In the summer of 2013, Adam came into contact with Philip Day (National Music Coordinator for CLIC Sargent Cancer Charity) and together they came up with the idea of a residential music workshop for young people who had suffered from cancer.
CLIC Sargent is the UK’s leading cancer charity for children and young people, and their families. They provide clinical, practical and emotional support to help children and young people cope with cancer and get the most out of life. CLIC Sargent's Music Programme started in the SouthWest and now operates across the country. It provides opportunities designed to raise confidence and self-esteem, teach skills and reduce isolation for around 100 young people each year. Music can provide the common language to help young people with cancer to communicate about their shared experiences. Treatment typically last for three years in specialist hospitals many miles from home, which can be very isolating and mean that young people miss out on education, employment, and social/music making opportunities. In addition to residential music workshops, CLIC Sargent provides individual support to develop songwriting, singing or instrument skills; the opportunity to take part in studio recording and live performances; and the chance to meet and work with professional musicians and music industry mentors.
CLIC Sargent is the UK’s leading cancer charity for children and young people, and their families. They provide clinical, practical and emotional support to help children and young people cope with cancer and get the most out of life. CLIC Sargent's Music Programme started in the SouthWest and now operates across the country. It provides opportunities designed to raise confidence and self-esteem, teach skills and reduce isolation for around 100 young people each year. Music can provide the common language to help young people with cancer to communicate about their shared experiences. Treatment typically last for three years in specialist hospitals many miles from home, which can be very isolating and mean that young people miss out on education, employment, and social/music making opportunities. In addition to residential music workshops, CLIC Sargent provides individual support to develop songwriting, singing or instrument skills; the opportunity to take part in studio recording and live performances; and the chance to meet and work with professional musicians and music industry mentors.
The inaugural workshop week culminated in a spectacular concert at the Wiltshire Music Centre. The first half showcased the material built from the participants, which was all inspired in some way by Beethoven Piano Concerto no. 4, which was to be performed in the second half of the concert by renowned british pianist Cordelia Williams and the CLIC Sargent Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Adam.
The enormous success of this workshop led to the instant planning of another workshop week. This second workshop week was centred around the idea of singer songwriting. With participants building skills in stage presence, playing in a band, writing their own music and improvisation. The final concert, showcasing the material that was produced, ended with a standing ovation and an encore by our whole group of 'One Day Like This' by Elbow. 'Adam is an invaluable member of our musician mentor team, having helped across the full range of our National Music Programme with individuals and in group-work. His talent as a musician and composer, and his sheer enthusiasm for music transmits to everyone around him. The way he encourages people's creativity regardless of their ability is inspirational, and makes him such a great leader as well as team player.' Philip Day (National Music Coordinator, CLIC Sargent) |
Adam's passion for giving these workshops has extended outside his work for CLIC Sargent and into schools. In the summer of 2014, the Worshipful Company of Musicians encouraged Adam to join their very successful outreach program, and Adam gave his first workshop for them at Mulberry School in London with a focus on composition. The aim of these workshops are to give the students an inspiring and informative insight into writing their own music, helping them towards their compositions for GCSE or A level music, whilst also potentially developing a lasting interest in composing. Other workshops included a return to Mulberry School with a focus on music production, and 2 workshops at Clapton Academy for Girls on composition.