Two high-profile musicians are to join education charity the London Music Fund‘s list of Ambassadors. Saxophonist and presenter Jess Gillam MBE and cellist Abel Selaocoe will be the latest members of a star-studded line-up which includes Nicola Benedetti, YolanDa Brown, Jools Holland and Simon Cowell.
Celebrating its 10th Anniversary in 2021, the London Music Fund (LMF) is an independent charity with the Mayor of London as Patron. Its stated mission is to transform under-served communities by enabling children to access high-quality music education.
LMF Ambassadors play a significant role within the charity, both promoting the Fund’s work, and as inspiring role models for young musicians, who have the chance to meet, perform alongside, and learn from them.
Jess Gillam will meet LMF Scholars at the Royal College of Music on 31 October, where she will be a special guest at the Fund’s Awards Ceremony for new Scholars and Graduation Ceremony for those who completed their Scholarships in 2020 and 2021. This event will welcome 100 young musicians to a workshop with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra.
Abel Selaocoe performed at the London Music Fund’s sold-out 10th Anniversary Concert in September alongside a number of current Ambassadors including YolanDa Brown, Chi-chi Nwanoku, OBE, and Julian Bliss.
Jess Gillam said, ‘I am delighted to be joining the London Music Fund as an Ambassador in its 10th anniversary year. Access to high-quality music education is incredibly important to all children and young people, and I believe passionately that every child deserves such access. I am so excited to be working with these young musicians at the Royal College of Music later this month and look forward to meeting them all.’
Abel Selaocoe said, ‘Music education is phenomenally important to children and young people. I believe the London Music Fund’s mission is as important now as it was 10 years ago when the charity was launched: to ensure that no child is left behind because of their socioeconomic background. I am very excited to be joining this wonderful charity at such an important time in its development, and I am very much looking forward to meeting these amazing young musicians.’
London Music Fund CEO Chrissy Kinsella said, ‘Introducing our young musicians to inspiring role models is a crucial part of our programme, and I am so delighted to welcome Abel and Jess to our Ambassador family. They both bring huge passion, dedication and enormous talent with them, and I know that their involvement will have a significant and long-lasting impact on the young musicians they meet, and we are hugely excited about working with them both.’
Header photo: Cellist Abel Selaocoe
