About Us
A brief history
The Musical Museum was founded in 1963 years ago by the late Frank Holland, MBE. He started with his own private collection of some half-dozen reproducing pianos, and in 1963 he was given use of the former St George’s Church, Brentford to get the collection under one roof. He was initially allowed use of the premises for only two years, but the museum was still there 40 years later - as was Frank, who had moved into the vestry!
In 1966, the collection was formed into a Charitable Trust as The British Piano Museum, and in the early years, a number of famous pianists who had recorded rolls earlier in the century, came along to the Museum to hear themselves play.
During its existence, the Museum’s collection has grown steadily and it now encompasses a wide range of musical instruments and unique inventions which tell the story of how music was recorded and reproduced through the ages. The Museum has also built up a nationally significant (and growing) collection of over 20,000 music rolls, which are stored and actively curated in a purpose-built library.
The current building was specially designed for the Musical Museum, and was opened in June 2008. The shell of the building was funded by a Heritage Lottery Grant, and the transfer of the collection from the old building and the setting-up of the galleries was carried out entirely by volunteers. In addition to the instrument galleries and roll library, the Museum contains a workshop, concert hall, and a café with views of the river.
Charitable Mission
"To enable current and future generations of visitors to engage with, take pleasure in and learn from the history and development of music reproduction, challenging their perceptions and enriching their lives."
Our Charitable Objectives
To advance the education of the public through the operation of a museum which:
- Conserves, preserves, and develops nationally important collections related to the history of music reproduction for the benefit of the enjoyment and educational advancement of the public and the visitors to the museum;
- Informs, engages and entertains the public regarding the evolution of music reproduction through the use of self-playing instruments, and the provision of educational and musical demonstrations, talks, exhibitions, live performances and other forms of information and written communication;
- Promotes and presents the Theatre Pipe Organ as an instrument with a significant role in the development of light music on radio and in the cinema and as a musical art form through concerts and silent films
The activities of the Museum include:
- The creation of exhibitions, displays and performances that provide the narrative of the development of musical reproduction
- The provision of opportunities for interaction with the collections through talks, demonstrations, concerts and where possible hands-on experiences
- The development of training skills in understanding the technology, conservation and restoration and skills in public presentation
- The encouragement of research and publication of matters related to the collections
Delivering for 2030
The Intended Outcomes
- An appreciation of the social history of music reproduction in the UK
- The arrival of new audiences who take pleasure from the Museum
- The building of relationships with local communities, schools (including Special Schools) and interest groups to enjoy and benefit from the collections and their contribution to technology, design, craft, creative skills and musical appreciation
Our Priorities
- Creating a sustainable financial future for the organisation
- Growing a cross-generational and culturally diverse group of volunteers and visitors
- Conserving items in the collection appropriately; maintaining the balance between preservation, restoration, exhibition and demonstration in line with best practice and available resources
- Refreshing the skills, knowledge and expertise available to the Board
- Building positive and productive relationships with other museums, the Local Authority, Arts Council England and other relevant societies and organisations
- Supporting local and national initiatives that develop awareness of the Museum and align to our charitable objectives
Meet The Team
The dedicated voluntary board members driving our vision
Steve Barrett-White
Chair, Operations and Commercial Director
Steve Barrett-White first worked in the record industry, followed by Acorn Computers (marketing the BBC Micro), then Commodore Computers (introducing the Amiga in the UK). After a spell at Phillips and SPC, he entered the Audio/Visual (A/V) market, working for distributors and dealers. He joined the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) 16 years ago, and retired as their A/V Manager in October 2019.
Steve is much in demand as a presenter/lecturer in A/V and sound techniques. He has an extensive library of microphones and sound equipment, and regularly produces recordings for radio and for orchestras, cinema organists, choirs and jazz bands across the UK and Europe.
Joseph Bourke
Treasurer, Financial Director
Joseph is a Chartered Certified Accountant, and a senior lecturer in finance and accounting at the University of West London. He has over 50 years of experience in senior roles within finance and accounting. He served as Chief Financial Officer for a hotel and property management group operating throughout the United States and Mexico and as Finance Director for a Japanese Group operating in London.
He was engaged by the Musical Museum as the Charities auditor in 2010 and subsequently served as the Museum's Independent examiner and financial advisor until 2020 when Joseph sold his accountancy practice. Joseph joined the board of trustees in May 2023 and has been overseeing the finance and accounting functions of the Museum since that time.
Adrian Church
Director of Conservation
Adrian started his career as a studio engineer working for the BBC at TV Centre. He progressed to Video Editor, responsible for sound as well as pictures, which included choosing music to use in programmes. He went on to work for a number of independent facilities as well as Channel Four before becoming freelance and setting up his own company.
An interest in Player Pianos started with hearing reproducing rolls recorded as early as 1905 played on the radio, which led to him acquiring his own Duo-Art Pianola Piano many years ago. Maintaining this and meeting knowledgeable fellow enthusiasts through the Pianola Institute has helped him develop an in-depth understanding of the workings and history of the Musical Museum’s remarkable instruments.
Marcus Harbourne
Health & Safety, HR, and Tour Director
Marcus first visited the Museum in 2016, and like many before him, was captivated by the sights and sounds he experienced there. His working life has been spent in the licensed retail industry, including being a manager for Forte Hotels, an area manager responsible for some 28 public houses with Courage Brewing, and Morland Brewery as a Business Development Manager for 15 large catering outlets.
In 1998, Marcus set up his own consultancy - Harborne Innpact Services Ltd, providing training on all aspects of hospitality, catering, licensing law, premises licensing and health and safety best practice - all skills which have been of great practical help to the Musical Museum in recent years. Marcus still runs his company, and covers all parts of the country in the delivery of various contracts.
Rowland Lee
Trustee & Player Piano Ambassador
Rowland acquired his first Player Piano at the age of ten and has never looked back! He first visited the Musical Museum at the age of fourteen; he and his parents became friends with our founder (Frank Holland), who used to suggest that Rowland might be a trustee of the museum when he was older.
After studying composition and piano at the Royal College of Music, he embarked on a career as a composer, pianist, arranger, and conductor. His projects have encompassed the worlds of TV, theatre, ballet, and concert music. Performances of Rowland’s Requiem, published by Edition Peters, have taken place in Sacramento, St. Petersburg, and many places in between. Amongst his 700-plus TV composer credits he is well known for the children's animated series 64 Zoo Lane, Cloudbabies, Pablo the Little Red Fox and Engie Benjy. He orchestrated most of seasons V and VI of Endeavour and has worked as arranger and orchestrator on many other film and TV projects.
Rowland has created and worked on ballet scores for many dance companies worldwide. For the choreographer Sir Matthew Bourne, he re-orchestrated the ballets Nutcracker and Swan Lake. The latter is now officially the world's most performed dance production. In 1986, he was the first recipient of the British Film Institute's Anthony Asquith Young Composer Award (now a BAFTA), and he has twice been a judge for the Ivor Novello Awards. Rowland is the committee chair of the Player Piano Group of Great Britain.
Chris & Joanne Powell
Trustees & Theatre Organ Ambassadors
Chris is one of the UK’s premier ‘entertainment organists’ as well as a truly international artist in the field of electronic and theatre organ music. His education and formative years growing up in Lancashire saw him pursue his love of music with piano and organ studies culminating in a string of engagements for both local concerts and dances from the age of 14 onwards. By the time he was 18, he had joined the prestigious team of organists playing for dancing at the Tower Ballroom Blackpool, and begun a successful career performing electronic and pipe organ music at venues across the UK.
Joanne was ten years of age when she started to play the organ. At the age of seventeen, she turned full-time professional and has never looked back. Christened the "Queen of the Hammond" by Ian Wolstenholme after being featured on his radio show, Joanne maintains a loyalty to the Hammond sound, and is equally at home at the console of the Mighty Wurlitzer Theatre Organ.
Chris and Joanne married in December 2019, and travel the country supporting each other, appearing in concerts both separately and together. Not only do they perform regularly at the Musical Museum, but they also promote the Museum at their events and help us to deliver a key part of our charitable objectives.
Anne-Marie Rahme
Children's Tours and Outreach Development Director
Originally from France, Anne-Marie studied Education Sciences at the Catholic Institute of Paris and worked as a primary school teacher. She moved to London in November 2020 and it’s her passion for Art and Education that lead her into the museum world. She has been volunteering at the Musical Museum since 2021, and in France, she is in charge of the cultural program for another non-profit organisation.
Anne-Marie's experience as a teacher and as a cultural attaché informs her interest in opening up the Musical Museum to schools and young visitors by creating activities in an educational environment - her goal is to encourage and engage the visitors and make the Musical Museum more accessible to children and families.
Michael J Wood
Trustee
Mike’s association with the Museum began in 2006, when as a volunteer, he spent many hours with the team dismantling and moving the collection to the new building - and then rebuilding, repairing and displaying the collection in the various galleries. Mike read Mathematics at the University of St Andrew’s followed by post graduate studies. He joined IBM and was responsible for sales and marketing to a variety of large companies, and post-retirement became chair of a charity that offered independent services and practical help to local care givers.
Mike is an accomplished musician and accompanist to local choirs and choral societies (occasionally taking charge of the baton). He is currently organist at St. Nicholas Church in Shepperton, and for the past 24 years Mike has been the principal accompanist for the highly-regarded Weybridge Male Voice Choir. He can also be heard at the console of the Museum's Wurlitzer playing for tours, films and events.
This Could Be You!
Trustee
We are always interested in speaking with potential Trustees to broaden the mix of individuals who make up our board of Directors.
Currently, we are particularly interested in individuals who have a professional background and experience of third sector fundraising, marketing, or education to help us deliver our charitable aims.
We operate an equal-opportunities policy – regardless of age, sexuality, gender or ethnicity, we welcome applications from anyone with relevant leadership experience.
Trustees are not paid a salary; instead you will be able to apply your skills, experience and contacts to help us grow the museum's visitors, reach new audiences, and build a sustainable future for our collections.
Interested parties should make contact with our office.
Advisors to the Board
Richards Hills, FRCO
Resident Organist
Richard Hills is widely acknowledged as one of the world's leading contemporary theatre organists.
Having studied with William Whitehead at Rochester Cathedral he went on in turn to the organ scholarships of Exeter College Oxford, Portsmouth Cathedral and Westminster Abbey before becoming organist at St Mary's in London.
He has numerous recordings, prizes and awards to his credit, both in this country and in the USA, where he was named 'Organist of the Year' in 2010 by the American Theatre Organ Society.
He has appeared many times as a soloist on national and international TV and Radio, and he made his solo debut at the BBC Proms in 2013, returning in 2015 and 2019.
Richard combines a freelance solo career with continuo, choir-training and teaching work. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists and Musical Advisor to the UK’s Cinema Organ Society
Dr Joyce Tang
Music Archivist & Library Mentor
Joyce is a graduate from University of Southampton with a PhD in Music, and a conservatoire-trained pianist. She currently works in the Guildhall School of Music as a Research Mentor.
Joyce has an impressive academic record having studied her Masters in Music at University of Oxford, with her bachelor’s degree awarded from Royal Academy of Music. Her PhD thesis was Pianos of the late 19th to early 20th century and performance practice.
Joyce previously volunteered with the Musical Museum as Head Archivist, establishing new cataloguing systems and procedures, and staging unique hybrid concerts featuring live performances and recorded items from the Roll Library.
Simon Hill, CITP MBCS
Emeritus Director, Technology & Innovation
Simon served as CTO, Museum Trustee and Vice-Chairman from 2015 - 2021, and continues to advise the Museum on matters relating to our IT infrastructure, fundraising, and the technical design and staging of our concerts and events. He also helps the Museum innovate through exhibition and displays, including the creation of the new Korg Gallery.
Simon is a consultant specialising in service transformation, insight and technology. He is currently working in the Insight & Data Advisory and Solution Architecture practice of international consulting firm Capgemini, and has a career spanning two decades of technology leadership roles at a range of national and global brands.
Donald MacKenzie
Silent Film Artist in Residence
Donald is the doyen of silent film organ accompanists! One of Europe's finest theatre organists, he has presided over the mighty "Duchesse" Compton organ in the Odeon Luxe, Leicester Square organ for more than 30 years. In addition to being an acclaimed concert organist, he is also an accomplished pianist.
He has performed in many of the UKs top venues from major Cathedrals to our great Concert Halls, as well as internationally. Donald is in demand playing for recitals of light and popular organ classics as well as his silent film performances. His silent film performances are also available on DVD and Blu Ray releases.
In addition to his skills as a professional solo musician, Donald writes for the magazine ‘Organists’ Review’ as a feature writer and reviewer; he also has a great interest in the history of organ recordings and has a formidable collection of 78s from the very first known release in 1910.
Help us protect and preserve for future generations
Join us and help keep the music playing.