Academy’s Global Giving BE THERE campaign provides free music lessons to young people living in challenging circumstances...
More than one hundred young people (aged 5 – 25 years) from the award-winning charity World Heart Beat Music Academy have come together online to produce their own lockdown music video #worldheartbeatathome.
World Heart Beat, based in London’s Wandsworth, chose Stevie Wonder’s legendary and uplifting classic ‘Another Star’ for the #worldheartbeatathome performance, the first project of its kind for the groundbreaking academy.
More than one hundred young flute players, violinists, saxophone players, trumpets, trombones, cellos, entire rhythm sections including young tabla players and singers have come together remotely to make the video.
It has been arranged and mixed by A-lister Nick Cohen (top UK session bassist and songwriter whose credits includes Eurythmics, Roy Ayers, Massive Attack, Matt Bianco and Ive Mendes) and edited by Michael Csanyi-Wills, an award-winning composer with credits that include feature-length film scores.
The music video raises awareness of World Heart Beat’s Global Giving BE THERE campaign to support young people by providing music-making opportunities online. It is intended to help those who may be feeling heightened levels of loneliness and anxiety during the coronavirus crisis, particularly those living in challenging circumstances.
#worldheartbeatathome is the first of two special music productions from the academy. The second production will feature young jazz musicians performing We'll Be Together Again and One for Daddy O. It is supported by the academy’s jazz talent development sponsorship from ZEDRA and expected to reach an international audience when shown later this month.
Sahana Gero, Founder and Artistic Director said:
“In these times, oneness, and the feeling of community and humanity are so vitally important. Music has the unbelievable magic of being able to bring these feelings into our lives. I can’t imagine life without music.”
She adds: “With the production of our #worldheartbeatathome music video, we wanted to convey the joyous and passionate spirit of the academy to our friends, supporters and the world at large. Legendary musical artist Stevie Wonder was an obvious choice for us. He is a true inspiration with an incredible history of creating change on and off stage.
Young people, especially those from challenging circumstances, are struggling during this unexpected crisis and now is a critical time to show our support by donating to our Global Giving BE THERE campaign to enable their music learning to continue.”
The academy acknowledges that the lockdown has meant a huge loss for their students, many of whom are from disadvantaged backgrounds, and who feel disconnected from World Heart Beat. The continuity of their music learning – which provides a sense of self-worth and identity - is broken.
The academy is, therefore, supporting young people, particularly those living in challenging circumstances, with online music-making and social sessions, funded by the BE THERE campaign.
The Lockdown music video is dedicated to Terry Mansfield, Former President and Chief Executive of ‘Nat Mags’, now Hearst UK, who died in March, aged 81 years after contracting the coronavirus. Terry was a friend and avid supporter of World Heart Beat Music Academy. He was passionate about empowering others, providing opportunities to those living in disadvantage and developing tomorrow’s talent.
For further information on World Heart Beat’s Global Giving BE THERE campaign, please visit https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/be-there-support-young-people-during-coronavirus/
