The Young Leader Award is sponsored by Clintons
Clintons is a market leading boutique law firm which has been representing many of the world’s highest profile musicians and entertainers for over 60 years. They support emerging talent as well as musicians at the peak of their careers and are delighted to support the Youth Music Awards.
For a young person who has demonstrated great leadership skills as a project participant.
WINNER
David Coke, Heart n Soul
Do Your Own Thing, London
David Coke has been a part of the Heart n Soul community since he was 10. In that time he has been a valued member, both as a musician and a leader. He began as a participant at the Youth Music funded programme, Do Your Own Thing. Last year he hosted Heart n Soul's flagship youth event, Squidz Club, making him an important role model for the 200+ young people who attended. His leadership and skills translated into him applying to work with Heart n Soul at the Hub in 2018, and now he's a valued member of the staff team.
David is a young man with a learning disability and a passion for music. He plays music and supports his peers by taking a role as an MC and host and playing drums for participants at the programme. He improvises live with the London Symphony Orchestra, where his drumming held the track and supported every other musician.
Kobe Francis, The Music Works
Knife Angel/Upsurge/Music for Mental Health, South West
Having experience of a near fatal stabbing, Kobe played an instrumental role in leading a group of highly vulnerable young people to engage with the Knife Angel project through support with writing, developing an album and marketing.
Originally, Kobe was into dance but after meeting Malaki (Artistic Director of The Music Works) became interested in producing. He decided to train as an engineer and then went onto our Creative Development programme. Through this programme he began to explore other elements of the music industry, developing a love for and talent of PR and marketing for emerging artists and music organisations. In the last year he has set up his own artist development PR business and has just secured enough work that he has been able to give up his part-time job. He has mentored over 20 young people through artist development. and his support has seen growth in their reach of up to 500%.
His end goal is to "give back and invest in people who are talented but who don't have the chances to develop. Last year, Kobe became a young ambassador for the VCSE strategic partnership, influencing the Integrated Care Partnership. He particularly wanted to advocate for young people from diverse ethnic backgrounds with mental health challenges, showing how music can make a difference. His leadership work on this Board is beginning to make real changes in the health system in the county and the way they approach things.
Manon Molyneux, The Music Works
Key Changes, IncDrop, Music Social, Studio Engineering Programme, The Drop, Foundation House, DJ Collectives, Soundabout Choir, Upsurge , South West
At 23 years old, Manon's role at The Music Works finds her working with young people from challenging circumstances that might otherwise face barriers accessing music. This includes young people with SEN/D or from supported living environments, young people in care, young offenders or those at risk of offending, young people from mixed ethnicity or Black communities, and young people in social poverty. Manon's approach to her work is to listen and engage with young people, to be on their level and understand what creative outlets that person is looking for. Whether in the studio making beats or recording vocals, to in the rehearsal room or on the stage, when practicing or performing their songs, she regularly supports over 100 young people a week who have a variety of challenges and needs and she adapts her approach to meet each individual.
When Manon came to The Music Works as a Kickstart position in autumn 2021 as a junior music leader and sound engineer, she impressed so much over the 6 month scheme that she was offered a full-time permanent contract. Despite the barriers to accessing music, she is a grade 8 pianist with an ear to instantly accompany any performer. She's a recording studio engineer and has a vast knowledge of industry standard plugins and recording and mixing workflows for a variety of music. She is incredibly passionate about making the change and improving representation for young females to aspire to be the next Sylvia Massey or B.