Remembering Colin Touchin

Young Sounds Named Awards are an incredible way to make sure that your story lives on through the lives of young musicians. Whether it’s a generous one-off donation or leaving a legacy in your will, you can associate your name with giving wonderful music to the world. 

Colin Touchin was a highly talented and widely respected musician. Although his main instrument was the clarinet, he made his name through conducting, composing, teaching and adjudicating. 

In 2023, his brother created The Colin Touchin Music Leadership Award to ensure that his exemplary record of leadership in music can serve to inspire young musicians today to develop their potential to be a leader in the music of the future. 

Colin’s brother, Malcolm, tells us how the award allows Colin’s legacy to live on.

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Continuing Colin’s legacy

“My brother, Colin, did much to promote music around the community, and I know he is fondly remembered in the many organisations with which he was associated. Such memories, however, will inevitably fade as organisations move on, and I wanted to establish some way to preserve his name and his legacy, even to build on it.

I thought about some sort of competition, or perhaps a scholarship, and trawled around many of the organisations and individuals who might wish to be involved in such a scheme. While welcoming the initiative, their general advice was to avoid the specific ideas I had, as they were likely to involve considerable effort for comparatively low return. In my search, however, I came across Young Sounds UK. The charity has helped thousands of youngsters, and is well supported by many significant names in music like its founding patron Sir Simon Rattle.

This seemed to me to be an ideal organisation through which to recognise Colin’s legacy, but I didn’t want simply to create another instrumental-based award. Colin really made his name through his leadership, conducting, guiding and organising people to play music together, as well as composing for them, and so what I felt would be most appropriate would be something to encourage and inspire leadership in music, something which, as I say, Colin demonstrated in spades and which, in any case, is really key to promoting music in all its forms around the community.

I hope this award will really inspire suitable youngsters to develop their skills in leading music in all its forms. Who knows – possibly a future director of music for Spires Music* might emerge, or even a future Simon Rattle.

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Abdullah’s Story

Colin’s award continues to transform the lives of young musicians, like 17-year-old Abdullah. 

Abdullah came to Young Sounds UK as a talented flute player, who demonstrated considerable enthusiasm for leading and organising music at his school. As a recipient of The Coulin Touchin Music Leadership Award, Abdullah was able to buy a new instrument and took part in a number of opportunities offered by the Young Sounds Thrive programme that opened his musical horizons, including attending our 2024 Orchestral Experience Event with the BBC at Maida Vale Studios.

“I am very grateful for the award, and I have been able to use it towards the purchase of a flute. This means that I have been able to continue my musical pursuits and be involved in exciting projects. Last year, I played for elderly residents in a care home, which was very fulfilling. Beyond that, I have played in lots of orchestras, including Cambridge University Wind Orchestra and City of Sheffield Youth Orchestra. I have also been involved in playing in the band for operettas as part of Cambridge University’s Gilbert and Sullivan Society.“

“I would like to thank Malcolm for helping me pursue my love for music into my adult life. I have recently gotten into musical directing myself to try to inspire the same passion for music in my peers, as well as tutoring GCSE music to support those younger than me. I look forward to what the future holds!“

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We would like to say a huge thank you to Malcolm and Colin for their generosity and support. With the support of the Colin Touchin Music Leadership Award, our Thrive participants will be able to take part in a conducting workshop in September 2025!

*Spires Music was founded in Coventry in 2005 by Colin Touchin to bring together amateur musicians and singers with support from a number of professional mentors. The organisation puts on a range of different concert events throughout the year.