NorthEast Music Opportunities CIC

Aim: Help North East Music Opportunities CIC provide free music making & learning opportunities to the people of the Northeast of England!

North East Music Opportunities CIC is a group focused on bringing enriched music-making opportunities to the people of the Northeast of England.  As professionals within the music industry and eco-system, it has become increasingly clear there are profoundly limited opportunities which are free to access and steeped in the authentic music-making traditions here in the Northeast.  Music education in schools has been categorically reduced and reduced over the last 15 years, to the point where the Northeast of England has some of the lowest numbers of students taking GSCE music and A level music exams in the country.  Hobbyist ensembles are having more and more difficulty recruiting for their groups.  The Northeast generates the lowest revenue in music tourism of anywhere in the UK. This is all tied to lack of opportunity to participate in music making in a valid and meaningful way throughout the region.

Playing music is a basic human right in our minds and all to often opportunities to make music are being limited through gatekeeping measures and lack of resources.  Playing in a band or singing in a choir which is authentic to its tradition, whether that's Jazz, Blues, Afro-Beat, Classical, or Northumbrian Folk music, or any other of the many traditions of music found within the Northeast, should be accessible for everyone.  Unfortunately there are limited options to play these styles of music and even more so to play these styles of music led/taught by experienced professional musicians and music directors.  NEMO CIC is trying to do something about this by offering free access to these types of ensembles.  We focus primarily on the most prevalent music traditions in England; Music of Black Origin.  This includes Jazz, Swing, Boogie Woogie, Hip Hop, Soul, R&B, Rock, Funk, Pop, Salsa, Mambo to name a few.  

Our goal is to create as many opportunities as we can.  Currently this includes our youth Jazz-based ensemble NEMO Groove Orchestra and the NEMO Vocal Ensemble.  To maintain these groups NEMO CIC needs financial help!  We need funds to provide space and equipment for our rehearsals and performances.  We also need funding for costs such as recruitment materials, instruments for our musicians to play, transportation costs, ethical payment of our educators to name but a few.  

All funds donated to NEMO CIC are used to provide consistent, professionally led, music-making opportunities for community and youth musicians who are interested in learning Music of Black Origin and engaging with other like-minded musicians.

If you care about the Arts, Music, and Music engagement in our community here is the perfect opportunity to contribute to an ongoing effort to improve music making options in the Northeast of England.

Partners

NEMO CIC works with varying organisations across the Northeast including:

• Northern Academy of Music Education
• Newcastle University
• Music Connects Sunderland  (part of the Northeast Music Hub)
• Pilgrim (music venue)
• The Rotary Club
• Sunderland Music City

NEMO Groove Orchestra & NEMO Vocal Ensemble:

NEMO Groove Orchestra is an instrumental band and NEMO Vocal Ensemble is a choir, both specialise in Jazz, Blues, Soul, Funk, Fusion, Boogie Woogie, R&B and many more styles of music!  These ensembles are for young musicians between the ages of 14-19.  

Rehearsals take place weekly at Northern Academy of Music Education and focus on learning the craft of these incredible musical traditions.  These groups are immersed in skill building and engaging in the inherent social nature of Music of Black Origin.

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 18th August 2025 at 7:16pm