Jenny Hitchcock has supported David Stanley and the music students since 2004 when, as his music student at Eastwood School, she volunteered at the Southend Mencap Music School. Jenny has played for many theatrical performances, including Fame and Joseph and provided sound technician services for other productions and events. She attended a primary education course at Roehampton University and at the same time continued to use her music to inspire students at Southend Mencap and at local Primary Schools, Special Schools and through her Guiding unit’s programme.
On leaving Roehampton Jenny was employed at St George’s Catholic Primary School as a Special Needs teaching assistant where she worked one to one with a child with autism. She ran several after-school music clubs with children of varying ages and abilities. She also supported Nativity, Easter and end of year performances, working particularly on voice projection and with small singing groups as well as accompanying class assemblies on the piano. As a result of this experience and unwavering commitment to the charity of over many years, Jenny became a member of staff at the Southend Mencap Music School in 2008 and then David’s teaching assistant at the commencement of the full-time Music Man Project in 2012.
Jenny progressed to music tutor in 2013 and, following the expansion of the music service to other regions, became the Regional Director for Southend in 2015. As the only other full-time employee at The Music Man Project, Jenny has been an integral part of every aspect of The Music Man Project’s growth and development since its inception. She is a teacher, lyricist, performer and assistant producer for large-scale concerts. Her ever-expanding role also involves various fundraising activities and unique performance and teaching experiences, including two visits in the past two years to The Music Man Project at Sizanani Children’s Home and surrounding townships in South Africa. She continues to play a pivotal role in nurturing this ongoing relationship through her fundraising and support of their teaching staff. In her own words, every time she visits she leaves a little piece of her heart behind.
