Changing lives through creativity - How music and the arts can support vulnerable people in our communities
Matt Salvage
Director, Soco Music Project
From piano to iPad via tuba and guitar, Matt has always been around music. After training as a sound engineer and developing music technology for schools in London, Matt returned to his hometown of Southampton to find the landscape for aspiring contemporary musicians sparse. SoCo came out of a passion to provide inspirational music making opportunities for everyone, especially those facing challenging circumstances.
SoCo Music Project has been delivering engaging and inspirational music making activities since 2008. They believe everyone has the right to take part in music making, no matter what your ability, age, background or circumstances.
SoCo splits its work into two areas: Engage and Elevate. Engage consists of supported music making for children, young people and vulnerable adults. Elevate is about supporting music careers through recording, promoting and training and development. Over the years they’ve created spaces in community centres, shopping malls, government buildings and parking pavilions for music making and creative arts. Moreover, they are not only committed to supporting music within the local community but are passionate about expanding that and supporting music and the wider arts sector, through their programme of strategic development. To do so, they link up with public services, academia, the business sector and public health to ensure the impact of music is maximised.
Music is powerful, it has a place in everyone's life, whether it’s a song that is close to your heart, a process that helps you through challenging times or a way to celebrate your talents.