Pro Corda is soon approaching its 50th anniversary for the musical service of its charity to less abled children including autism, learning difficulties, behavioural difficulties, those with ADHD, movement and motor difficulties and wheelchair users.
The charity was founded in 1969 by two teachers, Elizabeth Hewlins MBE and Pamela Spofforth MBE. They found that there was a lack of specialism in chamber music in youth music education at the time. The charity was founded and set up in Suffolk.
The wider educational benefits of working together collaboratively in small groups towards the study and performance of chamber music repertoire would make a positive impact on the young musicians they work with - not just musically but also socially and educationally.
Alex Redington, who plays the violin (part of Doric Quartet) shared how Pro Corda will always have a special place in his heart due to the founding of the quartet:
"It is a huge honour for us to become the Patron Quartet of Pro Corda. It was here that the Doric String Quartet was formed twenty years ago and where our common love for chamber music was born and nurtured over many years."
The charity works hard posting regular updates and opportunities to Twitter to help all people involved and invites anyone who wishes to make a difference to younger, less abled children. This also helps them gain recognition in order to raise a larger sum for their funding.
Pro Corda applies the ethos of producing music with passion today across all their activities. The two founders initially based their activity from their respective homes but bought the Leiston Abbey site in 1977 when it came up for sale. Pro Corda has been based at the site since allowing the charity to hold residential activity throughout the year.
Key achievements contained within the charity include their SEND programme which has featured on BBC Children in Need, they are the only youth music organisation to allocate equal course and workshop time to its outreach work with young people with additional needs, they have regular coverage on BBC Radio 3, articles in Classical Music Magazineand Rhinegold publications, conduct national concerts at Wigmore Hall, St George Smith Square, Wales Millenium Centre, Leeds College of Music and others and also were featured at Chelsea Flower Show in 2016 with an autism friendly garden based around music and the beauty and tranquility of Pro Corda's Leiston Abbey site.
Parent of a graduating Pro Corda student says: "She would not be the person she is today without the experiences she was lucky enough to have had at Pro Corda.
""You have opened doors for him, which has enabled him to get going on to the next stage.”
In addition to the obvious musical benefits they try to maximise the wider educational benefits such as enhancing communication and social skills, building confidence, instilling team play as well as encouraging leadership, spontaneity and taking responsibility.
Andrew Quartermain, CEO and Artistic Director of the organisation says:
"We work with around 2,500 young people each year from across the country. We apply the same training ethos (working together musically in small ensembles) to our work with young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) as to students on our 'core programme'.
“We raise money each year for specific projects - these include the SEND programme, bursaries, site development etc but as we approach the 50th anniversary year, we're looking to maximise donations to the full effect so we're looking to engage everyone with an interest in youth music education to help us in making a difference for the next generation of students who can benefit.
“In the 50th anniversary year, we're going to hold 50 concerts and events across the year and around the country to celebrate and get the word out about Pro Corda and encourage as much engagement as possible."
Pro Corda's strand of SEND activity started in 2006 with special schools across the country and this has grown significantly since to now become the UK's largest residential music course programme for this particular education sector.
Jonathan Hodgson, Assistant Director & Artistic Director of Concerts says:
"We work to develop the whole person in a rounded and level headed way as well as the young musician.
“This applies for all the young people we work with on all musical programmes. Alumni include international conductors and musicians including George G who was one of the rickshaw challenge riders in 2016's BBC Children in Need who went on to collectively raise £4,000 for BBC CiN).
“Also Sheku Kanneh-Mason who won BBC Young Musician of the Year 2017. And many other non-musicians who go on to other professions.
