ABOUT US
Mission StatementDrum and Brass Empowers Communities Through Inclusive Music-Making
Drum and Brass is a community-focused organisation dedicated to creating music-making opportunities for underserved and under-represented communities in Cumbria and Leicester. Each year, we empower over 200 individuals, many of whom face barriers such as socio-economic challenges, disabilities, or lack of local resources, to learn an instrument and join our inclusive music groups. We are committed to breaking down these barriers through a welcoming and accessible approach, ensuring everyone, regardless of background or ability, has the opportunity to experience the benefits of music.
Through our digital content, events, and collaborations, we reach thousands more, helping to combat social isolation and build stronger community connections. We use music as a tool to promote mental well-being, promote social cohesion and belonging. Our grassroots approach involves co-creating workshops and events directly with local communities, aligning with their specific needs, cultural contexts, and aspirations.
Regionally, we partner with local schools, care homes, and community centres to amplify the impact of our work, ensuring community-based programmes are far-reaching and inclusive. Nationally, we contribute to conversations on access and equity in instrumental music-making, advocating for systemic changes to make the lifelong benefits of music more accessible to all.
OUR VISION
Is for equitable access to learning, playing and performing on a musical instrument.
OUR APPROACH
Co-producing sustainable grassroots music-making spaces with marginalised communities
Collaborating on projects with local and regional arts organisations
Advocating at national levels with music-sector partners
OUR IMPACT
Is felt in the musical communities we have created in Leicester and Cumbria.
Members of Drum and Brass music groups develop not only musical skills but also confidence and strong identity.
meet the team
Julie Hoggarth
Photo by Leicester Lo-Fi, courtesy of No Bars
I am a passionate advocate for brass bands and experimental music. I currently live in Cumbria but have spent the last 30 years in Leicester.
My favourite kind of ensemble is one in which musicians come together with open minds and ears, no preconceptions and a minimal structure and just explore. I also hugely enjoy playing with brass bands. The big warm harmonies and gut-pounding rhythms are the embodiment of community music for me. I like unusual configurations of instruments or repertoire that test the boundaries a little (a lot).
I’m attracted by the concept of community music – bringing people together, celebrating something or other and the sum of the whole being better than its individual parts. If an ensemble has a sense of adventure and risk, I am attracted by that. I like a friendly atmosphere with a tea break and the sense that everyone is valued for what they bring.
I’m put off when there are unspoken rules, poor organisation, lack of clarity and competitiveness. There is a sort of socialist ideal in music ensembles. Being a team, working together to create something bigger than the individual, everyone having a valuable role to play.
Sim Seema Mistry
Photo by Nikhil Mistry
With 15 years experience working in education, I am an Artist, Community engagement advocate and I enjoy connecting people and creating safe spaces for growth.
Watching young people learn and thrive through music is one of my greatest joys. The idea of community music excites me—breaking down barriers and uniting people of all ages, races, and genders. There’s something magical about an ensemble coming together, breathing as one, and sharing a transformative experience. Music is all about connection, collaboration, and creativity, and I’m thrilled to be part of that journey.
Davina Vencatasamy
Davina is a qualified music therapist and a passionate advocate for equity of access in music. Over her 20 years as a professional musician she has seen how cuts to the music education provision in schools has meant that not everyone has access to music making opportunities and No Bars was Drum and Brass’ solution to this! She uses creative methods to teach and have fun with music and getting the young people to make their own music together.
2013
Pianist Mark Polishook introduces local musicians Julie Hoggarth and Hari Trivedi. They bring their respective music groups together: Julie’s Magna Music Band and Hari’s tabla students – to perform an ambitious piece – Terry Riley’s innovative “In C”. It’s the start of a partnership which continues to traverse risky territory with endless creative optimism.
2015
Julie and Hari form Drum and Brass CIC – registered on November 5th – to bring communities together through music.
2015
Drum and Brass receives Arts Council England to commission 3 original community-inspired compositions. The “Drum and Brass” project brings together musicians from Indian European and South American traditions, experimental composers and community audiences (full performance). With it, Drum and Brass sets its intention to do music differently.
2016
The start of a 4-year creative residency in Leicester’s prisons which includes an active role in DMU’s annual “Talent Unlocked” Festival and this year our Summer Music Week for young musicians is held at Gorse Hill Community Farm with contributions from trumpet player Gareth John and Saxophonist Marcus Joseph.
2017
Drum and Brass gets into its stride, delivering music and arts workshops with partners FTM Dance, Vista, Woodgate Residents Association and pursuing cross-genre collaborations, e.g. as part of TEDxLeicester and with the City of Leicester Singers
In this year we also receive Arts Council England funding to produce “Woodgate – the Musical” Performed at the Attenborough Centre and Curve Theatre, all songs and music are composed by the young cast. The creative team includes Marcus Joseph, Josie Lewis and Helen Butterworth.
2018
Participatory music-making residency at Leicester’s iconic New Walk Museum “A Beat of Time” is also funded by Arts Council England.
2021
Hari Trivedi achieves a long-held ambition, winning heritage Lottery funding to explore the origins of Indian Classical music in his “Prabandh” project.
2015
Mini Music has given hundreds of new carers and babies the best possible chance of lifelong wellbeing. Drawing on the value of music to develop language and promote carer-child bonding, we are very proud of this group, initiated by Drum and Brass’s Davina Vencatisamy.
2016
The Woodgate Band is our first inclusive orchestra. We welcome everyone through the doors and explore inclusive practice such as working from graphical scores, playing by ear and creating parts to suit individual players.
2017
The Brass of the Saff is formed – a community band that breaks down many myths around brass bands and receives attention from across the band world. Relocation of band leader Julie to Cumbria in 2019 sees the band moving into the hands of the LeicesterShire Music Hub.
2020
The No Bars Orchestra is formed in Leicester and opens a new era of instrumental playing by young people in the city.
2021
Melody Makers beginner brass group begins in Cumbria during the lockdown. With the first sessions online with 4 players (see photo), in 2023 it’s going strong with 13 members and 3 volunteer leaders. It marks the start of “Brass in Eden” – Drum and Brass’s Cumbrian programme.
As Covid recedes – where is Drum and Brass?
We have long since recognised that music is barred to many people in the communities we live and work in because of social and cultural expectations relating to e.g. gender, race and disability.
Experience has shown us that while society still assumes that instrumental playing is only for the white, straight middle class – the membership of our groups tells a different story. Our players represent all of society – despite the many barriers to doing so.
So we have put removal of those barriers at the heart of our work. This involves speaking out for underrepresented groups nationally and in 2022 we make this official policy.
March 2022
The “Doing Music Differently” conference puts Drum and Brass at the centre of conversations about inclusion in music and sets the course for our future.
We develop partnerships with Leicestershire Music so we can offer affordable after-school music provision. SteamPunk project adds STEM skills to D+B offer.
Partnering with the forward-looking Leicester Symphony Orchestra opens direct links for learners to high-quality mentoring and performance opportunities and partnering with Woodgate means we have an accessible venue which is rooted in our community.
And in Cumbria, strong partnerships with local charity Kirkby Stephen Silver Band and arts organisation Blue Jam enable us to establish 2 after-school music groups and two further learning groups.
Community voice, long since standard practice – is now D+B policy and in November 2022 we make it official with our Youth Board.
And now:
The past 8 years have been a tapestry of intense learning and creative experiences. We’ve come from being artists running a company to being a company that employs artists. We’ve helped our communities to make positive changes and we have learned the value of communities to our own wellbeing. We’ve opened the doors to music-making a little bit wider.
So here’s to the next 8 years.
By 2030 we want to see UK’s bands, orchestras and ensembles looking a whole lot more like our No Bars Orchestra. It won’t happen overnight. There are many barriers to overcome but we are fully committed.
