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About Us

Olympias Music Foundation is an award-winning music charity based in Manchester.
 

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We are dedicated to supporting young people experiencing low income to flourish, by providing a high quality and free music education for as long as they want to learn. Through the Olympias model developed over ten years, we are redefining how music education is experienced in the UK. 

We offer free, sustained, 1:1 music teaching and instruments that put the child and their family first, with classes delivered in the heart of their community. Our approach empowers young people to build their confidence and self-belief, feel excited about their future and experience the lasting joy a musical life brings. We also offer community choirs that meet weekly for women and schoolchildren from diverse backgrounds. We believe that everyone should be given the opportunity to participate in music.We began in 2015, founded by our current CEO, pianist and educator Dr Jo Yee Cheung.

 

Since then, we have delivered over 38,000 free music lessons to young people with diverse backgrounds in Manchester and more than 600 young people have taken part in Olympias projects. More than 90% of young people who join Olympias are from Global Majority backgrounds and in early 2025, we launched our Global Music Teacher Training to provide exceptional Global Majority musicians with the teaching skills for sharing their musical heritage. Our new Recycled Orchestra made up of musical instrument donations from the public is helping us provide the free instruments we need for our young people.​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Partnerships play a crucial role in supporting us to open up the world for our young people. We are a formal partner with the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) and also partner with Manchester Museum, Bridgewater Hall and Longsight Library and Learning Centre, Manchester where we base our work. Our earliest funding support was from the Maingot Charitable Trust in 2017 and we are now supported by many Trusts and Foundations including Arts Council England, Garfield Weston Foundation,

National Lottery Community Fund and the Oglesby Charitable Trust.

 

We’re proud to have received national and regional awards for our work including the Outstanding Musical Initiative Prize (Music and Drama Education Awards 2024) and the King's Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS, 2023). In 2025 we celebrate our ten year anniversary. As we look ahead to the next ten years we continue to expand our reach and vision, working with our supporters, partners and funders to help create more opportunities for young people to flourish.​

 

The instruments we teach are: Violin, Cello, Trumpet, Trombone, Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Guitar, Voice, Santoor, Harmonium, West African Dance/Drumming and Recorder.​​

Ten years of Olympias in numbers
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  • 38,590+ free music lessons delivered since 2015

  • 180 Children experiencing low income in Manchester currently receive free weekly music lessons and now own an instrument.

  • 608 different children in total have passed through Olympias’ projects since 2015

  • 50+ concerts hosted 

  • 20 freelance teachers regularly employed

  • 30 children successfully passed an ABRSM, Trinity or Pop Music music examination

  • 12 children accepted onto the Royal Northern College of Music Pathfinder scheme

  • 100 donated and repaired instruments in new Recycled Orchestra for 2025

  • 120 volunteers have contributed

  • 200 children and adults attended choirs, orchestras and SEND workshops 

  • 20+ community events hosted 

  • 1 Artist Residency for 34 Global Majority Musicians 

  • 2 Residential Music Courses in Wales in 2023 and 2024

  • 5 Awards  - Community Integration Awards 2017; Manchester Culture Awards 2018; Be Proud Awards 2019; King's Award 2023; Music and Drama Education Awards 2024

"I love the opportunities you can get because I play the violin, there are a lot of schools I'm able to go to just because I play the violin... it's improved my confidence at school."

David (aged 12), who enjoys instrumental lessons via Olympias' Learn to play project.

Our Mission

Our mission is to prepare young people for an exciting musical future. We do this by providing free, sustained music lessons for children experiencing social and financial barriers in Manchester; equipping them to be curious, agile, and inquisitive young musicians; and encouraging them to explore the unfamiliar.​This journey is undertaken as a community – working together with families, stakeholders, and cultural institutions – to enable understanding, cultural sharing, and connection.

Our Vision

Our vision is to create a brave new generation of diverse young musicians and audiences in Manchester. We see a future where all children have access to an excellent music education, and where music opens doors to new worlds and unites communities.

Our Values

We are a grassroots music charity - but we are ACTIVISTS at heart – advocating for vital changes to a system which prevents young people from achieving their potential.  

 

We are TENACIOUS in our belief that all children in Manchester should have equal access to an outstanding music education, regardless of background or income.

 

We do this as a COMMUNITY, working collaboratively with families, stakeholders, and supporters to nurture the next generation of diverse performers and audiences.  
 

We recognise the rich tapestry of MUSICAL CULTURES which lies beyond the western vernacular and strive to learn more about the musical worlds in which our communities reside.

 

We CARE deeply about the people we work with. We are nothing without our staff, teachers, and volunteers.  Their long-term wellbeing is paramount to ours.

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