About

Music for the Many (registered charity no. 1185526) was founded in 2018 in Todmorden to provide instrumental tuition and other musical opportunities on an equitable and inclusive basis, free of charge, to children and young people in our community.

Most of the children, young people and families we work with would not otherwise have access to these opportunities.  As professional musicians and teachers, we know the huge importance of music-making in becoming thoughtful, intelligent, caring, empowered and happy young people, families and communities.

Our tuition fees and other essential costs are mainly funded by donations from members of the local community and other benefactors who appreciate the importance of equal opportunities in music education.

Most of the instruments which the children play are donated by members of the community and refurbished and maintained by us free of charge.

What people say about Music for the Many….

“Not only has the teaching and learning of music been strengthened but the behaviour, attendance and well-being of our pupils is also improving.” (Kelly Williams, headteacher, Ferney Lee School)

“Children have really got involved in this project and had a wonderful time doing it.” (Liz Lloyd, headteacher, St. Joseph’s RC Academy)

Music for the Many provide excellent, quality learning opportunities. They broaden, enrich, and support our music department and we feel so privileged to work alongside them within our local community to enhance musical learning for all.” (Alice Brockman, head of expressive arts, Todmorden High School)

“Music for the Many doesn’t just offer children free instruments and tuition, it establishes a happy, musical culture within schools. Over the years the tutors have built an encouraging, family atmosphere around music provision.  All the pupils in our school feel like music is an option and reachable ambition for them.”  (a parent, Ferney Lee School)

From our pupils:

“This is my first time playing a proper instrument and learning to play real music.”

“I’ve never even seen or held a real violin before Music for the Many came.”

“I love learning to play.”

“It’s so great that we get to take the instrument home to practice too – I get to show my mum how good I’m getting.”

“As we get weekly lessons we get better quicker – it makes me happy playing an instrument!”

Make A Donation

Events

Admission is pay-as-you-can donation (unless stated otherwise) towards our work with Todmorden’s children and young people.

Thursday 5th December at 7pm at Todmorden Unitarian Church

Candlelit Carols with Three Valleys Gospel Choir and Music for the Many Youth Chamber Orchestra

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/3-valleys-gospel-choir/t-ojrjlxl?fbclid=IwY2xjawGXjSVleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHYZOKETIBGQ9Y2xotdoJGEQFwzF6g36m8ZkL3Ns-PP3efpPCdiRnf_-SgQ_aem_SO-f8op0t5nLX9rjGh2ldA

Tuesday 10th December at 7pm at Crossley Gallery, Dean Clough, Halifax

Christmas Music with Halifax Chamber Choir and M4M Halifax Youth Chamber Orchestra

Saturday 14th December at 6.30pm at Halifax Minster

Comfort and Joy, featuring Elland Silver Band, Halifax Minster Choir and M4M Halifax Youth Chamber Orchestra

PAST EVENTS

Saturday 16th November at 2pm at Tod College, Burnley Rd., Todmorden

TODMORDEN BOOK FESTIVAL EVENT https://todmordenbookfestival.co.uk/2024-programme/

MUSIC AND POETRY with PETER SANSOM and MUSIC FOR THE MANY ORCHESTRA

Friday 8th November at 7.30pm at Fielden Hall, Todmorden

TWO FOR NOW

new interpretations of popular songs

Thursday 24th October at 7pm at St. Mary’s Church, Todmorden

QAWWALI, NASHEEDS and BOLLYWOOD SONGS with YORKSHIRE BOLLYWOOD ORCHESTRA, HUSSNAIN HANIF and THE KHAN SISTERS

Saturday 19th October at 6pm at Tod College, Burnley Rd., Todmorden

FUNDRAISING CEILIDH with music from Scintilla and Jiggerie Folkerie

Saturday 5th October at 3pm at Platform 1 Gallery, Todmorden Station

Young musicians playing in the Platform 1 Festival

Saturday 21st September at 12 midday at Walsden Cricket Club

M4M Chamber Orchestra play at Walsden Scarecrow Festival

Wednesday 17th July at 7.30pm at St. Mary’s Church, Todmorden

COLOURCHORD WITH JON BODEN

Come and sing instant harmony for all led by one of England’s finest folk singers,

Also featuring performances by some of our best young singers and songwriters

Friday 5th July at 6.30pm at Halifax Minster

M4M FESTIVAL OF NASHEEDS

our annual celebration of Islamic song featuring children from Todmorden, Halifax and Bradford and special guest singers Hussnain Hanif and the Khan Sisters

Thursday 4th July at 6.30pm at Halifax Minster

PRIMARY SCHOOLS CONCERT

featuring Music for the Many’s wonderful Beech Hill School Orchestra

Friday 21st June at 7.30pm at Fielden Hall

PEADAR LONG and DANIEL BATH

Woodwind wizardry.

Thursday 20th June at 6pm at Todmorden High School

TODMORDEN YOUTH ORCHESTRA CONCERT

Our combined schools’ orchestras present a feast of musical delights.

Friday 17th May at 7.30pm at FIELDEN HALL, Ewood Lane, Todmorden OL147DD

A CELEBRATION OF AFRICAN MUSIC

The heart-lifting exuberance of St. Patrick’s African Choir from Oldham, the glorious Congolese singing of Alexya Douniama and the beautiful sound of John Haycock’s kora playing.

SATURDAY 11th MAY at ST. JAMES CHURCH, Church Lane, HEBDEN BRIDGE

CHOIRFEST

SUNDAY 5th MAY at THE TRADES CLUB, Holme Street, HEBDEN BRIDGE HX78EE

tickets: £12/£6

Daniel Bath and Friends – South African jazz, klezmer, socialist cabaret, Palestinian songs and more with a dazzling array of fantastic musicians.

to book ahead: https://thetradesclub.com/events/many

Friday 19th April at 7.30pm at FIELDEN HALL, Ewood Lane, Todmorden OL147DD

Vocal Highs – soul stirring, popular contemporary a cappella music from this energetic choir

FRIDAY 23rd FEBRUARY at 7.30pm at FIELDEN HALL, Ewood Lane, Todmorden OL147DD

Tom Hingley – former lead singer with Inspiral Carpets 1989-2011

Admission by donation

To book ahead on eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/803787418807?aff=oddtdtcreator

SUNDAY 28th JANUARY at 3pm at FIELDEN HALL, Ewood Lane, Todmorden OL147DD

Alyssium – beautiful contemporary acapella vocal music

Admission by donation

SATURDAY 27th JANUARY at 4.30 pm at TODMORDEN TOWN HALL

Family Concert by Todmorden Orchestra and Music for the Many

Presented by Lucy Drever

More details and booking links here: http://www.todmordenorchestra.org.uk/concert/2022/family-concert-2024/

SATURDAY 13th JANUARY 2024 at 6pm at Todmorden Learning Centre

EuroCeilidh

with live music from Scintilla and the wonderful young musicians of Jiggerie Folkerie

SATURDAY 25th NOVEMBER 2023 at 6pm at TODMORDEN HIPPODROME THEATRE

Music and Poetry from M4M Todmorden Youth Orchestra and superstar poet Peter Sansom

Part of Todmorden Book Festival, to find out more click here.

THURSDAY 9th NOVEMBER 2023 at 7pm at ST. MARY’S CHURCH, TODMORDEN

Orchestral Concert of South Asian Music

Featuring players from Todmorden Orchestra and Fantasy Orchestra, special guest soloists and children from our schools, performing music from Bollywood films, Qawwali and other beautiful Asian treats.

FRIDAY 27TH OCTOBER 2023 at 7.30pm at FIELDEN HALL

Alice Jones

FRIDAY 16th JUNE at 6pm at TODMORDEN HIGH SCHOOL

M4M Todmorden Youth Orchestra Launch Concert

Our young instrumentalists from Todmorden’s schools come together for this first ever concert of Todmorden Youth Orchestra.

9th June 2023

Greyhounds

“Fragile and fluid, The Greyhounds recharge the immediacy of traditional music, lending much renewal to folk melodies as well as adding their own canon of original, narrative songs.”

26th May 2023

The Hanif Brothers

A beautiful evening of Islamic song from 2 spellbinding singers, with instrumental accompaniment from Daniel Bath

SATURDAY 13th May 2023 AT 2PM AT TODMORDEN COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Todmorden Festival of Nasheeds

M4M’s annual celebration of Islamic poetry and song, featuring local young people and some very special guest artists.

24th March 2023

Kirsty Newton

Singalong fun and comedy for all the family

24th February 2023

Beware of Trains

Soprano Marie Claire Breen and pianist Leighton Jones give colourful renditions of classical arias and cabaret songs.

27th January

Celloship of the String

Chamber music from Margit van der Zwan and Manchester’s brilliant new cello quartet

SATURDAY 19th November at TODMORDEN CENTRAL METHODIST CHURCH

Hepton Singers

18th November 2022

Amy Rose Atkinson and her Band

14th October 2022

Red Hippo

One of the most innovatives trios around, led by woodwind wizard, Peadar Long. Festival favourites!

17th June 2022

Two for Now

This delightful duo reinterpret popular songs, also featuring guest performances by our M4M tutors and pupils.

SUNDAY 19th June at 12.30pm

Jubilee Picnic in the Park

13th May 2022

Robin Hill – legendary virtuoso of classical guitar

SATURDAY 21st May 2022 at 2pm

TODMORDEN FESTIVAL OF NASHEEDS

At Tod College, Burnley Rd., Todmorden

A celebration of Islamic poetry and song.

Featuring Hussnain Hanif and special guest young singers from Parkinson Lane School, Halifax, Feversham School, Bradford and Hamza Mosque, Todmorden.

1st April 2022

Red Hippo – The North of England’s most creative trio, festival favourite, led by woodwind wizard, Peadar Long. For advance bookings: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/274097712637

21st January 2022

Alice Jonesthe best in folksong and dance from a Yorkshire superstar. Due to Covid-19, places are limited, so book ahead here.

18th February 2022

Manouche NorthGypsy Jazz and Klezmer with violinist, Stephen Shulman’s quartet

Sunday 8th March 2020 at 5pm at Fielden Hall, Ewood Lane, Todmorden, OL14 7DD

Mr. Wilson’s Second Liners

Thursday 6th February 2020 at 7pm at Ferney Lee School, Ferney Lee Rd., Todmorden OL14 5NR

An evening with Tabla maestro Shahbaz Hussain

https://www.darbar.org/artist/shahbaz-hussain/43#

Friday 17th January 2020 at 7.30pm at Fielden Hall, Ewood Lane, Todmorden OL14 7DD

Manouche NorthGypsy Jazz and Klezmer with violinist, Stephen Shulman’s quartet

Thursday 5th December 2019 at 7.00pm at Todmorden Unitarian Church

Christmas Magic with 3 Valleys Gospel Choir and Music for the Many

http://www.3valleysgospelchoir.org.uk/event/christmas-magic-with-three-valleys-gospel-choir/

Friday 13th December 2019 at 7.30pm at Fielden Hall, Ewood Lane, Todmorden OL14 7DD

Festive Fun with Vocal Highs and Music for the Many https://www.facebook.com/vocalhighs/

Saturday 14th December 2019 at 7.30 at Todmorden Central Methodist Church

Christmas Carol Concert with Todmorden Choral Society and Music for the Many

https://todmordenchoral.org/page.php?pageid=11

Friday 4th October 2019 at 7.30pm at Fielden Hall, Ewood Lane, Todmorden OL14 7DD

The stunning soprano voice of Nicola Mills, international opera singer, accompanied by M4M’s very own mini orchestra

Thursday 20th June 2019 at Square Chapel Arts Centre, Halifax

Singing Outside the Box

In this concert, Music for the Many’s young musicians will be joining the Ravenscliffe School Staff Choir and the Orange Box Young People’s Choir for a vibrant performance of all sorts of music.

30th March 2019 at 7.30pm in Todmorden Town Hall

Todmorden’s Mayor, Andy Hollis, a keen supporter of Music for the Many has offered half the proceeds of this charity concert to our work with Todmorden’s children:
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/todmorden/todmorden-town-hall/jazzical-todmorden-mayors-charity/2019-03-30/19:30

Sunday 12th May 2019 at The Fielden Centre, Ewood Lane, Todmorden

Vocal Ensemble Cantorelli will be giving a concert in aid of Music for the Many

Monday 18th March 2019 in Hebden Bridge Town Hall

Hebden Bridge Women’s Institute host a performance by some of our young learners. M4M is Hebden Bridge W.I.’s charity of the year!

Friday 8th March 2019

6-8 pm, at the Fielden Centre, Todmorden.

You are invited to Music for the Many’s first anniversary concert!

This is going to be a wonderful evening featuring special guest, opera singer Nicola Mills. Check out her website at http://www.iamnicolamills.com/

We’re also very proud to be showcasing the talent and hard work of some of our students.

And, of course, no birthday celebration is complete without cake!

https://www.facebook.com/events/2142964082484318/

Contact

We look forward to meeting you:

  • Would you Like Music for the Many to happen in your school? 
  • Do you have time to support  us or fundraise for instruments?
  • Are you a local music teacher interested in Music for the Many?
  • Do you have an instrument you would like to donate?

email: music4themany@gmail.com

You can also make donations via Justgiving.

 

If you’d like to hear more, sign up for our newsletter: