The Borletti-Buitoni Trust (BBT) was founded by Franco Buitoni and Ilaria Borletti Buitoni.

Ilaria Borletti was born in Milan with opera as the main musical influence in her young life, while Franco Buitoni (1934-2016) was born in Perugia and was a lifelong lover of chamber music. He made many bonds of friendship with musicians and singers as President for over 30 years of Amici della Musica di Perugia, succeeding his mother who had founded the organisation just after WWII. One of these friends was world-renowned pianist, Mitsuko Uchida and it was when they were all together one summer in Italy that Ilaria and Franco discussed with her the best way to help young musicians. Mitsuko was in no doubt that the most critical time in the development of young artists was in the early stages of their professional life. This is when they have enough experience to know what their next important step could be but don’t have the funds, or perhaps the practical knowledge and support, to achieve their dreams. So it was, on the basis of this sound advice, that the Borletti-Buitoni Trust was founded in 2002.

Since the first awards were given in 2003, over two decades have passed and very many of those young instrumentalists, singers and ensembles assisted in their early careers by BBT are now among the most renowned and respected of their generation. As well as individual support and funding, the Trust has also showcased a large number of BBT Artists in concert tours in the UK, Europe and the US, including large-scale events to celebrate the 10th, 15th and 20th anniversaries of BBT.

From a background of family philanthropy and personal involvement in charitable work across many sectors of medicine and education throughout her adult life, Ilaria Borletti Buitoni broadened the scope of the Trust’s funding to include BBT Community Grants in 2019 and BBT Encore Awards in 2025, in addition to the Franco Buitoni Award in 2017 to honour her late husband.