The Late Sir David Amess - Our Greatest Champion
We need help to fulfil the dream of The Music Man Project's charity president, the late Sir David Amess, who was brutally murdered in October 2021. He was our greatest champion and fought for opportunities for our musicians with learning disabilities to show what they can do, rather than focusing on what they need. At our Royal Albert Hall debut in 2019, Sir David announced that The Music Man Project will one day play Broadway, New York. I'm determined to make this his legacy, to show that good will overcome evil and hope can come from tragedy.
The Music Man Project - From One Student to The Royal Albert Hall
My name is David Stanley and I'm the CEO and Founder of The Music Man Project, a multi-award winning, international music education charity for people with learning disabilities. We provide accessible music tuition leading to inspirational performances, give grants for accessible arts education, promote equal access to performance, support research and raise awareness of the achievements of disadvantaged people in the arts.
In 1999, I befriended a young man with Downs Syndrome called Tony. One day I sang Tony “I Am The Music Man” but he soon requested his favourite song: “The 12 Days of Christmas”. 14 renditions later we both collapsed in fits of laughter. It was the middle of July after all! Tony’s reaction changed my life forever. I then taught a small workshop for people with learning disabilities and promised them that one day they would play the Royal Albert Hall. It was a joke that became a dream, that became an ambition and then my obsession.
20 years later, The Music Man Project presented 200 children and adults with learning disabilities from across the UK in a concert called ‘Music is Magic at the Royal Albert Hall’. It was the UK’s largest ever celebration of accessible music-making.
The Music Man Project joins a remarkable community of people together through song, country by country. It multiplies that original moment of joy I experienced with Tony and reveals the potential of people with learning disabilities by showcasing their talents and passions at the world's greatest performance venues.
The Music Man Project Global Ambassadors
Led by our famous global ambassadors, The Music Man Project has performed critically acclaimed original productions at the West End’s London Palladium (2015, 2017) and the iconic Royal Albert Hall (2019, 2021, 2023, 2024). We've entertained members of the Royal Family, opened a national TV advert, appeared on the BBC, ITV and Sky News, and recorded a top 10 Christmas single with His Majesty’s Bands of the Royal Marines. We hold the world record for the largest triangle ensemble, delivered a music workshop at 10 Downing Street for the Prime Minister, danced with Mr Speaker at the House of Commons and received a standing ovation from The King.
In April 2024, The Music Man Project performed their most spectacular concert yet at the Royal Albert Hall, supported by the Band of his Majesty’s Royal Marines and featuring musical theatre legend and Music Man Project patron, Michael Ball.
In June, we performed at the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo in Canada in front of 20,000 people, accompanied by the Central Band of the Royal Air Force.
National and International Impact
The Music Man Project now oversees a network of 14 regional teaching hubs in counties across the UK. We have also reached disabled communities around the world in South Africa, India, Nepal, USA , Canada, Italy and the Philippines. Regional Music Man Projects are officially licenced for free, enabling them to access my exclusive music, teaching resources and performance opportunities specifically created for musicians with learning disabilities.
All of this was achieved by volunteers who gave their time and expertise for free.
Our greatest achievement will be to finally make Sir David's dream come true. In October 2026, we want to take 30 of our amazing musicians with learning disabilities to perform on Broadway, New York. Our itinerary will include a major performance at a famous concert venue in New York, a smaller theatre performance off-Broadway and music workshops to local New York schools and charities. We even hope to create a New York Music Man Project as a lasting global legacy in his memory.
The costs of such a life-changing and ground-breaking campaign are high. We need to pay for flights and accommodation for 60+ people along with the hire of our performance venues. We estimate this to be over £150,000.
Please join me in making a difference to the global learning-disabled community by helping these remarkable musicians perform on Broadway. I'm raising money in aid of The Music Man Project and every donation will help. Thank you in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.
David Stanley BEM
CEO, The Music Man Project
www.themusicmanproject.com
https://www.themusicmanblog.com/
