music education charity keys of Change help form a brass band in Equador

Keys of Change continues to harness the power of music to change the world

May 03, 2022

Global Covid-19 restrictions and lock downs have not stopped our music education charity, Keys of Change, bringing music into the lives of some of the world's most vulnerable children.

"We just found creative ways to keep delivering the music education we are committed to," said the charity's founder Panos Karan. "to create performance opportunities in the rare places where this was possible, and to continue to inspire young people around the world with music."

Panos is an internationally-renowned concert pianist, who - alongside his tireless work and travel for Keys of Change - continues to perform on stages around the world.

In Chennai, Oaxaca and Accra the charity has continued with its daily online music classes and rehearsals. While in the mountains of Ecuador, it has helped found a new brass band, supplying instruments and now in situ music teachers for the young 20-strong ensemble; none of whom had ever picked up an instrument before.

In Fukushima, Japan, the Youth Sinfonietta founded by Keys of Change created an emotional documentary to commemorate 10 years since the disaster and their inception. They then performed an electrifying concert in the heart of Tokyo immediately after the Olympic Games.

While in Ghana, the charity now have long term volunteers who are helping support the Youth Sinfonietta Orchestra which was founded there in 2019.

Panos added: "We are also particularly proud to have supported the creation of the World Youth Sinfonietta, where young musicians from five corners of the world, most of whom had never met each other before, came together to make music in a spirit of unity, determination and hope. In 2020 and 2021.

"The value of music has perhaps been appreciated by people all around the world more than ever before. For some, online music lessons and rehearsals have sometimes provided the only opportunity for young people to move away for the harsh realities around them."