We are absolutely thrilled to support The Leadmill Studio Orchestra Project through our latest round of funding! This incredible initiative brings together grassroots youth music, classical arrangement, and legendary live performance. By connecting marginalised young people with professional mentors, the project breaks down barriers to the arts and gives underrepresented voices a massive platform to shine.
The Leadmill Studio Orchestra project is a collaborative music initiative designed to connect young people in South Yorkshire with professional musicians. The project brings together TRACKS—a Sheffield-based charity delivering trauma-informed alternative education for marginalised young people facing significant barriers (such as poverty, school exclusion, unstable housing, and SEND)—with the Sheffield Philharmonic Orchestra, led by internationally renowned Musical Director and conductor George Morton. The Sheffield Music School and Sheffield Music Hub Senior Orchestra also join the mix, creating cross-genre and intergenerational musical connections. Through free, structured workshops, young artists from TRACKS collaborate with these professional musicians to translate their original songs into stunning, full-scale orchestral arrangements.
This project primarily supports marginalised young people aged 14 to 25 who face social and economic disadvantages. By combining grassroots youth work with high-level artistic collaboration, it demonstrates how creativity can be a powerful tool for social impact, opening up opportunities and giving those who are too often excluded a platform to thrive. Through this experience, participants develop technical skills in songwriting and recording, build vital life skills like confidence and resilience, and discover genuine pathways into further education or employment within the creative industries through TRACKS: The Label.
All of the hard work, rehearsals, and collaboration culminate in a massive, life-changing moment. On Saturday 25th July, the participants will take to the Tramlines Sarah Nulty Main Stage to perform their original music alongside the live orchestra. This provides a rare, high-profile platform for young people who would otherwise not have access to mainstream cultural spaces.
At the Sarah Nulty Power of Music Foundation, we believe that music has the power to transform lives, build communities, and heal. The Leadmill Studio Orchestra Project perfectly embodies Sarah’s legacy—bringing people together, championing local talent, and making sure everyone, regardless of their background, gets their moment in the spotlight. We cannot wait to see them rock the Main Stage!