Today Arts Council England and the Department for Education announced the expansion of National Youth Music Organisations. UD are very proud to be joining this network #LetsCreate…
National Youth Music Organisations (NYMOs) play a major role in the creativity, diversity and ambition of Britain’s world class music scene, offering the next generation of young musicians and music-makers training, career development and industry experience. To be named a National Youth Music Organisation is a credit to the dedication and commitment of our team and trustees, our partners and our young people. We are proud to join the network where we hope to be a progressive voice in the discussions around music education and where our core principles of diversity, equity, inclusion and innovation can play a role in shaping the UK’s policies for music education in the years ahead.
Pamela McCormick, UD Founder Director: “UD is a National Youth Music Organisation for Black Music, anchored in the London Borough of Newham. Youth voice, participation and leadership have been at the heart of our organisation and mission since UD was founded almost 25 years ago. Ever since then, we have continually evolved our education programmes and practices to offer a pathway from school / youth access to professional careers for young people experiencing racial inequality and socio-economic disadvantage.
To be named a National Youth Music Organisation is a credit to the dedication and commitment of our team and trustees, our partners and our young people. We are proud to join the network where we hope to be a progressive voice in the discussions around music education and where our core principles of diversity, equity, inclusion and innovation can play a role in shaping the UK’s policies for music education in the years ahead.”
Nayana Brathwaite, aka NAYANA, is a 20-year-old singer-songwriter from North London who joined UD’s Flames Collective programme in 2018. While Nayana was academically minded at school and had considered pursuing a career as a philosophy lecturer, she decided singing was her future. She had little to no writing experience, but UD helped her to turn phrases and ideas into fully formed songs. Nayana has roots in Trinidad, and she says the storytelling and emotive traditions of the Caribbean have influenced her impressive onstage presence.
“Through UD Flames Collective, I grew and started to feel a little more comfortable in the creative industries and the creative scene altogether. UD’s programmes taught us everything. How the business works behind the scenes, the complicated world of copyright, PPL and PRS, all the legal stuff I’d never heard of – it was everything that I needed to get started in the industry.” Nayana has progressed from the Flames Collective to the Incubator Programme and now is employed part-time as Programme & Marketing Assistant. Upon completion of her degree at BIMM in summer 2023, she will commence full-time employment with UD as a valued staff member.
To read more about the new National Youth Music Organisations, visit the official Arts Council website HERE.
