The renowned Ronnie Scott’s jazz club in London is seeking donations of unused or unwanted musical instruments.
The Soho venue is set to conduct an instrument amnesty this Saturday, where all contributions will benefit children in need.
Previous donations from past amnesties include a white violin that was featured during Sam Smith’s 2015 Brit Awards performance.
Ada Ologbosere, who leads the Ronnie Scott’s Charitable Foundation, emphasized that this initiative reflects the organization’s “steadfast dedication” to fostering musical talent among youth.
Since the launch of the amnesty in 2015, over 3,000 instruments have been gifted to children of school age.
“We are thrilled to reinstate this program for another year, breathing new life into instruments and offering young individuals in underserved areas the chance to hone their abilities and fulfill their potential,” Ms. Ologbosere remarked.
“We understand the significant influence this can have on young people. It can alleviate feelings of stress and anxiety while providing them with a creative outlet. It’s not just about the instruments, but a multitude of other opportunities.”
Ms. Ologbosere also mentioned that the amnesty is one of her most cherished days of the year.
“We’d love to hear your stories,” she encouraged. “What is the history of this instrument? What inspired you to donate it?”
Every donated instrument will undergo inspection and will be assigned a unique tracking number, allowing donors to trace its journey to its ultimate recipient, whether within the UK or internationally.
This year’s event is scheduled to be held at the Frith Street venue in Soho on January 25th, from 10:00 to 15:00 GMT.
