Developing Talent
Drum roll, please …
It’s the end of the year for our students at Tang Hall SMART CIC. And what a year it’s been!
As our home at the Burnholme Community Hub gets its major makeover for a grand reopening in 2018 (where it will be launched as The Centre @ Burnholme), we’ve had to move into our temporary lodgings on-site, complete with drum kits, keyboards, guitars, percussion of all kinds, mics, amps, speakers and all sorts.
No mean feat – especially when there’s another move on the horizon into our gorgeous, jazzed up new home. Big thanks are due to the gargantuan efforts of all our staff and volunteers for lugging everything around like practiced roadies.
As any recording musician knows, setting up a good recording facility is tricky under the easiest of circumstances. Setting up a semi-permanent one that encourages artists with special requirements is a truly phenomenal task.
Everybody dived into the challenge with gusto, and our work with aspiring young artists with learning disabilities is going from strength to strength. Our record from this topsy-turvy year proves it.
Thanks are also due to the staff for their care and insight in creating SAFE BASE, for our young, talented students, who have had a late diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome and need facilities that encourage expression and creativity in ways that exceed the usual criteria.
It’s been a fabulous year of achievement, personal growth and new music under our record label “Musication” despite the odds!
“D-Ni-L”’s new album launched to wild applause with a great gig at our new base, we collaborated with the University of York and NCEM with a fabulous Gamelan and Rap collaboration (the Roots and Routes project), and then our local MP Rachael Maskell, joined in.
Yeah, right?! Who’d have guessed that rap could reach the hallowed halls of Westminster? Good on you, Rachael! Now … how about starting a band? Gee B8, perhaps?
As it turns out, Parliament wasn’t the only place that saw a big reshuffle this year. Our management structure has undergone a major key change with Neil moving from a participant in “Musication” to the position of Music Director – well done, Neil! Our staff took on the inimitable Dougie as a key member, and the whole team has taken on a new dynamic that has set the bar higher than ever for the new year ahead.
There’s no doubt, we’re right on track. This year, we were Social Enterprise runners up for the coveted “Yorkshire and Humber Awards”, and for our amazing students’ efforts and vision have been offered grants by ESF, Big Lottery, Igen, 4GoodFund Youth Music and Joseph Rowntrees. A massive ‘thank you’, all.
Whoop! (That’s the mixing desk sorted, Neil.)
Every single person involved with Tang Hall this year deserves a medal! As any blues legend would testify, sometimes it takes a few rocks in the road and an ole’ guitar to bring out the best talent …
… speaking of which, check out our video “Going Off On One” on YouTube! Our venture into metal rap (with our Hip-Hop Shake-Up Rappers … young adults who have learning disabilities) – the cherry on the top of our year’s achievements.
And of course – there’s our brand new blog. This! Come back here next month for more news and behind-the-scenes goings on at Tang Hall – and if you’re tempted to jam, drop us a line. We’re looking forward to meeting you.
Till then – EXPRESS YOURSELF!
Sue Williamson
Managing Director
Tang Hall SMART CIC
