Fundraising Target Reached

AFTER 18 months of fundraising, the Music Man Project is set to fulfil a long-held ambition when its musicians travel to America to make their Broadway debut on October 7.
The journey began in November 2024, when founder David Stanley BM launched a GoFundMe appeal to raise the money needed to take the group to New York. The campaign was created in honour of the charity’s late president and former Southend West and Leigh MP, David Amess, who was one of its biggest supporters before his death in 2021.
Mr Amess famously declared during a performance at the Royal Albert Hall in 2019 that the Music Man Project would one day perform on Broadway.
Mr Stanley said: “We achieved this extraordinary milestone in just 18 months through concerts, quiz nights, abseils, quilt-making and countless other fundraising efforts, supported by amazing donations from individuals, community groups and the corporate sector.”
He added that the achievement had been an emotional and challenging journey, explaining that taking musicians with learning disabilities to Broadway in honour of Mr Amess had been a “deeply emotional” ambition.
“It has never been done before, and the significance of this project, for the UK, for the disabled community, and, above all, for Sir David’s legacy has weighed heavily on my shoulders.
“Together, we have achieved something unprecedented. We have shown that the United Kingdom is a world leader for inclusion in music, opening doors and opportunities that many once thought impossible.
“I’m immensely proud of our students and the whole team who work with them every day, and I believe the whole of Britain should be proud of them too!
“Most of all, five years after his death, I know that Sir David will be beaming with pride as he watches over our extraordinary Broadway debut on 7 October.
“Thank you for believing in our vision and for helping to make this dream a reality.”
Mr Stanley reflected on the journey he and the project had been on: “What began with one music lesson has become a global movement, and now the lights of Broadway await.
“From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”
Since being founded in 2000, the project has grown into an international organisation, inspiring more than 16,000 children through workshops and performance.
It now has a growing network of inclusive 27 music education projects across the UK and has performed at venues including the Royal Albert Hall, while also leading workshops at Downing Street and receiving a standing ovation from the King.
Picture: David Stanley and Sir David Amess
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