Following the death of composer Dr Richard Shephard in 2021, the Foundation was established with the mission of ‘bringing the experience and enjoyment of music to children and young people in Yorkshire and beyond’. The Foundation’s schools programme focuses largely on primary schools in disadvantaged or isolated communities.
As well as improving musical knowledge, evidence to support the positive impact of music education is overwhelming. Reported benefits include:
Positive impacts on cognitive skills (1)
Supporting language development (2)
Improved social and emotional Development (3)
Positive impacts on cognitive skills (1) Supporting language development (2) Improved social and emotional Development (3)
Over the past five years, the Foundation has provided weekly music lessons for over 13,334 children across York, North Yorkshire, and the North East.
5,490 children have attended our free events such as our annual Make Music Day
and we’ve supported the recruitment and training of over 15 musicians as primary music specialists.
We’ve attracted and invested over £1.5million in charitable income into music education in the region.
Read our latest Impact Report here
What difference does the school programme make?
Each year, we ask school leaders, teachers and support staff across our schools:
94% felt their pupils' mental & emotional wellbeing was improved
99% felt their pupils were more confident
92% felt their pupils' aspirations were increased
99% felt their pupils' musical knowledge was improved
94% felt their school's standard of music teaching had improved.
“It’s been a fantastic first year and we can’t wait to continue the journey with you! It’s had a huge impact on our music provision and we can see this through the way in which pupils talk about their music knowledge and skills. Thank you.”
The Principal, Easterside Academy, Middlesbrough
This work would not have been possible without the vision of the composer and educator, the late Dr Richard Shephard, the donors that have generously supported the Foundation in his memory, and the schools that have joined the programme.
References
1 - Giovanni Sala and Fernand Gobet. Cognitive and academic benefits of music training with children: A multilevel meta-analysis. Memory and Cognition, 2020. 2 - Tierney A, Kraus N. Music training for the development of reading skills. 3 - Schellenberg E, Corrigall KA, Dys SP, Malti T. Group music training and children’s prosocial skills. 
York Minster, Richard Shephard Music Foundation