Commonwealth Young Music Ambassadors

4th October 2026

The UK’s Young Music Ambassadors

Your music. Your community. Your project.

The UK’s Young Music Ambassadors programme will identify up to 100 young musicians to create, lead and share musical projects in their own communities. Welcoming all musical styles and cultural backgrounds, it gives young people the chance to develop their ideas, inspire others and celebrate whatever makes their local area special to them.

Run by The Commonwealth Resounds and endorsed and supported by Errollyn Wallen, Master of the King’s Music, the programme runs through to September 2027.

“I am tremendously looking forward to meeting the Young Music Ambassadors in person and hearing about their special projects and achievements.”

Errollyn Wallen

Master of the King's Music

At a glance

Up to 100 Young Music Ambassadors across the UK.
All musical styles and cultural backgrounds welcome.
Suggested age group 15 to 25, with Music Hubs and Services overseeing locally.
Projects delivered from January to August 2027, followed by one or more national celebratory events in September.
Young people leading the way and inspiring others

Each ambassador will develop a musical project that matters to them and connects with their local community. They will choose the idea, plan how it will work and bring people together to take part.

You lead. We support.

Ambassadors are now being selected by participating Music Hubs, Music Services and other music organisations. Some may also have a small team of supporting young musicians to help organise and deliver their project.

At the end of the programme, Young Music Ambassadors will be invited to share their achievements and celebrate one another’s work at one or more national events.

What will you get out of it?

Young Music Ambassadors will receive in-person guidance from musical experts in their own local areas, alongside online support from The Commonwealth Resounds team, led by Alison Cox OBE.

They will each receive a personal letter of welcome and encouragement from Errollyn Wallen, Master of the King’s Music

The team will work with participating organisations to agree the guidance, resources and practical support each ambassador needs to run their project safely and effectively.

What could you create?

Start with the people, places and stories around you. A local legend, a favourite landscape, an anniversary or an issue that matters to young people could all spark an idea.

Sound collector: gather sounds from your area and turn them into an electronic piece.
Local legends: bring a local story to life through music and poetry.
Music meets art: work with a gallery to create music inspired by its artworks.
One idea, many sounds: invite schools or music groups to respond to the same picture, sound or object.
An unusual stage: plan a performance somewhere unexpected, with help from your local support team.
Music for a cause: work with a charity or explore an issue you care about.

These are starting points. The project should be your own, welcoming others and reflecting something meaningful about your own area.

Your year at a glance

12:00 AM

Get in touch with Alison to find out more!

Commonwealth Young Ambassadors

17th April 2026

Commonwealth Music Ambassadors

The Music Ambassadors programme aims to build a network of pioneering music leaders who are championing their musical culture and young musical voices in their country. Each Ambassador will be connected to Commonwealth Resounds events and projects, meet and discuss ideas with other countries’ Ambassadors, and inspire people to get involved with music locally and internationally.

Meet the Ambassadors

Ellen Wilkinson

Ambassadors programme director

Ellen Wilkinson, based in South London, graduated from the Royal Academy of Music (RAM) in July 2023 with First Class Honours. She received the prestigious Irene Humber Prize for the highest Woodwind recital mark. Professionally, Ellen has performed with the Hastings Philharmonic Orchestra and at the Dorset Opera Festival, showcasing her talent in several chamber ensembles.

Flabie Enar Lope

Flabie Loape is an African instrumentalist, born and raised in Lesotho. Her music draws on traditional genres with a jazzy, meditative feel, celebrating culture and Africanism through sound. She created the theme song for the multi-award-winning film Lieme ka Lekoa, in which six of her songs are also featured, and has also composed music for the film Kabelo.

She created an outro song, in spoken word, for Lesotho’s bicentennial documentary Moshoeshoe’s Strategic Leadership, and has co-composed the 2026 Commonwealth Games Dance Relay song, Africa Theme. Her work has also been published in a manuscript by the University of the Free State. As a figure in Lesotho’s music scene, Flabie uses her art to promote and preserve African indigenous instruments.

Lesotho

Samoa

Philton Solomona

Born into a rich musical lineage of Samoan and Rotuman heritage, Philton Solomona is an arranger, composer, music educator and multi-instrumentalist whose work supports the development of classical and choral music in the Pacific. He is the son of pioneering composer Ueta Solomona OS and Susau F.K. Solomona, Music and Performing Arts Lecturer at the National University of Samoa.

Philton is Co-Founder and Music Director of SolFa Music Samoa, alongside Rosaiviti Solomona and Olivia Hogarth, an organisation dedicated to nurturing local talent through education, performance and musical opportunities. He is also Co-Founder of Liusheng UP, a music performance training group in Wuhan, China. A passionate advocate for youth development, Philton helps young people build confidence, discipline and essential skills through music, while creating bridges between Pacific oral traditions and the global classical stage.

Stephen Nwosu

Stephen Nwosu is a Nigerian singer, music educator and performer from Lagos. He began his musical journey at the age of 15 as a tenor in his church choir, and has since developed a wide-ranging career in performance, teaching and composition. He holds a Higher National Diploma in Estate Management from Yaba College of Technology and a Diploma in Music from the MUSON School of Music, alongside ABRSM Grade 8 Voice with Distinction and Grade 7 Music Theory.

Stephen has taught music in a range of schools, specialising in theory, saxophone and clarinet. He has also served as Assistant Music Director at St Stephen’s Anglican Church Choir, leading rehearsals and performances. Co-founder and lead vocalist of Mezzo Streams A Cappella, he was named Best Prolific Hymn Writer at Hymnodia Season 2 and continues to build a dynamic career blending classical and contemporary influences.

Nigeria

Brunei Darussalam

Deon Ong

Deon Ong is an experienced music educator with over 27 years of teaching across Brunei, Singapore, and Australia. She is the founder and principal of Yippy Tune Music School and has taught with Yamaha Singapore, Kindermusik, and Simply Music in Australia.

In 2023, she led 27 students to represent Brunei in a collaboration with The Commonwealth Resounds, featured at King Charles’ Coronation Concert and broadcast globally by the BBC. Deon has also performed at international events, including the MTV Asia Awards, and received the Most Outstanding Music Teacher Award from the University of Southern Queensland.

She is widely respected for coaching high-profile clients and conducting masterclasses and adjudications at music festivals. In 2024, she served as a jury member for local events in Brunei. In 2025, she collaborated with SM Entertainment Korea, expanding her presence in the international music industry while continuing to support youth development through music.

Elijah Kiwalabye

Elijah Kiwalabye is a Christian minister in his local church and the Founder/Executive Director of Thrive Music Academy Africa, based in Kampala, Uganda. A Professional Primary Teacher who graduated from Kyambogo University, he is also a multi talented musician inspired by his mother, Nanyonga Margret, who introduced him and his siblings to church hymns, poetry, and African folk songs using improvised instruments like jerrycans.

Elijah currently teaches both African native and Western musical instruments. Through his non-profit organization, he has discovered and nurtured young musical talents across various Ugandan communities, many of whom excel in international music examinations organized by ABRSM (UK). He has directed several children’s choirs, including Thrive Music Academy Africa, which participated in performances for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and the Coronation Concert of King Charles III, broadcast live on BBC News.

He also serves as Chairperson of the Pan African Choir Uganda and is an active choral singer.

Uganda

Cameroon

Teh Hope

Teh Hope Ning, known as T. Hope, is a Cameroonian songwriter, music director, and tutor recognized for his versatility across spiritual, traditional, and educational music. His journey began in secondary school through a cappella groups, but gained direction in 2006 when he joined the University of Yaounde I choir, The Glorious Voices, where he studied formal music theory.

By 2008, he became a music director, leading performances locally and internationally while developing his songwriting. A major highlight came in 2016 when he directed the choir during concerts in Italy, sharing Cameroonian culture abroad.

Between 2011 and 2014, he trained as an English teacher at the University of Bamenda, co-founding its choir and contributing to its anthem. Returning to Yaounde I, he helped the choir win multiple UNIFAC titles.

In 2023, he founded Hope Music Academy, promoting character development through comprehensive music education and training programs.

Venelle Powell

Venelle Powell is a dynamic performing artiste, singer-songwriter, vocal coach and music educator from Nevis, St Kitts and Nevis. Celebrated for her soulful tone and heartfelt delivery, she blends gospel, R&B, soul and contemporary Caribbean influences to create music that inspires and uplifts. Her musical journey began at a young age and was later refined through formal training at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts in Jamaica.

Alongside her performance career, Venelle is deeply committed to music education and youth development. She is a founder and music instructor at the Samuel O. Powell School of Music, where students develop skills in theory, piano and voice. Through this work, including the school’s EVOLVE workshop series, Venelle continues to nurture young musicians and contribute to the cultural life of Nevis through excellence, empowerment and community development.

St Kitts & Nevis

Commonwealth Dance Relay

30th October 2025

The Commonwealth Dance Relay

Nations united through dance.

In 2025 and 2026 we created a Global dance piece in celebration of the nations of the Commonwealth, which was performed live at major global events.

What is it?

A global celebration of culture, and creativity, The Commonwealth Dance Relay brings together young dancers from across the UK and around the Commonwealth in a powerful, inclusive dance relay, each contributing their own interpretation of a collaboratively composed soundtrack. Watch the demonstration video; this is the first video in the relay! We cannot wait to see how YOU will continue it.

Now it's your turn!

Choose a section of the dance according to region, and give us your interpretation, whichever style inspires you the most.
Feel free to bring your own dance moves – or try and copy the original dance. It’s up to you.

1. View

Watch the original videos and be inspired to dance.

2. Dance

Create your own dance and record it to share with us

3. Upload

Upload your video using the form here.

Watch Shevelle's top tips

A unique dance for everyone: after getting a chance opportunity to discover ballet from a young age and rising to fame at the National Ballet, choreographer Shevelle Dynott co-created a unique six minute dance performance, working in collaboration with students from the Royal Ballet School in London to start the relay.

Watch this video as Shevelle gives you his top tips so that YOU can continue the Commonwealth Dance Relay. Choose one of the motifs below and then film yourself in your chosen location.

Africa

Asia

Caribbean and Americas

Europe

Pacific

Get the files

Full audio file

You can listen to, and download the full audio file here:

Download all files here

Create Your Dance

Create your own Commonwealth Dance Relay

We’d love you to use the motifs you’ve seen in the demonstration videos as a starting point and create a dance that’s truly yours.

You can dance solo, as a duo, or as a whole group. Bring together friends, schoolmates, family members, teammates, a class or a club. Anyone can take part. What matters most is your interpretation, your energy, and your creativity.

Choose your music

The dance track is made from five musical voices from across the Commonwealth, with each section representing one of five regions. You can:

Use the full track exactly as it is, from start to finish, or
Choose just one section to work with. The regional sections have been separated for you (Europe, Asia, the Caribbean, Africa, and the Pacific), so you can pick the one you connect with most.

Make the dance your own

Your choreography can be completely different from the Royal Ballet School demonstration. That’s encouraged. Your dance can be in any style, and it can be as simple or as ambitious as you like: joyful, bold, expressive, funny, elegant, powerful, or all of the above.

If you’d like, you can add live instruments to play along with the track, but please do not change the tempo, basic structure or harmony of the music. The original soundtrack must be clearly audible and unchanged.

We are excited to see what you create using the original soundtrack.

Film it anywhere

You can film wherever feels right: at home, in the playground, on the street, in a studio, on a stage, on a pitch, or in the park. Anything goes.

What happens next

Over the coming months, we hope to share exciting new versions of the soundtrack for you to use, including a full orchestral version and several different style versions. For now, we cannot wait to see what groups can do with the original music.

Note: If you send in an excellent video early on, we may ask whether we can feature it as an example to inspire other groups to join in.

Top tips for filming

You must use the original audio

Play any of the original Dance Relay music while you film so it’s clearly captured in the recording. Please don’t swap in different music, change the speed or add new audio afterwards.

Film in landscape

Hold your phone or camera sideways so the video is wide, not tall.

Use steady, simple framing

Prop your phone on a chair, shelf, or tripod if you have one. Try not to hold it by hand – unless you are going for that as a style!

Make sure we can see your whole body

Step back enough to keep your feet and hands in shot, even when you move.

Choose good light and a clear background

Face a window or light source if possible, and pick a space where you stand out.

Why take part

Dance is powerful. It helps us express who we are, build confidence, and find joy, even on the days when words do not quite work. It is also bigger than the individual: dance brings communities together, strengthens belonging, and creates shared moments of celebration that can cross borders, languages, and backgrounds.

This is more than just an online challenge! Standout submission will be invited to join an international dance ensemble rehearsing in the UK, who will potentially perform live at The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow (July 2026) and at The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHoGM) in Antigua (Nov 2026).

Represent your country and celebrate your heritage through dance.

Collaborate with dancers from across the Commonwealth.

Perform on a global stage.

Take your dancing to the next level!

The Music

The dance track has been created by five young composers from around the
Commonwealth, each representing a different region – Europe (Jacob Abela), Asia (Nafias Ahmed), The Caribbean (Gerard Coutain), Africa (Flabie Enar Loape) and The Pacific (Grace Wellik)

Each of the 5 composers wrote a small fragment of music representing their own culture which were all fitted together into a 7-minute dance track by a young composer called Cole Lam.

How did it start?

Five outstanding young composers from the 5 regions of the Commonwealth: Africa, Asia, Europe, Caribbean & Americas and The Pacific, were each invited to send us a short extract of music, based on a theme and reflecting their country’s cultural characteristics. Another brilliant young composer, Cole Lam, put the 6.5 min dance track together.

Jacob Abela

Europe

Grace Wellik

The Pacific

Gerard Coutain

Caribbean & Americas

Nafias Ahmed

Asia

Flabie Enar Loape

Africa

How did it start?

Jacob Abela

Europe

Grace Wellik

The Pacific

Gerard Coutain

Caribbean & Americas

Nafias Ahmed

Asia

Flabie Enar Loape

Africa

Where in the world?

As the relay progresses, you’ll see where it has been on this map. Submit your entry now to take part!

Upload your video to get involved now!

Commonwealth Young Musicians Network

9th July 2025

Connecting Young Musicians Across the Commonwealth

Aliyah Ramatally

Emily Abbott

Zara Antoina

Get involved

Become a part of our vibrant network and help us unite the Commonwealth through music. Whether you’re a musician, educator, or music enthusiast, there’s a place for you. Reach out today to learn how you can contribute to our mission and make a difference.

Or get in touch here...

Playon

3rd November 2022

Play On

The Commonwealth Resounds is proud and delighted to continue working in partnership with ABRSM to deliver Play On, a sponsorship fund for organisations and projects from non-UK countries around the world.

Apply here

Download the key information document

Apply here

Key Information for Play On funding applications

Play On applications are open from Monday 13 July until Tuesday 15 September 2026 (5pm UK time). Please read this information carefully before preparing your application for Play On funding to ensure that your organisation meets the relevant criteria and is able to provide the documentation required.

Grant range: between £1,000 – £5,000

About ABRSM

In partnership with four Royal Schools of Music, ABRSM carries on a long legacy of musical excellence. More than an awarding organisation, ABRSM supports learners from the first note they play, empowers teachers who help build musical skills and encourages progress around the world.

As a charity, ABRSM also makes significant donations towards music education initiatives globally. They advocate for music and its many forms, playing their part to ensure the future of music education and its place in society.

Together with their partners, teachers and others around the world, ABRSM has been nurturing the future of music since 1889 – to help people start or continue their musical journey.

Funding activity

ABRSM is keen to support organisations that share an ambition to open up opportunities for more people to access and progress in music. We welcome applications from organisations whose projects and programmes:

Support ABRSM’s values around diversity and inclusion, musical progression, access and participation, and environmental sustainability
Provide high-quality training opportunities for those leading music education programmes;
Provide an inspiring and motivational experience for the learner;
Provide high-quality music educational value for the learner;
Address the barriers to accessing and progressing in music, including, but not limited to, physical, socio-economic and gender-related; including for people from underrepresented backgrounds;
Evidence sustainability/continuity of the project;
Demonstrate passion and commitment.

Eligibility

Your organisation must be registered in your country** and have been in operation for at least two years, as an incorporated company, charity, trust, school or other recognised
entity;
You must able to produce financial accounts that show two consecutive years’ worth of profit and loss, with external audits where available;
There must be evidence of previous project work, either via additional documents submitted or on social media platforms or your website;
The funding is not available for general running costs of an organisation and must be used for specific projects or programmes;
The fund will only support activities or materials that are directly related to music;
The fund is not a scholarship programme and is not open to individuals;
The fund is open to countries outside the UK only;
The fund will not be awarded to the same organisation for more than two years.

There is no requirement for the fund to go towards ABRSM assessments, products or resources.

*Grants above £5,000 may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

**We will consider applications from organisations that are supported by UK-based partner organisations that may act as an intermediary, as long as we can verify the details of the UK partner organisation and the relationship to the applicant.

Monday 13 July 2026

Applications open

Tuesday 15 September, 5pm GMT

Application deadline

March 2027

Public announcement of results

Download the Key Information

Apply here

Key Information for Play On funding application

Play On applications are open from Monday 13 July until 15 September 2026 (5pm UK time). Please read this information carefully before preparing your application for Play On funding to ensure that your organisation meets the relevant criteria and is able to provide the documentation required.

Grant range: between £1,000 – £5,000

About ABRSM

Together with their partners, teachers and others around the world, ABRSM has been nurturing the future of music since 1889 – to help people start or continue their musical journey.

Funding activity

Support ABRSM’s values around diversity and inclusion, musical progression, access and participation, and environmental sustainability
Provide high-quality training opportunities for those leading music education programmes;
Provide an inspiring and motivational experience for the learner;
Provide high-quality music educational value for the learner;
Address the barriers to accessing and progressing in music, including, but not limited to, physical, socio-economic and gender-related; including for people from underrepresented backgrounds;
Evidence sustainability/continuity of the project;
Demonstrate passion and commitment.

Eligibility

Your organisation must be registered in your country** and have been in operation for at least two years, as an incorporated company, charity, trust, school or other recognised
entity;
You must able to produce financial accounts that show two consecutive years’ worth of profit and loss, with external audits where available;
There must be evidence of previous project work, either via additional documents submitted or on social media platforms or your website;
The funding is not available for general running costs of an organisation and must be used for specific projects or programmes;
The fund will only support activities or materials that are directly related to music;
The fund is not a scholarship programme and is not open to individuals;
The fund is open to countries outside the UK only;
The fund will not be awarded to the same organisation for more than two years.

There is no requirement for the fund to go towards ABRSM assessments, products or resources.

*Grants above £5,000 may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Apply here

Jul

2026

Applications opened

Sep

2026

Application deadline

Tuesday 15 September 2026

Mar

2027

Public announcement of results

March 2027

Apply here

Contact us

If you have any questions or would like to ask for advice, please get in touch using this form.

News

Play on Fund

Empowering Global Music Initiatives

PlayON Fund with ABRSM

Join us in celebrating the launch of our latest PlayON funding, dedicated to supporting grassroots music projects worldwide through our partnership with ABRSM.

Introducing the 2023 PlayON Fund

The Commonwealth Resounds is thrilled to announce the second year of our PlayON fund, an initiative dedicated to supporting grassroots music projects across the globe. This year, we are proud to partner with ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music), a leading music education organisation that is generously funding these impactful projects.

Our mission is to harness the power of music to transform lives and create lasting positive change. Through the PlayON fund, we provide essential resources and support to music projects that make a difference in communities worldwide.

Stay tuned for updates on our PlayON recipients and their incredible work in using music to empower and uplift individuals and communities.

ABRSM: A Champion of Music Education

Nurturing Musical Talent Globally

Empowering Communities Through Music

Play On Fund Recipients

The Commonwealth Resounds is proud to support a diverse array of music projects through the Play On fund. In Mozambique, the Centre for the Acquisition of Academic Competencies for the Future is using music to enhance life skills and future employment opportunities for youth. In Africa, the Music in Africa Foundation is preserving traditional instruments, while the Antigua and Barbuda Youth Symphony Orchestra is offering essential composition training in the Caribbean. Brass for Africa is transforming lives in Uganda, Rwanda, and Liberia by empowering young people through music education. In Kenya, the Ruben Centre Orchestra is improving the life prospects of disadvantaged youth through music workshops. La Alianza Guatemala is expanding its music therapy project for at-risk children, and Equal Education Chances in Nigeria is tackling barriers to musical access for young people with disabilities. Education Africa is creating new opportunities for young disabled musicians in South Africa. These projects are making a significant impact, fostering musical talent, and creating lasting positive change in their communities.

Play On: supporting music making in Lagos, Nigeria

Kunbi’s Music Company

Play On: supporting music making in Lagos, Nigeria

This year we’re supporting Kunbi’s Music Company through our Play On fund, specifically their Making a Difference (MAD) Initiative, which seeks to provide affordable music making opportunities to families who would otherwise not be able to have music lessons.

We asked Kunbi Osinoiki, Co-Founder and CEO to tell us more about the MAD Initiative.

Can you tell us something about music making and education in Nigeria?

Nigerians love music and we have artistes like Tiwa Savage, Burna Boy, Wizz Kid, David O, Tems, Rhema and so many more, who have popularised Nigerian music and who have millions of fans worldwide.

However, the majority of our musicians have had to, at some point in their lives, enrol in music schools outside of Nigeria in order to refine and enhance their skills. Music tuition in Nigeria is predominantly by rote. The cost of purchasing musical instruments and tuition is out of reach of the majority of the population.

How does KMC support young people?

We launched the Making a Difference Initiative in June 2022, with the aim of widening access to music tuition to children in Nigeria.

We have been able to provide financial assistance to families who could otherwise not afford music tuition, deliver lessons in low-income schools and recruit and train intending music teachers so they are better equipped to teach music effectively to children.

How did the Making a Difference Initiative come about?

In the course of my music education journey, I became keenly aware of the power of well-structured music education to help develop a learner’s cognition, character, courage, creativity and confidence and I became burdened by the limited opportunities available to families in Nigeria to access well-structured music lessons.

So in June 2022, I decided to do something about it, and started reaching out to schools in underserved communities to see how we can provide music tuition to their students.

This led us to working with various schools including a school for children with physical and learning disabilities.

That experience led us to fundraising for, and purchasing Africa’s first Soundbeam, which would allow us to provide inclusive music making experiences for children living with disabilities.

What are the next steps for the Making a Difference Initiative?

Thanks to ABRSM Play On funding, we have been able to establish two new centres, from where we will be able to reach more people in those locations.

We have instituted a scholarship programme for teenagers starting in September 2023, where we are looking to provide tuition-free lessons for up to 40 teenagers in our teen band and choir groups.

We are also looking to provide low-cost training for more music educators that would enable them to become properly certified with internationally recognised exam bodies.

Visit KMC’s website at https://kunbismusiccompany.com

  

Play On Funds 10 projects!

Play On Funds 10 Projects!

The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) and The Commonwealth Resounds launched the Play On fund in January 2023 to support music-making initiatives worldwide. Administered by The Commonwealth Resounds, Play On has already begun to make a significant impact by providing financial support to a diverse range of organizations outside of the UK. In 2023, the Play On fund has generously supported ten inspiring groups that are making a positive difference in their communities through music.

2023 Recipients

The 2023 recipients of the Play On fund represent an impressive mix of organizations from various parts of the world. These groups are making a profound difference in their communities through music education and engagement. Let’s take a moment to learn about these remarkable organizations:

BLUME Haiti:

Building Leaders Using Music Education (BLUME) Haiti uses music as a tool for social change. The organisation works in partnership with more than 50 music schools across Haiti to uplift thousands of Haitian youth through the creative power of music. ABRSM’s

Play On funding will support their Haitian Orchestral Institute programme, including helping young musicians from dangerous and inaccessible parts of Haiti travel to a safer part of the country to attend workshops and concerts.

Casa Alianza Mexico:

In partnership with Compass Children’s Charity, which funds projects in Latin America that have a meaningful and positive impact on at-risk, migrant and street children globally, we are pleased to be supporting Casa Alianza Mexico with Play On funding in 2023.

ABRSM’s grant will support their music therapy project, which proactively engages children in music workshops designed to support their emotional development and the development of new skills. It also works to repair damage caused to motor skills through prolonged solvent abuse on the streets and supports a detoxification process to prevent relapses.

Cayman Youth Choir:

ABRSM is supporting the Cayman Youth Choir through Play On this year, specifically their involvement in the “Stronger Together Choral Festival”, which proudly aims to bring together a wide range of young people from the Cayman Islands, in a celebration of music and song. The festival will feature workshops led by Mark De-Lisser and will culminate in a gala concert to showcase the unifying power of music.

Harmony Kenya Foundation:

The Harmony Kenya Foundation works to establish or support music departments in Government schools in Kenya. ABRSM’s Play On grant will support the Foundation’s programme at Westlands School, a primary school in Nairobi, including the purchase of new instruments and expansion of their tuition programme.

Harmony Project Phoenix:

Harmony Project Phoenix is a non-profit organisation devoted to expanding educational opportunities for marginalised students by leveraging the transformative influence of music. Since its establishment in 2015, the organisation has made a profound impact on the lives of more than 600 young individuals, with a specific focus on those from underrepresented or disadvantaged backgrounds.

ABRSM’s Play On funding will support the American Sign Language (ASL) Choir, an innovative music initiative that serves as a bridge between the world of music and children with hearing impairments. Through an interactive and engaging approach rooted in play-based learning, the ASL Choir strives to build students’ confidence and increase representation of musicians with hearing impairments in the performing arts.

JSM Academy:

JSM Academy is a non-profit music academy that provides quality music education to disadvantaged communities within the Gauteng Province of South Africa. The Academy offers learners both instrumental and music theory tuition and provides young musicians with opportunities to develop their performance skills. ABRSM’s Play On funding will support their programme through the purchase of instruments, accessories and exam support materials.

Kunbi’s Music Company:

Kunbi’s Music Company is a hybrid music school, located in Lagos, Nigeria, that provides music lessons to students of all ages and abilities, both within Nigeria and around the world. The organisation aims to deliver music learning experiences that are fun, accessible and rewarding for all learners, and ABRSM’s Play On funding will support their work in two of their Lagos centres.

String Heads Music:

ABRSM’s Play On funding will support String Heads Music and their ‘Jingle Bells’ programme in schools across India’s Kerala region. The programme helps Indian schools develop music departments through the provision of a music curriculum, teacher training, instruments and resources.

Thrive Music Academy Africa:

Thrive Music Academy Africa is a non-profit and community-based music organisation based in Kampala, Uganda. The organisation provides quality music education to young people from lower income backgrounds and ABRSM’s Play On grant will help with the purchase of both African musical instruments such as drums and thumb pianos, and Western instruments to support the creation of a junior orchestra and brass band.

The Academy’s Founder & Executive Director, Elijah Kiwalabye, says the programme will “restore the hope of many young people in Uganda, especially those who had lost it to Covid 19’s effects. It will also enable us to discover, ignite and nurture many more music talents as never before, especially among those who had lost hope of learning music due to lack of music tuition and music instruments”.

Play On

The Commonwealth Resounds is proud and delighted to continue working in partnership with ABRSM to deliver Play On, a new, enhanced sponsorship fund for organisations and projects from non-UK countries around the world.

Find out more

282089387_430027549128939_4584648928258873869_n

After three very successful years running the Commonwealth International Composition Award, The Commonwealth Resounds is proud and delighted to continue working in partnership with the ABRSM to deliver Play On, a brand new, enhanced sponsorship programme for organisations and projects outside of the UK.

Musical organisations and groups who are working with young people and wish to apply for Play On sponsorship should complete our online application form.

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