Musequality was able to source and supply a euphonium, adding a rich mellow tone to the band’s sound
Music Projects
A vision for the future
Elgon Youth Brass Band, Mbale, Uganda
Fredrick Kyewalyanga couldn’t afford the stamps to post us the form applying for funding for a new brass band he wanted to start in the town of Mbale, eastern Uganda. He got someone travelling to London to deliver it by hand.
In the meantime, he scraped together instruments and began to set up his band. Thanks to a generous donation from The Girdlers' Company, Musequality was able to help him buy marching drums, two sousaphones and other instruments. We are also covering staff costs and rent at the building acquired to house the players.
The band is making excellent progress and has already given concerts. They participated in the 2011 World Busk, and an audience in rain-soaked London was able to listen to their playing from sunny Mbale via a phone link-up.
A total of 118 children and young people are currently involved, which has created an urgent need for more instruments. Musequality is seeking an affordable source of trumpets, tenor horns, euphoniums, baritones and trombones for the band.
In a bid to make the project more self-sustaining, a quarter of EYBB’s budget this year is being invested in developing income-generating skills, including hairdressing and art and design work. Musequality is funding these activities through a grant made to us by a charity focused on helping disadvantaged children in Uganda find work.
Fredrick Kyewalyanga is also actively seeking additional sponsors for 2012 to help meet the costs of food, clothing, rent, medical care and school fees.
‘Ever since Musequality started paying for the house where the needy/street children sleep now, life for these kids at Elgon Youth Brass Band has changed. No more sleeping on the streets. I wish you were here to see the joy they have now.’ Fredrick Kyewalyanga