“Ezra Collective’s victory at last night’s Mercury Music Prize was an incredibly special moment, not just for the jazz genre and the brilliantly talented musicians whose hard work and persistence over the years was recognised and rewarded; but for the many, many youth and community organisations up and down the country – like UD – who provide a space for young people to come together to collaborate and create. We salute Gary, Janine and Tomorrow’s Warriors for their on-going persistence.
It was joyous to hear Femi speak with such genuine passion and appreciation and I know his words will inspire generations of young creatives at UD and beyond. His comments are testament to the importance of grassroots organisations who encourage and nurture talent from an early age and repeatedly invest in the facilities and resources to enable and empower young people, ensuring there is a strong pipeline of talent into the future to keep the UK on the map of major players in the global music industry.” Pamela McCormick, Founder/Director, UD.
