The Museum of Music History

The Museum was founded by Oliver Davies in 2003, under the patronage of Sir Charles Mackerras (1925 -2010), after the late John Cruft, a former Music Director of the Arts Council of Great Britain, chaired a discussion on Britain’s need for a comprehensive and fully accessible music and dance museum. Other major cities in Europe were seen to have flourishing museums of music, but London, despite its significant role in music history, lacked a similar national institution outside of its conservatoire collections. Dr Stanley Sadie (1930 – 2005) was appointed as the first Chairman. An Advisory Committee of friends and experts in different fields is central to the Museum’s operation today, together with our wonderful team of dedicated volunteers.