Case Study: Empowering Young Voices through Music and Creativity at King's Cross Summer Sounds

In August 2024, Arts Trust & King’s Cross Summer Sounds, in partnership with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO), delivered an inspiring summer program for young people in the King's Cross area. This initiative, culminating in a performance at Coal Drops Yard as part of the King's Cross Summer Sounds Festival, was designed to offer creative opportunities to young people from underrepresented communities. It allowed them to express their identity and experiences through music and spoken word, empowering them to grow in confidence and creativity.

Objectives

Expand Opportunities: To provide young people in King's Cross and surrounding areas with access to the cultural wealth and opportunities the area offers.
Build Confidence: To help young participants develop confidence in music-making and their own creativity.
Create Original Work: To enable young people to compose and perform original pieces inspired by themes of identity and self-expression.

ProgramME Highlights

The First Time Jazz Schools Tour was the project's initial step, reaching over 600 students across five schools in Camden and Islington. This tour introduced many students to jazz for the first time, sparking interest in music through performances that integrated storytelling and personal journeys from the NYJO quartet members. Students were encouraged to participate, and peer mentors played an active role in engaging the audience.

Following the tour, 11 young people were selected to participate in a 5-day summer school led by jazz artist Shantéh and spoken word artist Milli-Rose Rubin. The summer school focused on creative writing, lyric composition, and music-making, with participants developing their own performance pieces. The nurturing environment fostered confidence and allowed the young people to explore new ways of expressing their identities.

The summer school culminated in a powerful performance at King’s Cross Summer Sounds, where the participants showcased their original work with live musical accompaniment from NYJO musicians. For many, this was their first time performing in public, marking a significant milestone in their artistic journeys.

Outcomes

Diverse Representation: The participants reflected the diversity of the King's Cross area, with 63.6% identifying as female and over 90% identifying as Black, Asian, or Mixed-race. Nine out of the eleven participants were recipients of free school meals, highlighting the program’s success in reaching underrepresented groups.
Increased Confidence: At the start of the program, participants rated their confidence in their creativity at an average of 4.67 out of 10. By the end, this number had risen to 7.71, reflecting a significant boost in self-belief. Similarly, confidence in songwriting grew from 4.67 to 6.43.
Cultural Expression: The young people's final performances were deeply personal, drawing from their experiences of growing up in London, grappling with identity, and expressing their hopes for the future. Their words, such as “My London is ghetto and nice” and “All I need is to believe in myself,” captured the essence of their creative journeys.

Challenges and Lessons Learned

While the project was an overall success, there were lessons to be learned. The young participants felt rushed during their soundcheck and final performance, leading the team to reflect on whether a large festival stage was the best setting for such a personal and sensitive project. For future iterations, the team plans to explore other final outcomes, such as producing a video to better capture the creative process and performances.

Legacy and Future Plans

NYJO & Arts Trust are committed to building on the strong local connections established during this project. Plans are underway to continue supporting the participants, including potential collaborations with local radio and Story Garden to amplify the young people's voices. Furthermore, the project team is exploring funding opportunities to record the participants’ work for an EP, ensuring their achievements live on beyond the summer school.

Ultimately, the project not only allowed young people to express themselves creatively but also inspired them to believe in their own potential. As one participant beautifully stated, "All I need is to believe in myself."

Conclusion

The King's Cross Summer Sounds project exemplifies the power of music and the arts to transform young lives. By providing a safe and supportive environment, Arts Trust Productions and NYJO helped young people from diverse backgrounds discover their creative voices and gain confidence in their abilities. This project serves as a model for future initiatives, aiming to inspire and empower even more young people through the arts.