“It’s such a privilege and joy to be an AYM Angel. I hope more and more people will join us, the more the better!”

We recently spoke to AYM Angel and legacy supporter, Handa Bray MBE, about what music and AYM mean to her. Handa first discovered AYM in 2016 through our fundraising concert at the beautiful Hatchlands Park in Surrey. She shared her memories of this event with us:

“I first got involved with AYM by being invited by another Angel to attend a concert at Hatchlands Park, a stately home not far from where I live. The soloist was a young classical guitar player – AYM had helped to pay for the guitar, and the young musician’s lessons. It was an inspirational experience, and after that I attended as many AYM concerts as I could, often in outstandingly beautiful venues, which added to the magic.”

Handa has joined us at fundraising concerts at venues such as Wilton’s Music Hall, Stationers’ Hall and Handel Hendrix House. At these events our supporters enjoy live performances from some of the talented young people we’re currently helping through our programmes, alongside others who share a passion for music. For Handa, music has always had a special place in her life:

“I had piano lessons as a child in Canada. Sadly, I have no natural skills, and became enraged by the piano so often played the wrong notes, but my teacher was a true musician, enormously kind and wise, and she introduced me to recordings by great pianists of long ago, like Solomon and Cortot, and I learned to love the music of Schubert, especially the Impromptus and Lieder. A few years later I discovered opera, for which I have a passion.  I recently read a comment by Nietzche: ‘Life without music would be a mistake.’ I 100% agree!!”

Through supporting AYM, Handa combines her love of music with helping future generations of talent. She explains why this is so meaningful:

“To me, music is one of the greatest, and most life-enhancing joys in the world, and to help to fund AYM in identifying musical talent amongst young people throughout Britain – giving them the opportunity to enhance their skills, to perform with other young musicians, to share their talent and that joy with us all – is the most tremendous privilege.”

To find out more about joining our community of AYM Angels, or supporting us through a gift in your Will, please get in touch with our Development Manager Sanpreet Janjua on [email protected] or 0300 302 3422.