The Augustinus Foundation and the Instrument Collection
The Augustinus Foundation was established in 1942. Our philanthropical activities are centred around the key areas of Art, Culture, Research, and Social and Humanitarian initiatives. Distributions towards Danish cultural life account for more than 80 % of the grants awarded every year. Contributing to a vibrant classical music life is very important to the Foundation.
Equipping leading musicians
Denmark has a rich music tradition, with Danish musicians ranked among the best in the world and vibrant venues across the country. A strong classical music life has been one corner of the Augustinus Foundation's work for decades, and the Foundation supports hundreds of concerts, festivals, recordings, compositions and projects every year. As a special contribution to music and musicians, the Augustinus Foundation owns one of the finest collections of instruments, consisting of violins, violas, cellos and Steinway pianos.
The Instrument Collection aims to equip the country's leading musicians with the finest possible instruments and thereby help musicians to fulfil their potential.
Ensembles and soloists
The Foundation has provided instruments to musicians from ensembles such as the Danish String Quartet, Trio Con Brio Copenhagen, Nightingale String Quartet, Trio Vitruvi and Novo Quartet. In addition the Foundation owns instruments that are on loan to soloists from the oldest orchestra in the world - The Royal Danish Orchestra and other symphony orchestras.
The collection of fine instruments
In 1978, the Foundation purchased its first instrument - a violin from 1699 by the Milanese luthier Giovanni Grancino. Is has since amassed a collection of more than 25 very fine old stringed instruments, including violins, violas and cellos, in addition to a number of fine violin and cello bows.
At the heart of the collection are instruments dating from 1600 to 1900 by such Italian masters as Antonius and Hieronymus Amati, Nicolo Amati, the Gaglianos, Giovanni Battista Guadagnini and Joseph Guarnerius. The Foundation does not resell instruments and does not purchase them as investments. This enables the acquired instruments to be heard by tens of thousands of concert audiences and radio listeners every year as well as on multiple recordings.
Antonius Amati, 1627
"The grand piano has a fantastic sound and enables me to convey my musical ideas. The musical joy the piano gives me is invaluable in my further work as a pianist". Gustav Piekut, plays a Steinway model O. Photo: Julia Severinsen
The New Collection
In 2023, the Foundation took its first steps towards establishing a collection of more recently made fine instruments. The aim is for the collection to contain top-quality, brand-new, hand-built acquisitions that will, over time, become fine instruments in their own right.
In its "New Collection", the Augustinus Foundation owns seven Steinway model O pianos and makes these available to aspiring piano talents.
The young talents Stefan Burchardt and Christine Bernsted holds violins by Stefan-Peter Greiner. Photo: Ehrhorn-Hummerston
The award winning violin maker Noémie Viaud made a new cello for the Augustinus Foundation's instrument collection in 2024.
Niklas Walentin, sonata no. 6 in E major, op. 27 No. 6, Eugène Ysaÿe; video: Tom McKenzie; sound: Viggo Mangor; location: Saftfabrikken på Møn
Nightingale String Quartet, 'Skumrende Landskab', Rued Langgaard; choreography: Jens Schyth Brøndum, DeLeónCompany; dancers: Jens Schyth Brøndum og Lukas Hartvig-Møller; video: Tom McKenzie; location: Kedelhuset, Carlsberg
Read more about application options (danish sites)
Music
Augustinus Fonden støtter dansk musikliv, som er en betydningsfuld del af dansk kulturarv og identitet. Fokus er projekter med et højt kunstnerisk niveau. Foto: Copenhagen Opera Festival
Instrumentsamlingen
Augustinus Fonden udlåner kvalitetsinstrumenter (strygere og enkelte flygler) til unge talentfulde musikere med et stort udviklingspotentiale. Instrumenterne udlånes i en tidsbegrænset periode.