Musician Ben is backing future talent

IN action... Ben Conway conducts Scratch Brass

A FUNDRAISING concert in Manchester will be music to the ears of a charity working to help young musicians achieve their dreams.

Musician Ben Conway, from Royton, has organised the event at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) on Saturday in aid of Future Talent, a charity which gives financial support and guidance to young musicians who demonstrate outstanding musical ability or potential but do not have the financial means to reach their goal.

The charity was set up in 2004 by the Duchess of Kent after she recognised there were many children and young people of considerable talent who needed more financial support to fulfil their musical potential.

Ben decided to get involved and became an ambassador for the charity after winning the Future Talent Champion Bronze Award for Oldham in 2011 and going on to study at RNCM.

The 22-year old, who plays trumpet and piano, said: “Future Talent is a wonderful charity helping to support young musicians from low income backgrounds.

“Before the charity, a lot of talented musicians felt unable to follow a music education due to the cost.

“The charity recognised this and has been supporting young musicians to achieve their dreams.”

Ben also completed the Greater Manchester Marathon for the charity on April 10, despite picking up an injury 10 miles into the event.

He said: “It was tough and I didn’t finish the marathon as quickly as I was hoping but it hasn’t put me off doing another fundraising marathon run.

“I have always been keen to give back to people, organisations and charities for their work in helping me.”

The concert, conducted by Christopher Clark, will include performances by Martin James Bartlett (BBC Young Musician 2014), soprano Lynne Dawson, percussionist Le Yu, Future Talent Musicians, the RNCM Alumni Orchestra and world music group Project Jam Sandwich.

It will start at 7.30pm and tickets, costing £12, are available from the RNCM website with money raised going towards Future Talent’s mentoring, advice and bursary programme.

Ben added: “I don’t have a fundraising goal in mind, I just hope to raise as much as possible for the charity.”

For more information and tickets visit www.rncm.ac.uk/performance/future-talent-fundraising-gala/.