The Music Man Project is deeply honoured to work in partnership with His Majesty’s Royal Marines Band Service. The collaboration was established in 2021 by Music Man Project patron, the Rt. Hon. Penny Mordaunt MP, David Stanley BEM and former Director of Music for the Royal Marines, Lt. Col. Jason Burcham. Nurtured and developed by The Music Man Project Global Ambassadors, the ongoing musical partnership is the first in the history of the Royal Marines Band Service, connecting elite military musicians and people with learning-disabilities through the universal language of music. Joint activities have so far included:
- Top-10 Christmas Single “Music is Magic” (2022)
- Portsmouth Guildhall Christmas Concert (2022)
- Performance Tour of London Train Stations for the Royal Navy Charities (2022)
- Appearances on BBC1, ITV and Sky News (2022-)
- Painted Hall, Royal Naval College, Greenwich (2022, 2023)
- San Diego, USA Tour (2023)
- Mountbatten Festival of Music at the Royal Albert Hall (2023)
- Deal Memorial Bandstand (2023)
- Team Lewis Summer Festival, Westminster (2023)
- UK Tour of 5 cities (2023)
- Music is Magic Massed Music Man Project Concert at the Royal Albert Hall (2024)
In the words of Lt Hannah Trudgeon RM…
“In March 22 I was invited by the then Principal Director of Music, Lt Col Jase Burcham, to meet Mr David Stanley BEM, at the annual Mountbatten Festival of Music. I was very excited to hear conversations about potential ideas for collaboration between The Music Man Project and The Royal Marines Band. In true old-fashioned military style, that was my cue to ‘Make it so!’
David invited me to spend the day with the project in Southend and what a day it was! From the moment I walked through the door, cup of tea instantly thrust into my hand, I was welcomed by faces and hearts of pure joy and happiness. Introductory songs and dances followed, allowing each individual to express themselves; glockenspiels, hand-bells and drums were played; a resident DJ spinning the decks, David and his band playing, ensuring the music flowed. It soon became apparent I wasn’t there to ‘watch’- I was there to fully experience the enthusiastic and uninhibited singing and dancing.
David and I chatted through several potential collaboration plans including a Christmas single. A huge thank you must go to Team Lewis, Andy Deacon of Zen Broadcast, Capt Pete Woffenden RM, Maj Sam Hairsine RM and CSgt Darren Pattison, for the timely planning that made this happen. Recorded in May 22, the single ‘Music is Magic’ was released in time for Christmas, reaching the top 10 of the iTunes Download chart. If this was just the start of things to come, what an opener! I felt privileged to join David and Music Man Project Global Ambassador Wendy, live on Sky TV to promote not only the single, but the importance of this special collaboration that we were embarking on, focussed on the unity and celebration that music can bring.”
“The opportunities to perform together have been remarkable. A Massed Royal Marine Bands and Music Man Project concert performance of the Christmas single covered on BBC1 Breakfast; a tour to San Diego with Team Lewis, RM Band Commando Training Centre and the global ambassadors, which included a performance on board the USS Midway and at a local hospital; and in March 23 the Massed Bands and the Ambassadors performed to a capacity Royal Albert Hall over three performances, each receiving standing ovations, in front of The King. I was able to witness one of these magical performances, and the sense of pride was overwhelming; seeing musicians of The Music Man Project and The Royal Marines Band Service come together to perform with heartfelt emotion and musicianship. The language of music has no boundaries!
Such is the nature of the wonderful David Stanley and The Music Man Project family, that they gave up their time to tour London Train Stations, singing to raise money for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity; in addition to joining the Royal Marines Band on their UK concert tour, a performance at the Painted Hall, Greenwich, and in Deal, at the extremely poignant annual Royal Marines Memorial Concert; all of which featured mesmerising performances of Music Man Project repertoire.
The impact of this unique collaboration has reached far and wide – not only in terms of audience members at the numerous concerts and dinners, or watching the ITV, Sky and BBC coverage that it has attracted; but the long-lasting impact on individuals’ wellbeing and positivity, both in The Music Man Project and the Royal Marines Band. The power of music to communicate without the need for words and where disability is not an obstacle, is a breath-taking and moving experience to be a part of.
From the first time The Music Man Project visited us at the Collingwood Band in Hampshire, the effect on members of the band was hugely evident. “Best day in work”, “Inspirational” and “Magical”, were just some of the words used. This has transpired around the whole Royal Marines Band Service, as The Music Man Project have now worked with all of the five Royal Marines Bands, sharing their warmth, energy and joy with everyone they meet.”
