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Selina McGonagle, Director of the Geraldine Connor Foundation, commented:
New Generation brings together Jam Around The Table and the Caution Collective Band for two evenings of inspiring local talent this month.
The Caution Collective Band delivers acoustic soul, R&B and pure roof-raising energy. With sold out shows and standing ovations wherever they play, their performances are not to be missed.
Support the next generation of young musicians with performances from Jam Around The Table, a youth-led performing arts programme helping talented local young people to find their voice and flourish into tomorrow’s stars.
Dates: Friday 21 April and Saturday 22 April 2023
Time: 7.30pm
Venue: Seven Arts
Ticket prices: £10 / £7 concession
Click this link to book tickets ... but please hurry they’re selling fast.
All proceeds from the event will be split 50:50 between Geraldine Connor Foundation and Music House.
Music House is working in partnership with Geraldine Connor Foundation on a number of initiatives. Partnership working is fundamental to our charitable aims. We are proud to be building on this vital relationship which focuses on given young, diverse talent a voice and platform to grow and develop their creativeness and confidence.
Supporting young people to achieve their aspirations is at the very heart of all that we do at Music House. Recently, our fellow ambassador Christella Litras presented young adult, Temi with his very own Yamaha electric keyboard.
When Music House learned Temi – who absolutely loves to play keyboard and sing – didn’t have his own instrument, we knew we simply could not stand back and do nothing. We surprised him and he was a tad speechless to say the least.
We were delighted to be able to do this for him – no young person or adult should be left behind or made to feel they dont have the same changes as others.
Temi is self-taught and he is amazing. Having his own keyboard not only means he can play to his hearts content, writing music, composing and hanging out with fellow friends ‘SIx Strings’, it means he can look after his mental health & wellbeing while doing what he’s passionate about.
Temi and ‘Six Strings’ often hang out at Music House – playing, rehearsing and doing what makes them happy. Music House is their hub to enjoy and this is exactly why we do what we do.
This is just one little story of how Music House is helping to make a difference to young people
Making a difference is central to our charitable aims which are built around our impact strategy.
See the full video here https://youtu.be/SC5OIILL2L0
Families of children and young people who have, or may have, a dual diagnosis of Down syndrome and Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC) are invited to a fun, musical exploration session on Monday 24 October from 10am – 2pm at Music House.
Having previously collaborated with Sunshine and Smiles Leeds Down Syndrome Network, we are delighted to be working with Ailith Harley-Roberts, Service Manager, from the Network to see how, as a music charity focused on working with disability organisations, we can assist the Network’s beneficiaries to access music and singing.
A dual diagnosis can be daunting and isolation for families!
At a meeting in spring, Ailith told us the need to offer support, help and signposting was evidenced as outcomes of some wide ranging consultation work that was undertaken last year. She said:
“We know we need to offer more opportunities and support for families who have a child or young person with Down syndrome and Autism or those who are wondering whether this may be the case.”
We felt this was an area that we could join forces and help with! And we are doing just that!
Monday’s drop-in will welcome all families and their children who have a dual diagnosis, who are in the assessment process or are just wondering if their child or young person may also have ASC.
A variety of spaces will be facilitated by musicians so that attendees can have a go, explore or simply observe a range of instruments including percussion, piano, guitar and, for the singers…call and response.
Rooms will include:
Award winning Made with Music, who regularly work with Sunshine & Smiles will also be getting involved on the day.
There will all be a Quiet space where families can chat with the Sunshine & Smiles team will help identify the areas of ongoing support that are needed!
Funding is making it all possible
Thanks to the generosity of both Leeds Community Foundation and The Ann Maguire Arts Education Fund who have provided grant funding, the musical exploration session can be offered free of charge to families. This preliminary exploration will help inform ongoing support and activities that families would value!
Crash! Bang! Twang! is specifically for children and young people with Down syndrome and Autism. Families should book via this link https://bookwhen.com/sunshineevents where more information can also be found.
Music House and Sunshine & Smiles can then begin to develop a project around music to stimulate and build confidence.
We can’t wait to see how working together organically grows. We will keep you posted on the project as it develops.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Music House and Geraldine Connor Foundation are working together to bring to life a decade-long dream of young people advocate Sheila Howarth. Teacher, singer and community ambassador who has dedicated her career to young people, helping them shine by developing confidence and championing their voices to express their creative ideas.
Sheila is joined in Reggae Roots by tour de force singer songwriter Annette Judah Morris whose reggae music career spans over 40 years as part of the duet, Royal Blood. Annette also brings her extensive experience in activism, mental health and social care to empower the young choir members of Reggae Roots.
The dream team is completed with talented singers and musicians Christella Litras, alongside Paulette Morris, Leroy Johnson, Cleve Freckleton who will support the rehearsal and creative song writing process at Music House.
Sheila Howarth said:
8-19 years olds who enjoy singing and performing are already signing up! They’ll be
Reggae Roots has received £3,000 from The World Reimagined, a ground-breaking, national art education project which aims to transform how we understand the Transatlantic Slave Trade and its impact. This grant will help to fund the choir rehearsals during September in preparation for several performances in connection to the Leeds Globe Trail this October.
Reggae Roots will bring together young people from diverse backgrounds, providing a musical outlet to express identity and equality. Taking inspiration from the famous words of iconic reggae artist Bob Marley “In this great future, you can’t forget your past’. This is the start of something wonderful that will evolve and grow and in time, will form a legacy of its very own.
-Ends-
Notes to Editors
Owen has just embarked on the next chapter of his musical journey after securing a place at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music…It’s a dream come true.
Sending off his application for a composition undergraduate degree was a long-shot in his opinion.
“I felt it was worth a try and I had nothing to lose. When I was invited for an interview I thought about it more seriously and realised I would really like to get in as the opportunities at the Academy are so diverse. I was very happy and surprised when I got the place.”
Owen’s first introduction to the fiddle was at a local Morris dance festival when he wast four. It left an impression on him. So much so that his parents bought him a fiddle for Christmas.
Now the proud owner of a fiddle, Owen started taking violin lessons with Rod Taylor at the Yorkshire College of Music and Drama (now Music House). Owen recalls the long, dark corridor to Rod’s teaching room and how it felt like a different world, separate from the rest of his life. Owen really enjoyed playing, while his inspirational mentor accompanied him on the piano. A relaxed learning experience where lessons were a combination of hard work to focus on technique, classical music and progression but with a lot of laughter combined.
Aged nine, Owen joined Leeds Folk Fiddle Group (which still meets weekly at Music House and welcomes newcomers). In Owen’s own worlds, “It was an eye opening experience as I’d never played fiddle music in a group before. That night I said to my dad that playing folk music in a group like that was what I enjoyed more than anything.”
In his teens Owen stated taking music theory and composition lessons with Tim Knight. Reluctant at first, he soon realised the importance and the valuable foundations these lessons would provide.
“Tim introduced me to loads of great music and made me really think about writing music for the first time in my life. I still regularly remember a lot of advice he gave me in our composition lessons.”
Owen followed the ABRSM route with guidance and support from Rod which he believes was a great way to structure the learning and try out different styles. Exams were a bit daunting but were met with a small reward.
“I was always very nervous. It wasn’t all bad though; my dad would take me for a nice lunch afterwards.”
Many musicians have inspired Owen including folklorist and composer Derek Piotr from Connecticut who combines field recordings with his own compositions in a really exciting way.
“Piotr has done lots of work recording folk singers from Yorkshire,” which adds even more admiration for this young man who is already an inspiration himself.
In 2018 Owen was lucky enough to perform for Her Majesty the Queen at Buckingham Palace as part of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting – a taste of playing to a live audience.
Today, Owen mainly plays traditional music from England and Ireland and he’s recently recorded an album of folk inspired compositions with guitarist Louis Campbell. It will be released later this year. What an achievement!
Rod, Tim and trustees of Music House wish Owen the very best with his Bachelor’’s degree. Four years of higher education at the Royal Academy of Music is now a reality.
A final few words from Owen… “Thanks so much to everyone at Music House and for the support they’ve given me over the past 15 years.
The saying, ‘If you dream it, you can believe it,’ springs to mind.
Music House is pleased to be working with Geraldine Connor Foundation (GCF) and The World Reimagined to create ‘Reggae Roots’ the first Youth Reggae Choir of Leeds.
If you’re aged 8-19 and enjoy singing and performing with friends then please get involved in this choir, a UK first!
Led by GCF Creative Associate Sheila Howarth, young people will be encouraged to bring their own song ideas and requests. Original music will be composed by Annette Morris with support from Music House Trustee, Christella Litras.
Reggae brings people together through rhythm, like a heartbeat that never stops
– Sheila Howarth
Reggae Roots is free to attend. Rehearsals will take place 10am – 2pm at Music House every Saturday from 10 September to 15 October. This will culminate in multiple public performances in Leeds City Centre on Saturday 22nd October.
Reggae Roots will be artistically led by Sheila and inspired by the 9 themes of the Journey of Discovery with The World Reimagined.
Find out more AND sign up today
Original concept and artistically led by Sheila Howarth
Music Supervision – Christella Litras and Annette Morris
Choir Masters – Christella Litras and Annette Morris, with support from Paulette Morris, Leroy Johnson, Cleve Freckleton
Delivered in partnership with Geraldine Connor Foundation and The World Reimagined
On Friday 27 May, we welcomed Councillor Abigail Marshall-Katung to Music House. A long awaited opportunity for staff and trustees to show appreciation for grant funding we received when Covid-19 sent the UK into lockdown.
The visit was a chance for us to share the exciting projects which are in progress (we will tell you about these as they develop) as well as communicating our vision for the future:
To transform Music House into a musical hub for everyone in our communities – especially underprivileged young people, seniors and people with learning or physical disability. We strongly believe music needs to be inclusive and equal. To fulfil this, working in synergy with organisations that share our ambitions is key.
The afternoon was a great success! Councillor Marshall-Katung saw first hand the direction Music House is travelling in. Because opportunities like these are rare, we wanted to maximise the visit.
We invited a couple of VIP’s we are working closely with…
Sheila Howarth is Head of Pastoral Care at Leeds City Academy and Front of House at Leeds Playhouse. Sheila has dedicated her working life to making sure young people fulfil their aspirations. Her drive and passion coupled with a bit of tough love has transformed hundreds of lives.
Sharon Watson MBE is the principal of Northern School of Contemporary Dance, prior to this as artist director of Phoenix Dance, she choreographed numerous works including the celebrated Windrush: Movement of the People and Black Waters. We are delighted to share the news that Sharon has agreed to be an ambassador for Music House.
After a tour of our wonderful facilities and having talked at length about the partnerships and work underway, it was time to let our hair down!
Entertainment was provided by ’Six Strings’ six black teens who were destined to meet. Music House is proud to provide them with a free space to rehearse. Carmen is ten and was literally born singing – she’s amazing!
We’ve put together a four minute video which summarises the visit. I urge you to watch this to get a sense of the wonderful afternoon. Click here
Councillor Marshall-Katung summarised the visit perfectly:
“To see what you are doing (Music House) with these young ones, we are grateful. Looking after these young ones and seeing they are supported and looked after, thank you. Amazing young ones, amazing teens, they’ve made my weekend. As a council we are grateful, we love to see things like this, we are a city of compassion, a city of sanctuary. Thank you.”
Keep an eye out on our social media channels including FaceBook, Twitter and Instagram where will be posting lots more content, photos and teaser video clips.
Please get in touch if you have any feedback, comments or wish to discuss opportunities, we look forward to hearing from you.
Following the successful unveiling of Music House in April, good things are already starting to happen. We are thrilled to welcome our very first ever Patron, David Lascelles, Earl of Harewood.
After attending our name changing event as VIP, and officially cutting a ribbon to welcome Music House, VIP David Lascelles took a tour of the facilities and was impressed with what he saw. Too good an opportunity to miss, Nick Wayne – Trustee, who has a good relationship with the David, asked if he would consider being involved with Music House?
David said:
”I’m delighted to become a Patron of Music House and The Yorkshire College of Music and Drama. I think what they are doing is very important and I fully support this. I look forward to coming to events and seeing Music House grow and go from strength to strength.”
Staff and trustees agree this marks a new beginning for Music House, which, in recent years has had a bit of a confused identity – this is one of the reasons the rebranding exercise was carried out.
Tim Knight, Principal said:
“The future remit is very clear! Affordable lessons, group learning, taster courses and maximising corporate opportunities to help sustain our future.
“Having David on-board is a significant step in the right direction, the association and potential ways we can work together for the good of Music House is an exciting prospect for everyone.”
Rebranding has included a website refresh, new digital channels, signage and investment in staff expertise. Our next phase of plans and initiatives, aimed at B2B and B2C, are underway!
Having the support of an influential patron is a positive step and a first for Music House! It paves the way for new opportunities, including links to some of the good causes David represents and people who will benefit from musical learnings at our vital community hub.