King's Award for The Music Man Project!

The renowned Global Ambassadors of The Music Man Project have been honoured with The King’s Award for Voluntary Service for 2024. This prestigious award is the highest recognition that a voluntary group can achieve in the UK, equivalent to an MBE.

Voluntary service has always been at the heart of my campaign for more inclusive music education and performance. From helpers at regional teaching sessions, to technicians and performers at our concerts, to our charity directors and trustees, we owe so much to the kindness of individuals who give their time and expertise for the greater good. They improve the world for a community that was once overlooked, and in return, we all gain valuable lessons from individuals with learning disabilities.

I proudly lead the national Music Man Project charity as founder and CEO on an entirely voluntary basis. It’s a commitment which has become part of my everyday life. It's the only way I could duplicate my approach across the country and around the world with a zero budget. I'm therefore delighted that The Music Man Project has been acknowledged for its dedication to volunteering thanks to the exceptional and unique work of our highly-regarded Music Man Project Global Ambassadors.

Why this is so important

Every ambassador has a learning disability, but far from them receiving voluntary service, they are the volunteers. They’ve worked tirelessly to increase musical opportunities for disabled people, supporting our charity objectives of promoting equal access to performance and raising awareness of the achievements of disadvantaged people in the arts.

I’ve known some of these musicians for 25 years. During this time I’ve witnessed them transform from vulnerable children into powerful musical role models who educate and inspire everyone they meet. Over the last four years they’ve also supported me in my voluntary role as the UK’s Disability and Access Ambassador for Arts and Culture. They’ve helped the UK become a global beacon for inclusive music.

The life of a Music Man Project volunteer ambassador is demanding to say the least! They’re expected to tour the UK to launch regional Projects, build national partnerships and professional musical collaborations, teach accessible music workshops to mainstream and Special School pupils, deliver disability awareness training and team building for the corporate sector, lead performances, assist other students, help shape the future direction of the charity and promote The Music Man Project in the media!

What they achieved

The ambassador’s record of impact is extraordinary. They’ve taught over 16,000 children at their inspirational music workshops across Essex schools. They travel thousands of miles every year to bring the magic of our music to communities across the UK and around the world - thanks to their efforts, we now oversee a network of 14 regional Music Man Projects. They’ve played the London Palladium twice and the Royal Albert Hall four times, most recently leading 300 of their fellow musicians in The Music Man Project’s massed concert at the Royal Albert Hall in April 2024.

They also delivered a music workshop at 10 Downing Street and marked UK Disability History Month at the Houses of Parliament.

They even received a standing ovation from His Majesty, The King with their rendition of Music is Magic for the Royal Marines' Mountbatten Festival of Music at the Royal Albert Hall.

The ambassadors have also opened a national TV advert, performed with musical theatre legend, Michael Ball and featured on the BBC, ITV and Sky TV. They regularly appear with His Majesty’s Bands of the Royal Marines and recorded a Christmas single with their friends which reached the top 10 in the iTunes chart in 2022.

In Canada, they stole the show at the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo in front of 20,000 people.

And they recently performed alongside an Italian disability charity at a concert in Milan.

These activities helped raise awareness of our charity, inspired new communities to emulate Southend’s original service and generated tens of thousands of pounds for our cause. Without The Music Man Project Ambassadors, there would be no Royal Albert Hall concerts for our regional projects. There would be no Royal Marines partnership, no Michael Ball patronage and no start-up funding for new centres. For more information about The Music Man Project Global Ambassadors, visit www.themusicmanproject.com/ambassadors.

I'm extremely grateful to long-time Music Man Project supporter, Marilyn Fowles for nominating the ambassadors for this prestigious award. Marilyn said:

“These incredible musicians bring delight and humility to us all through their inspirational performances.  I am overjoyed and immensely proud that they have been recognised by His Majesty, the King for this prestigious award.”

[Marilyn Fowles, Music Man Project Nominator]

I also thank our patrons and supporters who have helped us so much over the years. Many of them sent messages of congratulations to our ambassadors:

“The Music Man Project Ambassadors are a force to be reckoned with. Their enthusiasm, joy, humanity and commitment is utterly compelling. The positivity and sense of purpose they give to everyone they come into contact with is a gift for us all and I’m so very proud of their spectacular achievements. They represent the best of us."

[Michael Ball OBE, Music Man Project Patron]

"This is very welcome recognition for all the hours put in by the Music Man Project to ensure thousands of people have the opportunity to take part in music making and the experience of getting to know some very special people. I am delighted for them all.”

[Penny Mordaunt, Music Man Project Patron]

"The Music Man Project Ambassadors represent the very best of Britain and of Southend. They light up every room they enter and their dedication, commitment, and ability to release the power of love into every performance or situation is truly exceptional. As well as performing in all major venues across the UK and representing the country in the USA, Canada and in Europe, many Music Man volunteers have been giving their time, skills and commitment to the project for nearly 25 years. I am so delighted that their exceptional contribution has been recognised by King Charles in the form of The King’s Award for Voluntary Service."

[Anna Firth, Music Man Project Patron]      

Finally, and most importantly, this is what the award means to the ambassadors themselves:

"I think people feel happy when they see people with learning disabilities perform because they are seeing them enjoy themselves and be really good at something. I think they are surprised that we’re so good at performing."

 [Ambassador Alex]

"The school visits are FAB U LOUS and I enjoy the children joining in!"         

  [Ambassador Kyle]

"The best thing about giving concerts and workshops to primary schools is making the children happy. I love to see them smiling, singing and dancing. Going abroad is really exciting. I enjoyed going to Italy and meeting the wonderful people and making music with them. Performing three times in front of the Royal Family was wonderful. It was amazing to meet Countess Sophie and the Princess Royal. Getting a standing ovation from King Charles at The Royal Albert Hall was a great honour."

 [Ambassador Chris]

"I'm so proud to be a Music Man student ambassador and part of the Music Man Family where we all support and care about each other. I love sharing our music and seeing the smiles from everyone's faces   whether it be from the children at a local school or from our King at the Royal Albert Hall. I simply love every moment. MUSIC IS MAGIC!!"

 [Ambassador Sam]

"I started volunteering in 2013 and have enjoyed going to all the school workshops and helping to set up new Music Man Project groups around the country. I love performing and helping to teach people how to sing our songs, play instruments and also Makaton signing.

I love doing our concerts at RAH and Palladium and  I am proud to conduct HM Band of Royal Marines and RAF Central Band at some of them here and abroad and to perform for Royalty. The Student Ambassadors are my best friends and we have fun performing and helping people. Music is Magic!"

 [Ambassador Daniel]

"The music and singing makes me happy and I want to share it with other people so they can be happy too. I enjoy teaching others and helping them, to show people what we can do.  I like to meet new people and find out about them and their lives. I like to make people feel loved and important. Being an ambassador for the music man project has meant I am able to do this for more people."

 [Ambassador Wendy]

"I love helping set up the leads for David and I love being able to perform with my friends and we get to travel together, meet new people and have loads of fun.  The Music Man is absolutely phenomenal. We make the audience feel good and get them to have a good time. This makes me happy.  I’m the DJ of the group and I love it and I feel like a great big star. Everyone at the Music Man calls me DJ Phil."

 [Ambassador DJ Phil]

"I enjoy travelling around this country and abroad setting up workshops helping other students to learn music, and also singing in concerts."

 [Ambassador Ian]

"It makes me feel happy to be part of a musical family. I enjoy singing solos, playing instruments and doing workshops at schools - they treat us like rockstars! I love being a global ambassador."

[Ambassador Claire]

"I love playing the drums and timpani with Alasdair from His Majesty's Royal Marines Band Service!"

 [Resident Drummer, Ambassador Dan]

A moment of reflection

Our dear friend and late charity President, Sir David Amess, was murdered on October 15th 2021. Our greatest champion believed in me when most people thought my dreams were delusional. I could never have imagined such a transformational journey in the years which followed that awful day. Sir David would be so proud of us all. It was in the weeks following his death that the TEAM LEWIS Foundation offered to help. They've become our greatest supporter, creating unique opportunities for our musicians to shine in more ways than I could possibly have imagined.

TEAM LEWIS made a documentary shortly after the tragedy. I'm deeply proud of the progress we've made in Sir David's memory.

And when did I first learn of this wonderful award for our musicians?

October 15th 2024 - exactly three years to the day that we lost Sir David.

David Stanley BEM, November 2024