4 weeks ago
Our Top 9 Uncommon (and Underrated) Instruments
Look beyond the familiar orchestra and explore the stories of uncommon instruments, both old and new!
Read moreIn 2024 Awards for Young Musicians became Young Sounds UK. You can read all about it here.
Giving musical talent a chance
Giving musical talent a chance
Musical talent is everywhere but opportunity isn’t: family finances and other obstacles too often get in the way. We're here to change this.
For 25 years, we've supported talented young people from low income families, helping them to overcome financial and social barriers. Whatever the genre or style, our programmes help young musicians from across the UK to fulfil their musical potential.
Whether funding instruments, lessons or transport, expanding their musical networks or giving them opportunities to perform, we do everything we can to give individual support to young people in need.
Our programmes not only sustain musical journeys, we also help others to identify and nurture talent wherever they find it.
Young Sounds UK are a proud member of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio of funded organisations for 2023-2026 and one of eight new National Youth Music Organisations.
Supporting 1,400 young people across our programmes
Granting over £160,000 in Awards and Bursaries to our young people
Providing more than 200 musical opportunities and events.
Training over 1,000 teachers how to identify musical talent and potential.
Who we are
We support talented young musicians from low-income families throughout the UK, helping them to overcome financial and social barriers in their musical journeys.
How we help
Offering individual support to young people, our programmes sustain young people's musical progress and help teachers identify and nurture talent wherever they find it.
How you can help
Young Sounds UK is a charity. Donations of time, effort and financial contributions from funders, donors and supporters are what keep us going.
"In the 20+ years since Young Sounds founding, when I became its very first Patron, much has changed in music education. Young Sounds has changed too, and is now a significant player in the sector, where it focuses on those most in need. This work is made possible thanks to the ever-growing support of donors and funders across the UK. Sadly Young Sounds' help is now needed more than ever as the arts are increasingly sidelined in schools and music funding constantly threatened.
I'm extremely proud of the transformative difference our charity has made to so many young people's musical future."
Sir Simon Rattle OM CBE
Founding Patron
Photographer: Oliver Helbig
News and Stories
1 month ago
Newcastle University Students Raise Money for Young Sounds UK Through Inspiring Open Mic Night
When five friends studying music were tasked to organise and run a music related event in Newcastle through their module ‘Professional Practice for Music’, they endeavoured to create an inspiring evening for local musicians. From this concept sprouted The Spotlight on the North, an open mic night to showcase emerging musicians in a supportive and relaxed environment.
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