Sponsors and Partners

The Commonwealth Resounds! is extremely grateful for the support it receives from sponsors and partners. Without their support our work would not be possible. This page will attempt to acknowledge as many of them as possible.

The International Federation of Musicians (FIM)

Alison Cox first met John Smith, President of the FIM and General Secretary, British Musicians' Union (UK) in early 2007, when seeking to identify new partnerships for The Commonwealth Resounds! Much common ground between the two organisations was quickly identified, and a number of different proposals were discussed for CHOGM 2007. Thanks to financial support from Phonographic Performance Ltd., John and his team were able to run highly successful Music Business Seminars in Kampala and again in Trinidad as part of CHOGM 2009.

Phonographic Performance Ltd

John Smith and Alison Cox have greatly appreciated the support and interest in our work shown by Fran Nevkla, the Chairman and CEO of Phonographic Performance Ltd.

John and his international team of experts have been able to run two influential and highly successful Music Business seminars in Kampala and Trinidad.

As well as this, PPL contributed essential funding towards the expenses of Peter Harvey and the team of students who ran some outstanding musical projects in Tobago.

Read how much PPL’s support has helped musicians in the projects Tobago’s Commonwealth Blast and The Commonwealth Resounds! in Tobago

PPL also helped the young Maltese harpist Cecilia Sultana de Maria transport her harp to Trinidad in order to perform at the Prime Minister’s Dinner for the Commonwealth Business Council. Read Cecilia’s story A Harp for CHOGM.

The Trinidad Government

The Commonwealth Resounds! was magnificently supported by Trinidad’s CHOGM Task Force, enabling the international musicians to create an exciting programme of workshops, performances, outreach activities and special projects with their many partners and friends in this wonderful country. In particular, we should like to thank Sharifa ali-Abdullah, Edward Lee Tang, Charla-Marie Douglas and the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago himself. The Trinidad Government’s marvellous hospitality for the visiting performers will never be forgotten by those who were lucky enough to be a part of CHOGM 2009.

The Royal Overseas League

The Royal Over-Seas League first supported The Commonwealth Resounds! in 2007 by sending two brilliant young musicians, both ROSL Annual Music competition prize winners, Victoria Mavromousakis (Cyprus) and Meherban Gillett (India) to participate in concerts, masterclasses and workshops. These musicians were an enormous asset to the programme. For Trinidad (November 2009) Roderick Lakin MBE, the ROSL’s Director of Arts recommended two excellent prizewinning musicians Natalia Lomeiko (violin) and Brian O’Kane (cello). Both musicians made a terrific impact in Trinidad, and have continued to develop the musicial partnerships they established there.

The Royal Over-Seas League also hosted the European Premiere of the world’s first Commonwealth PIANORAMA in the Princess Alexandra Hall in January 2010. Alison Cox and Roderick Lakin are currently discussing follow-up performances and new developments of this fascinating project.

The Trinidad and Tobago Entertainment Company

The Trinidad and Tobago Entertainment Company (T&T Ent) is a state agency under the Ministry of Trade and Industry, responsible for facilitating the development of a globally competitive entertainment industry. They were asked to look after the needs of The Commonwealth Resounds! in Trinidad, and to organise a programme of workshops, concerts, projects and performances in close consultation with the CHOGM Task Force and Alison Cox, TCR’s Founder and Musical Director.

Kamla Ramparsad de Silva, Tatiana Parrott, Malene Joseph and a wonderful team of dedicated volunteers worked immensely hard to give the international musicians a fulfilling and rewarding experience during their visit. As well as organising the rich varied programme of musical events, they also provided everyone with a welcome bag full of lovely souvenirs from Trinidad!

The Royal Commonwealth Society

The Royal Commonwealth Society hosted the first-ever Charity Gala Concert by musicians from The Commonwealth Resounds! in their brand-new auditorium in November 2005. Since that time, Stuart Mole and his team have supported developments of the programme and included Commonwealth Resounds! musicians in events such as Observance Day and the Queen's visit to the Official Opening of the new Auditorium.

In November 2009, the new Director of the RCS, Danny Shrishkandarajah and Chi Kavindele, the Events Manager generously enabled The Commonwealth Resounds! to run a dazzling Pre-CHOGM Gala event at the Commonwealth Club. Many distinguished members of the audence greatly enjoyed the performances and presentations.

Music Manifesto

For several years, Music Manifesto has taken a great interest in The Commonwealth Resounds! and their support has been much appreciated. As a result of Keith Waithe's outstanding achievements in Uganda, Music Manifesto appointed him as their Signatory of the Month in early 2008 . You can read more about it in the full article on their website.

In 2009, Music Manifesto re-visited The Commonwealth Resounds! and wrote about the amazing achievements of young musicians from The Purcell School and Chetham�s School of Music. This article can be read here too.

The Commonwealth Secretariat

The Commonwealth Resounds! is heartened by the encouragement and support from the Commonwealth Secretariat. In 2005, Sir Don Mckinnon, the former Secretary-General said Music can inspire, comfort, lead, follow, and affect us in countless other ways. It is a marvellous way to engage and enjoy the cultures of others and to discover common goals and aspirations. But more than that, music binds us together. The Commonwealth Resounds! underlines in sound what we sometimes struggle to say in words or in other ways.

We should also like to thank some distinguished organisationswho have supported our musical aims and objectives with statements, encouragement and support in kind

The Commonwealth Foundation

The Commonwealth Foundation generously provided a core grant for The Commonwealth Resounds! to develop musical programmes in Uganda in November 2007. This enabled the following projects take place and participants involved to secure additional funding.

  • The Choral programme - directed by Joy Hill
  • The Diverity of the Flute - directed by Keith Waithe
  • Commonwealth Youth Resounds! in partnership with the British Council and the London Sinfonietta
  • The Tabla Project - directed by Yogesh Dattani
  • A Thanksgiving for Peace - in partnership with the scheme Churches Together for CHOGM, the Royal Commonwealth Society and CPAUG
  • The Instrument making programme - directed by Dr Peter Cooke and Martin Wess
  • The Commonwealth Bands Together - directed by Peter Harvey

Visiting Arts

Visiting Arts published an extensive and detailed article about The Commonwealth Resounds! (CHOGM 2007) as part of their e-newsletter.

Visiting Arts' purpose is to strengthen intercultural understanding through the arts and our work links England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland with countries overseas, prioritised by the Visiting Arts Board. In partnership with British Council, Arts Councils England, Wales and Northern Ireland, Scottish Arts Council and with support from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

The Government of Malta

The Government of Malta generously supported the inaugural performances of The Commonwealth Resounds! We are especially grateful to Dr.Francis Zammit-Dimech, the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Culture, who dedicated a public address to the international musicians and sponsored all transport in Malta and Gozo for them throughout CHOGM. On Tuesday November 23rd 2005 Dr Zammit Dimech also arranged a special welcome concert for the Cyprus State Orchestra at the University of Malta, conducted by Simon Wills featuring the Maltese tenor Joseph Aquilina and the celebrated Australian pianist Simon Tedeschi. The concert was immaculately and professionally organised by Michael Aquilina and was not only a great success, but also generated a friendly cultural exchange between Cyprus and Malta.

Leone Philharmonic Society, Gozo

Teatru Manoel, Malta

Abantu Arts

Based in Devon, South West England, Abantu Arts runs African performing arts and music workshops and events across the UK and Europe. Denis Kigongu Victor, Abantu’s Musical Director is discussing many new ideas with Alison Cox, and the two organisations find that they have much in common. They are hoping to use their new partnership to create high-profile opportunities for outstanding Ugandan musicians to participate in special events.