International Friendship Day with Young Sounds UK

Posted 7 months ago

Music is often a shared experience, so it’s no wonder that it’s at the root of friendships all over the world. From playing with ensembles and bands, to sharing musical interests with others online, music can help so many friendships blossom!

To celebrate International Friendship Day (30 July), the Young Sounds UK team share the treasured friendships they have made through the power of music.

Matthew – Marketing and Communications Manager

Pictured: Matthew and his friends at their drummer’s wedding in 2017, making cases for their EP in 2014, and performing live in 2011.

“Music is the glue to almost all of my friendships! Most of my closest friends come from my time studying Music Tech at Portsmouth College. I had done a year prior at another college but I was advised to leave their music tech course after a week as I had no formal music education. I focused on other studies which I was less passionate about, becoming withdrawn and lonely. I heard Portsmouth College had just started a Music Tech course so I decided to give it a shot. The next two years genuinely changed my life and got me back on my musical journey, this time with a group of friends. We don’t play music as much as we’d like these days but we still attend gigs together and more importantly weddings, holidays and all the other celebrations that come with growing up.”

Neil – Connect Programme Director

Neil over the years in his bands, and recently with Dave in Hong Kong.

“In a previous life I used to tour and record professionally in rock bands. I met many people, all over the world, and made many memories. I’m still in touch with a handful – friendships that were started by music but became about even more. This is Dave Kerr from Glasgow. We have toured together many times, in many different bands and we still speak regularly. I even visited him and his family in Hong Kong (see photo) a few years back. I know that we’ll end up making music together again one day, and will remain close buddies no matter what.”

Beth – Marketing and Communications Assistant

Beth with her best friend Jen and fiancé Matt across the years – graduating in 2022, at End of The Road Festival in 2024, and playing music together in Liverpool.

“I’m so lucky to have made most of my friends through a shared love of music! We love going to gigs, recording and playing together in each other’s bands. I met a lot of my friends through the amazing music scene in Liverpool, where I went to study music. My best friend Jen and I hit it off on the open day before we had left school, and 7 years later we still hang out almost every day and love playing music together!”

Jess – Events Director

Jess with her musical “second family”.

“As a professional cellist for over 20 years I have made countless friendships with musicians all over the world. Starting from all the way back when I played in my first local music competition and joined the local music service, the friendships I’ve been blessed with along the way are now so much more – they are my second family!”

Have you made any friends through the power of music? Let us know!

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