The Music Man Project in New York: Part 2 - The Adventure Begins
PART 2 – The Adventure Begins
After all the drama of cancelled flights, visa uncertainty and an anxious encounter with US border control, we had finally made it! The Music Man Project was in New York!
Thankfully, Daniel quickly recovered from his upsetting experience at immigration. In fact, not even being accidentally tipped out of his wheelchair by another parent could dampen his spirits! Meanwhile, one parent was nursing a sore hamstring, and our Chair of Trustees was battling a raging toothache. But after everything we had been through, it seemed that nothing was going to stop us from enjoying everything the entertainment capital of the world had to offer.
And enjoy it they certainly did!
Over the following days, I was thrilled to see how enthusiastically our musicians and their families embraced the city that never sleeps. Between them, they seemed determined to experience every famous landmark New York had to offer!
The Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Central Park, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, Broadway theatre shows and countless other adventures. Everywhere I looked, there were photographs of smiling faces, iconic sights and wonderful memories being made.
Some of our musicians even joined in with a performer on the New York Subway! It made his day!
For many of our Global Ambassadors, simply being in New York, experiencing its sights and sounds, meeting new people and sharing these adventures with their friends was an achievement in itself. Already, New York was welcoming The Music Man Project Global Ambassadors with open arms. And we hadn't even sung or played a note yet!
Our travelling party of more than 60 people included 16 Music Man Project Global Ambassadors, each accompanied by family relatives, plus 10 backing singers, nine band members, technicians and charity trustees.
I knew our students and their families extremely well and had deliberately chosen performers who had already travelled extensively with me, both nationally and internationally. I was completely blown away by their stamina, patience, resilience and professionalism.
Travelling thousands of miles to an unfamiliar city, meeting new people, exploring new places and preparing to perform on two of the world's most prestigious stages represented our greatest challenge yet.
But they took it all in their stride.
They never complained. They never stopped. They never faltered. Two years of rehearsals, preparation and sheer hard work had paid off spectacularly. In fact, they exceeded even my expectations!
What impressed me most was the way they conducted themselves throughout the entire adventure. Their kindness, enthusiasm, good humour and determination were an inspiration to everyone they met. They were wonderful ambassadors, not only for The Music Man Project, but for their families, their communities and their country.
And speaking of families, I cannot begin to express my gratitude to the parents, siblings and relatives who made this achievement possible. Their unwavering support, belief in my vision for The Music Man Project and willingness to embrace our seemingly impossible New York dream meant more to me than words can express.
For years, they had encouraged their loved ones, supported their musical development, celebrated their achievements and trusted me to take them on adventures that few people could ever have imagined. Without that love, encouragement and guidance, our musicians would never have become the Broadway stars they are today. Their families believed in me. They embraced my dreams, and together we achieved something truly remarkable.
As I watched our Global Ambassadors enjoying New York, I realised that this historic moment wasn't simply the result of 18 months of fundraising. It was the culmination of more than 20 years of careful nurturing, confidence-building, patience and belief. It was the countless rehearsals, the small performances, the first tentative steps onto a stage and the gradual discovery of talents that might otherwise have remained hidden.
It was my decision to say yes to every opportunity, however small, in the hope that one day it might lead to something greater. It was the kindness and generosity of the wonderful people I met along the way. The thousands upon thousands of hours freely given by volunteers, supporters, families and friends, without whom an adventure of this scale would never have been financially possible. It was the unwavering belief that people with learning disabilities deserved the same opportunities to dream, achieve and perform on the world's greatest stages as anyone else.
Broadway hadn't happened overnight. It had taken more than a quarter of a century.
After 27 years, I was delighted to share our New York adventure with some of the wonderful people who had helped make this dream possible.
On guitar in the band was the musical genius, Al Steele, our long-standing arranger whose exceptional talent has helped shape the distinctive sound of The Music Man Project. Our wonderful photographer, Jon Webber, swapped his camera for a bass guitar, performing alongside his daughter Sarah on flute.
It was also incredibly fitting that Captain Phil Trudgeon played drums and Captain Hannah Trudgeon played the keyboard. These two exceptional musicians are at the heart of our groundbreaking partnership with His Majesty's Royal Marines Band Service.
Our backing vocalists included Stuart Woolner and Joe Palmer, who performed at our London Palladium and Royal Albert Hall productions alongside members of Southend Vox, a choir whose unwavering support had enriched our concerts for an incredible 17 years.
I was also thrilled that my longest-serving carer, the wonderful "Auntie" Ann Randal, could join us. Her loyalty and dedication have been such an important part of our journey since the earliest days of our original Saturday music school.
And, of course, the Music Lady herself, Jenny Pittkin. Jenny's own story is a perfect illustration of everything The Music Man Project represents. Once a student of mine at school, she became a volunteer and eventually the ‘Music Lady’, helping to inspire and support a new generation of musicians.
Everywhere I looked, there were familiar faces, shared memories and friendships forged through years of making music together.
These weren't simply musicians, singers, carers, volunteers and supporters who had travelled thousands of miles to perform in New York.
They were the people who had helped us get there.
After all those years of believing, encouraging, rehearsing and volunteering, we were finally going to share the greatest stage of our lives.
Together.
We weren't just a company of performers. We were one great big Music Man family.
And now, after 27 years, that family was about to take Broadway by storm!
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