Young musicians perform jazz standards with ZEDRA partnership funding collaboration online

Through the ZEDRA Talent Development Programme, sponsored young jazz musicians and alumni from award-winning charity World Heart Beat Music Academy, have come together online to produce their own lockdown jazz music videos, #worldheartbeatathome, which is launched today.

Young musicians perform jazz standards with ZEDRA partnership funding collaboration online World Heart Beat Music Academy launches two #worldheartbeatathome jazz music videos remotely to support its young musicians during lockdown ZEDRA provides invaluable funding to help support unity and creativity initiative to keep young people learning music together, whilst apart. The video launches today will also highlight the charity’s Global Giving campaign, BE THERE, which is raising funds to support disadvantaged young people through the crisis Young jazz musicians and alumni from award-winning charity World Heart Beat Music Academy have come together online to produce their own lockdown jazz music videos, #worldheartbeatathome, which will launch today on ZEDRA’s LinkedIn and other channels.

London based World Heart Beat Music Academy developed a music making project, funded by ZEDRA, the global active wealth, corporate and fund solutions specialist to keep its young people learning music together, even though they were apart.
With exemplary jazz programmes and top-musicians such as Tony Kofi and Byron Wallen teaching at the academy, World Heart Beat has a strong affinity with jazz. The chosen standards ‘We’ll Be Together Again’ has been recorded by many jazz greats including Billy Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra. The second, ‘One for Daddy O’ was written and recorded by the late, great saxophonist Cannonball Adderley. It has been arranged and mixed by two-time Grammy Award winner, Cameron Craig.

Working on the music videos remotely provided an opportunity to develop skills, creativity and a sense of purpose for the young musicians whilst isolated at home. They were able to enjoy the familiarity of working with their World Heart Beat ‘family’ as well as achieving a sense of achievement and pride in their finished work.

In February 2020, eight young academy musicians (aged 14-25 years) with considerable promise and talent were selected for the ZEDRA Talent Development Programme which reflects the aim of both the charity and ZEDRA – to provide opportunities and transform young lives, many of whom live in challenging circumstances.

ZEDRA’s partnership funding ensures the jazz students receive tuition from exceptional musicians, attend masterclasses from visiting artists, play in regular combo and ensemble sessions and perform in a wide variety of venues.

Last month, World Heart Beat produced its first lockdown music video, Stevie Wonder’s legendary and uplifting classic ‘Another Star’ featuring over one hundred young people from the academy.

The three #worldheartbeatathome music videos help raise awareness of the charity’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.

Sahana Gero, Founder and Artistic Director said: “Music brings about the feelings of oneness and community which are so vital, especially in these times. With our ZEDRA Talent Development Programme in place we wanted to nurture our young people’s love and commitment to jazz so that they could hone their craft whilst at home. We are so grateful to ZEDRA for funding this inspiring and uniting project #worldheartbeatathome which enables our young musicians to feel proud and worthy of what they truly love doing best.”

Bart Deconinck, ZEDRA Executive Chairman said: “I am delighted to see what the musicians at the World Heart Beat Music Academy have managed to achieve under the very difficult conditions of lockdown. Musicians work as teams, just like in business so this will have been particularly hard for them. This superb video is testament to their fantastic creativity, tenacity and imagination. There is a life lesson for us all here.”

ZEDRA has a proud track record of supporting local communities in the countries it operates in around the world. At is core are the values of self-improvement and an entrepreneurial approach, which is summarised in its “do more to achieve more” approach ZEDRA actively encourages and supports its people who are engaged in valuable local projects, addressing challenging situations in the countries where they live. This year ZEDRA has decided to build on this work and add a global dynamic by supporting the World Heart Beat Music Academy.

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For further info, please visit www.worldheartbeat.org

Press contact:
World Heart Beat Music Academy – Lottie Parsons, [email protected] / 07980 680 759
ZEDRA – Guy Stephenson, Nacelle Limited, [email protected] Tel: +44 (0)20 8333 9125

World Heart Beat

World Heart Beat is fast becoming one of the most prominent music charities in the country for providing grassroots, non-selective, richly diverse, music education programmes for children from a vast array of backgrounds. In 2018, the organisation was awarded National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) status by Arts Council England (public funder), which acknowledged the quality of their work and the contribution they make to ACE’s Creative Case for Diversity and Equality.
www.worldheartbeat.org

Following a competitive pitch with 42 cultural organisations, World Heart Beat was awarded 750m2 of prime commercial space to create a new music education centre and venue in Nine Elms, on London’s South Bank, adjacent to the American Embassy. It will comprise learning space and digital labs, state-of-the-art auditorium for public concerts, recording studios and community café. WHB have reached 80% of the £1.2m construction cost thanks to the support of trusts, businesses and individuals. A 50-year
lease at £1p.a. estimated to be worth in excess of £10m has been secured. The building will open in autumn 2022.

Project film: www.bit.ly/WHBEmbassyGardens Website: www.worldheartbeat.org/embassygardens/

BE THERE Global Giving campaign

World Heart Beat’s BE THERE Global Giving campaign was set up to support young people, especially those living in challenging conditions, who may be feeling heightened levels of loneliness and anxiety during the coronavirus crisis. Now is a critical time for us to support our students – we plan to offer online music making and social sessions for EVERY young person.
https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/be-there-support-young-people-during-coronavirus/

Music Acknowledgement

‘One for Daddy-O’

Artist: Cannonball Adderley
Album: Somethin’ Else Released: 1958
Arranged by Ayo Vincent
Mixed by Cameron Craig
Edited by Michael Csanyi Wills
Artistic Director Sahana Gero
Performers World Heart Beat students and young alumni
Keys – Ayo Vincent
Upright Bass – Ezekiel Ajie
Electric Bass – Miranda Gallagher
Drums – Jas Kayser
Electric drums and percussion – Jaidon Regis
Saxophone soloists – Nathan Dawkins and Toku Ogwang
Saxophone backing – Rebecca Wing, Alex Williams
Trombone – Sean Willians
Trumpet – Jada Williams

‘We’ll be together again’
Artist: Carl T.Fische