“Music has become so prominent in my life that without it I wouldn’t know what to do.”

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This week (Tuesday 30 November – Tuesday 7 December) we’re taking part in the Big Give Christmas Challenge. 

Through the week, we’re going to share seven stories of what music means to seven young musicians we’ve supported. By the end of the week the themes of these stories will have together spelled BIG GIVE. Today is day two, and our theme is the letter “I”.  We’d like to you to meet 14 year old violinist Casey-Joan, who loves to improvise on the violin.

AYM has been supporting Casey’s music-making for two years, however we only discovered what a brilliant jazz musician she is quite recently, when she took part in an online master class with AYM Patron Thomas Gould. She says:

“Playing violin is like my first language. I like jazz and improvising because it allows me to be free, relaxed and have fun, even though I also play classical and that is fun too. In jazz it’s nice to be able to personalise the music and let my solos take inspiration from others playing around me.”

Casey-Joan also recently performed in a jazz trio at our online autumn concert, along with fellow Award winner, 16 year old trombonist Elijah and AYM Alumnus and Patron, Deschanel Gordon, BBC Young Jazz Musician 2020.

If you would like to support more young musicians like Casey on their own unique musical journeys, please donate this week during the Big Give Christmas Challenge. We’re raising £70,000 to support talented young musicians through our Awards programme. Donations made during the Big Give Christmas Challenge can be doubled, meaning your donation will have twice its impact! Thank you.

If you have any questions about fundraising, feel free to get in touch with AYM’s Development Manager, Sanpreet Janjua: 

Tel: 0300 302 3422

Email: [email protected]