Pyramid shortlisted for Northern Music Award
Leeds-based arts charity Pyramid has been shortlisted for the Flare Audio Music and Culture for Wellbeing Award at this year’s Northern Music Awards sponsored by Ticketmaster and Live Nation, hosted by music therapy charity, Nordoff and Robbins.
Pyramid invests in people with a learning disability, autism, or both, through the discovery, development and disruption of the arts. Its goal is to help people discover the arts and develop their talents to become world-class artists by disrupting the social and institutional barriers that prevent them from being recognised, supported and celebrated.
Pyramid does this through collaborative art groups, including a programme for people with profound and multiple learning disabilities, as well as providing one-on-one creative support and professional development opportunities. Find out more about Pyramid here.
High Rise Music, Pyramid’s weekly group for people with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD), is in the running for this prestigious award which aims to celebrate groups that use music, arts and culture to support people with health, wellbeing and socio-economic issues.
James Hill, Director of Pyramid, said: “We’re very proud to see our High Rise Music Group shortlisted for the Flare Audio Music and Culture for Wellbeing Award at this year’s Northern Music Awards. High Rise has, for over fifteen years, enabled people with PMLD discover the joy of performing and co-producing music.
High Rise supports people, irrespective of abilities or disabilities, to come together to create new and innovative music. Its members regularly work with professional musicians and have previously collaborated with Opera North and the Leeds Lieder Festival. The group have also produced many original musicals which have been performed in venues across Leeds. It’s great to see this talented group get the spotlight they deserve.”
Sandy Trappitt, Director of Fundraising, Nordoff and Robbins, said: “At Nordoff and Robbins, our music therapists use the power of music to help people across the UK connect, communicate and truly express themselves.
We included the Music and Culture for Wellbeing award as part of the Northern Music Awards, alongside our artist and industry honours, to shine a light on some amazing Northern organisations who embed creativity into their health provision. The nominations we received this year were inspiring and we look forward to announcing the winner on the night.”
The High Rise Music Group has ambitious plans to share its message of inclusivity and joy in its most recent collaboration with Leeds Lieder Festival, entitled ‘Happiness, a sharing’. The group will perform work inspired by the theme of happiness, co-produced with Leeds Lieder musicians, at an intimate concert at Archive in Leeds on Friday 4 April from 10am to 12pm. For more details and to book tickets, visit the website here.
Pyramid’s High Rise Music Group is one of six shortlisted organisations for the Flare Audio Music and Culture for Wellbeing Award. The winner will be announced at this year’s Northern Music Awards ceremony, taking place on Thursday 27 March at Liverpool Olympia.
The event also features performances from Blossoms, Lightning Seeds, The Zutons, Luvcat, Chiedu Oraka and very special guest, Dr John Cooper Clarke.
Tickets are available for purchase online, with prices starting at £40 + £1 venue restoration levy.