Cathy Grant – charleshutchpress

The joy of making music with support from the Richard Shephard Music Foundation

THE Richard Shephard Music Foundation (RSMF) is celebrating its most successful year to date.

More than 8,685 children have received weekly music lessons through partnerships with 34 schools across Yorkshire and Tees Valley.

This milestone marks significant progress towards the York foundation’s goal of teaching 10,000 children every week by 2026: a target that will mean almost one in seven primary-aged children in the region will have regular access to high-quality music education.

Andrea Hayes, foundation trustee and former head teacher, says: “Music inspires, unites and empowers. The foundation brings that power into classrooms, ensuring every child, whatever their background, can access high-quality music teaching.”

Here are the key highlights from the RSMF’s 2024–25 Impact Report:

• 8,685 children received weekly music lessons, totalling 8,250 hours of high-quality music education.

• 34 partner schools participated, including new additions in East Yorkshire, Saltburn, Darlington, Richmond and Selby.

• 450 children joined the foundation’s biggest-ever Make Music Day, celebrating creativity and collaboration through live workshops and performances.

• Ten free Music Explorers holiday clubs reached 263 children, with an average of 57 per cent eligible for free school meals, rising to 85 per cent in Scarborough.

• 1,943 children took part in foundation-led events, concerts, and community performances.

Revelling in the power of music for schoolchildren

Independent evaluations and teacher feedback revealed transformative results:

• 99 per cent of staff reported improved confidence among pupils.

• 97 per cent saw enhanced musical knowledge.

• 92 per cent observed improvements in wellbeing.

• 94 per cent said their school’s standard of music teaching had improved.

A teacher from Crayke C of E Primary School says: “The love of music you are instilling in children is wonderful. It’s breathing life back into the curriculum.”

Reaching communities that need it most

HALF of the RSMF’s partner schools have more than 30 per cent of pupils eligible for free school meals, and 12 are based in Arts Council England’s Priority Places. By focusing on these areas, RSMF is ensuring access to the social, emotional and educational benefits of music for children who might otherwise miss out.

How you can be involved

WHETHER you are a parent, musician or member of the public passionate about music education, RSMF would like to invite you to be involved. “Please consider becoming a Friend of the Foundation by committing to a monthly donation – as small or large as suits you,” requests the RSMF. “You’ll receive updates from the foundation and invitations to events.” For more details, visit: donate.rsmf.org.uk.

Young players in unison

Cathy Grant, the foundation’s chief executive, says: “Research highlights time and time again that music education is not an equal playing field. The Child of the North* report found that 93 per cent of children are being excluded from arts and cultural education due to a lack of funding in state schools, with almost half (42 per cent) of secondary schools no longer entering pupils for GCSE Music.

“The same report outlined how participation in arts activities also correlates strongly with socioeconomic status, with children from the most affluent backgrounds being three times more likely to sing in a choir or play in an orchestra than those in deprived areas.

Cathy continues: “Our work directly addresses these inequalities, aiming to level the playing field for children across our region. We’re encouraged by the Government’s recent curriculum review report, which commits to ensuring that ‘the arts are an entitlement within the national curriculum for every pupil, not an optional extra’. We think our work in the region is a practical example of how this can be delivered.”

For more information about the Richard Shephard Music Foundation and its work supporting schools, visit www.rsmf.org.uk. View the RSMF’s Music Is A Key video at: https://youtu.be/jdJGf3fCvbg.

* N8 Research Partnership produced the Child of the North report, an evidence-based approach to creating a culture of inclusive opportunity through arts and creativity, in March 2025.

Upcoming Richard Shephard Music Foundation events:

Saturday, November 29 2025 to Monday, January 5 2026: York Minster Christmas Tree Festival, featuring RSMF Christmas tree.

Saturday, November 29, Scarborough Sparkle: School choir from Overdale Primary School singing from 11am to 12 noon.

Wednesday, December 3: Acomb Primary School Christmas busking, York Railway Station, 9.45am to 10.30am.

Thursday, December 4 2025: Christmas Celebration, St Olave’s Church, Marygate, York, 1.30pm to 3pm. Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rsmf-christmas-music-celebration-tickets-1756681294039?aff=oddtdtcreator.

*Ryedale Primary Choir: Ready to take part in Across The Whinny Moor, the Ryedale Festival community song cycle*

DO you believe in magic? Mezzo-soprano Victoria Simmonds, storyteller Rosie Barrett and an all-age Ryedale cast bring cheeky hobs, angry mermaids, resourceful giants and wise witches to life in Ryedale Festival’s community song cycle Across The Whinny Moor on Saturday afternoon at St Peter’s Church, Norton.

Inspired by the Lyke Wake Walk, this evocative and mysterious tapestry of magical thinking, Yorkshire superstitions and the power of imagination is packed full of local folk legends.

The song cycle gently follows the route of the 42-mile walk across the highest and widest part of the North York Moors National Park, dwelling in spots of interest to explore stories such as The Ballad of Wade and Bell, where, at Wade’s Causeway, the songs tell of mermaids as the first glimpses of the sea come into sight.

Saturday’s 4pm world premiere will feature a cast of more than 100 schoolchildren and amateur singers, who have co-created Across The Whinny Moor with composer John Barber and writer Hazel Gould.

Developed through sessions in Ryedale schools, a one-off event for young people and online workshops with choir members, together they have explored local folklore and ideas, creating new segments of text and music that Barber and Gould have worked into the new song cycle.

Conducted by Caius Lee, the Ryedale Primary Choir schoolchildren and the Ryedale Voices, Harmonia and The RyeLarks choirs will be joined by Kirkbymoorside Town Junior Brass Band, Simmonds and Barrett.

Alison Davis, who runs the three adult choirs, says: “We are thrilled to be part of this community song cycle and have enjoyed working with John and Hazel since January. It was great to see them at choir rehearsals and they’ve taken away a good idea of our level and style and have written some incredible original material for us, quite different from our usual music.”

In amongst the new music, Simmonds will sing works by Schubert (The Erl King), Handel and Rebecca Clarke. Shining Brass will play Mendelssohn’s Baba Yaga and traditional folk tunes, such as The Lyke Wake Dirge and The Lark In The Morning, arranged by Barber.

*Ryedale Voices: One of the choirs performing at St Peter’s Church, Norton*

Rosie Barrett creates original stories that bring heritage to life, often commissioned by museums, including Ryedale Folk Museum, Hutton-le-Hole, where she has worked on its latest exhibition, Believe It Or Not?

Running until November 17 (closed on Fridays), the exhibition showcases more than 200 objects connected with magical thinking and folk beliefs, many of them being explored in Across The Whinny Moor.

Rosie says: “I’ve always had a particular fondness for folklore, which I believe connects us deeply with our ancestors. When we hear the stories that the people of the past heard, we are sharing in the emotions and experiences that they shared, and, by reinventing folk tales, we ensure that they stay relevant for each generation. “

Writer Hazel Gould says: “I love to go walking and often use walking time as a way to clear my head. If I can resist the temptation to listen to a podcast or music, the time I spend walking can often be incredibly helpful if I have an idea that I’m struggling with or need to develop.

*Harmonia: On song for Across The Whinny Moor*

“There’s something about the rhythm of walking that allows my thoughts a bit of free range, away from the distractions of a busy life, and it becomes a place where the imagination can blossom.

“Walking and stories seem to be perfect partners, so we were delighted to discover more about the Lyke Wake Walk and wanted to use this map across the moors as a way to bring together some of the stories from the rich folklore of the region.”

Hazel continues: “It has been a huge pleasure to learn more. I have loved working alongside our primary school groups and adult choirs to talk about these tales and create songs together, from angry hobs to misunderstood women, sometimes called witches. We hope you like it too.”

Festival artistic director Christopher Glynn says: “Enabling and celebrating local music making is very important to the festival. Presented in association with the Richard Shephard Music Foundation and Ryedale Folk Museum, Across The Whinny Moor brings together the Ryedale Primary Choir, storyteller Rosie Barrett, local choirs run by Alison Davis, the Kirkbymoorside Town Junior Brass Band, star mezzo-soprano Victoria Simmonds and conductor Caius Lee.

*Sing when you’re swinging: Ryedale Primary Choir*

“John and Hazel have harnessed the rich and wild ideas of all these performers, and we are very excited to hear the result on June 8. Join us!’’

Music foundation chief executive officer Cathy Grant says: “The young people involved in the community song cycle have been brought together by the Richard Shephard Music Foundation, the charity helping to increase musical opportunities for children in our region.

“They come from the Ryedale Primary Choir and local primary schools and are aged between seven and 13. Overall, around 120 children have taken part in songwriting workshops, in-school singing workshops or choir rehearsals, and a group of these will be in the final performance on Saturday, singing alongside the adult choir and other musicians.”

Ryedale Festival presents Community Song Cycle: Across The Whinny Moor, a walk through stories and songs by John Barber and Hazel Gould, world premiere, St Peter’s Church, Norton, June 8, 4pm. Box office: ryedalefestival.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/1173652657.

Tag: Cathy Grant

Richard Shephard Music Foundation reports best year yet in providing weekly lessons in Yorkshire and Tees Valley

Ryedale Festival’s magical community song cycle Across The Whinny Moor celebrates the Lyke Wake Walk at St Peter’s Church