Ten of our success stories
Without Concerteenies, thousands of children simply would not have access to live music.
Young people are at the heart of everything we do, and we take our interactive concerts featuring world-class music directly to them, in their schools, nurseries, playgrounds and community venues.
Those concerts are the catalyst for a lifelong love of music, they boost communication skills, confidence and all-round literacy.
For the grown-ups who attend, they also provide much-needed human connection and improve adult mental health.
One mum said: “They are the best thing I have been to in the four years since my first child was born. I am so grateful.
“They have felt like an absolute lifeline at times, and provide a real connection to the pre-mum person I was, whilst also providing an educational and enjoyable experience for my children!”
A teacher added: “The Musical Stories project from Concerteenies is a brilliant way to cover the whole EYFS curriculum in a short period of time.
“We have taken inspiration from this and plan to implement similar ideas alongside our key texts in the future.
“All the children were engaged. My EAL children especially loved learning the songs and then performing them alongside Polly and the musicians.”
In 2023 we launched our new accessible concerts and Musical Stories project retelling children’s books
Concerteenies became a charity in 2023 and has now launched its first fundraising campaign, Sounds Good.
We aim to raise £25,000 through a range of individual and corporate giving as well as trusts and foundations funding.
You can donate to #SoundsGood here and every penny will help us to level up access to musical experiences for children and families in marginalised, underserved and disadvantaged communities.
Take a look at ten of our success stories below to see how we have made a difference.
In the last year alone (2022-2023) we have engaged around 10,000 people across South Yorkshire. Over the past six years, the number of people we have reached is 37,000,
Our Arts Council England funded Musical Stories project, with composer Paul Rissmann, retold popular children’s books through music.
It included our biggest-ever gig at The Leadmill nightclub, reached more than 6,000 people and events also took place in museums, libraries, playgrounds and schools across South Yorkshire as well as nationally.We’ve provided music to support speech and language development post-Covid through the Chatterbox project in North East Sheffield. This project worked with around 700 children, 300 parents and 50 teachers.
Our Concerteenies for Babies project, funded by Youth Music, now focuses on helping new parents/ carers bond with their babies. This project is engaging with more diverse communities, teenage mums, asylum seekers and people in temporary housing.
In 2021 we won the Royal Philharmonic Society’s inspiration award, sponsored by DECCA and BBC Radio 3.
This year we teamed up with Famlingo in Sheffield to offer BSL Interpreted concerts for the first time, plus free events for looked-after children.
Our Music for All events and resources help children and families with special educational needs, especially deaf/hearing impaired and children with autism.
Our development programmes include inspirational teacher training and aim to increase the workforce of professional musicians and music leaders.
Concerteenies has also performed at a diverse range of venues, from UK music festivals such as the acclaimed Aldeburgh Festival of Music and the Arts to The Greystones pub in Sheffield, where it all began.
We have received press coverage for our work in multiple media publications around the country. Read more in this piece from The Yorkshire Post.
Concerteenies performances have taken place in playgrounds, at festivals and at a diverse range of venues.