,' says Solomon, 'giving hope and opportunities to young musicians. The Foundation's support has inspired us to think creatively about projects that might not have been possible. I look forward to joining the organisation in this official capacity and continuing to support the whole Continuo Foundation team in my new role.'

Catch Ashley on BBC Radio 3 The Early Music Show on 28 December at 5pm (or following the broadcast on BBC Sounds) when he joins Hannah French to explore some of the extraordinary flutes in the collection of the German musical instrument enthusiast Peter Spohr.