The Nucleo Project is growing
The Nucleo Project (Nucleo) is thrilled to embark on a new phase in its work to achieve social change through ensemble-based music-making. Building on almost nine years delivering its free programme for children and young people in West London, the project will extend the benefits offered to its community – and to like-minded young musicians nationwide – as it takes on two pioneering national initiatives, as well as a national leadership role in the field of music for social action, from Sistema England. In its new form, The Nucleo Project will be known simply as “Nucleo”.
Nucleo has worked closely for a number of years with Sistema England, which today passes over its charitable activities to Nucleo after over a decade supporting the national Sistema and music for social action community.
In its new capacity, Nucleo will continue the Young Leaders Programme pioneered by Sistema England, which brings together skilled and committed young musicians from around the country to create a vibrant national orchestra focused on youth leadership, collaborative learning and musical aspiration. Similarly, Nucleo will continue the work of Sistema England’s instrument donation bank – a service supporting schools, organisations and young musicians around the country by collecting and passing on donated instruments– which to date has put over 2,000 donated instruments into the hands of young musicians who need them.
Julian Lloyd Webber, champion for music education and founder of Sistema England, will now join Nucleo as Honorary Patron, and Nina Kaye, Sistema England trustee, will join the board of Nucleo as Interim Chair. Additionally, Sistema England’s other trustees and former executive (including Julian Lloyd Webber, Marshall Marcus and Fiona Cunningham) will continue to support the Nucleo executive team as members of an advisory group.
Speaking on the dynamic enhancement of their services, which will be marked by a new visual identity to encapsulate the growing Nucleo community, Lucy Maguire – founder of The Nucleo Project – said: “I am really excited about this next phase of our development, and the whole Nucleo community – our team, our supporters, the families and most of all the kids – should be really proud of having worked together over the last nine years to reach this point. A big part of what Nucleo is all about is just showing what young people can do when they have the chance, and on top of all their musical accomplishments, this milestone is also a representation of that. Our young musicians are incredible people, and it’s really exciting that with this new national scope for our organisation, we’ll have the opportunity to meet and work with many more amazing kids, and to bring them together with one another to make music and build communities.”
Julian Lloyd Webber said: “We have watched The Nucleo Project grow since 2013, and continue to be inspired by the impact it has on the lives of children, young people and communities. Their growth demonstrates, first-hand, the truly positive effect that socially-motivated organisations can have on future generations through the power of music-making. We look forward to Nucleo’s continued success, both in their West London Nucleo and nationally, and to championing their future endeavours.”
About The Nucleo Project (now Nucleo)
From small beginnings in 2013 – when its first orchestra was formed with just four children – The Nucleo Project has grown into a community of 375 young musicians, supported by a team of 17 teachers, 10 pastoral assistants and 8 permanent staff. 80% of Nucleo students are members of the Global Majority, and 50% live in areas in the bottom 20% of the national Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index. Ranging in age from 0 to 20, they attend over 100 different schools, speak 42 different languages at home, and play 14 different instruments at Nucleo.
Nucleo students benefit from frequent performance opportunities and the chance to participate in orchestral residencies, both in the UK and abroad. The have gained entry into some of the UK’s highest calibre institutions for youth and children’s music, including the Royal College of Music Junior Department, National Children’s Orchestra, National Youth Orchestra, Chineke! Junior Orchestra and National Schools Symphony Orchestra. More importantly, they form friendships and build communities, learn life skills, earn confidence as performers, and have a lot of fun together along the way. While it is true that many of our students would not have access to a high quality musical education without Nucleo’s free programme, we know that in fact none of them could find the experience that Nucleo offers anywhere else – as one student recently commented, “Nucleo in three words: Nothing like it.”
Mayle Velasco, 15, who has been a Nucleo student and violinist since the age of 8, now also attends the Royal College of Music Junior Department. She said: “Nucleo provides opportunities for loads of children, and this way Nucleo can reach out to other people who may not have the opportunity to start in music. Most orchestras you have to pay but Nucleo you just come and learn and you can develop a love for music through it, and I think that’s really cool. Looking back at my journey with Nucleo reminds me how far I’ve come, and it reignites my passion for it and reminds me why I started in the first place. Being able to grow with Nucleo since quite early on and seeing the younger kids who are where I was once, being able to help other younger people do that too feels like a big accomplishment.”
The Nucleo Project looks forward to expanding its community further over the coming years. By empowering children and young people to develop their abilities, take ownership of their learning, build their own communities and assume leadership roles, the charity can not only form successful orchestras and support future musicians and leaders, but can contribute to a world in which, from an early age, children and young people develop the tools to break down any barrier standing between them and the infinite possibilities of their lives.
For further information on The Nucleo Project and its activities, please contact info@thenucleoproject.org or visit www.thenucleoproject.org