16 year old Noah from Surrey began playing the French horn when he was 7 years old. As he says:

“I went to a ‘Come and Play day’ run by Kingston Music Service. I tried so many instruments! After a while I had narrowed it down to the French horn or the cello. I picked the horn and started lessons with the local music service.”

Noah has received AYM’s The Cheryl King Award which has supported his lessons at the Royal College of Music Junior Department.

“The Cheryl King Award has contributed towards extending my lessons which has really made a difference to my playing. AYM has helped me a lot, not just in the financial sense, but also with opportunities and exposure to different genres of music. I really enjoy meeting other young musicians at the Awards Days. I can’t wait for more!”

For more details, visit AYM’s website.

At their recent Sunday afternoon concert Southern Pro Musica allowed us to take a bucket collection at the end. The audience kindly donated £189.20. This will help fund 6 months of an average bursary!

15 year old Sophia has been through many changes on her musical journey over the past few years. As well as switching first study instruments, she has started attending a specialist music school. She says:

“Moving to music school in 2020 was daunting for just a split second. However as soon as I set foot in the building all my fears dissipated. It is pretty incredible how easy it is to fit in at a place where everyone has music as a common interest. Being in a place where everyone shares a love for music is what I have always longed for. Being an Award winner makes me feel very special. I get to do amazing things that I would never have dreamt of.”

Sophia has been supported by CKT though AYM’s Awards programme since 2018. She’s made the most of the opportunities that being an Award winner brings, such as coming to our Awards Days, taking part in masterclasses with AYM Patron and Alumna Jess Gillam and our chamber music project.

For more details, visit AYM’s website.

The Cheryl King Trust was delighted to help fund a series of inspirational interactive workshops from National Jazz Youth Jazz Orchestra Ambassadors to 15 Schools across Surrey.

Jointly funded by Surrey Arts, this long awaited visit (postponed due to COVID), took place during February 2022. It is hoped that the visit will encourage children and young people to take up a musical instrument. And, of course, if that is financially difficult, funding is available from the Cheryl King Trust!

They visited 10 Surrey schools (both primary and secondary). Woolmer Hill School was the first (pictured above).