Students from every corner of county make music Come Alive with charity single for Berkshire Youth

Berkshire Maestros have released Come Alive, an original song created by young people, raising money to support vital local youth work.

For the first time, students from every corner of Berkshire have come together to write, perform and record the track, across a year-long programme of workshops. The song celebrates the very best of youth music making in Berkshire, bringing together musicians from Berkshire Youth Choir, Berkshire Youth Symphony Orchestra, Reading Soundstage and more.

With lyrical themes that reflect on the power of music to guide us all through difficult times, they hope to raise awareness and funds to support Berkshire Youth, an inspirational local charity that are supporting and empowering young people in the county.

Berkshire Maestros teacher Joe McCormack said: “As an ex-Maestros student myself, even from an early age I had been really interested in learning about the process of creating original recorded music. I knew that there would be many students in our network that are also passionate about this kind of music making, so I felt I had to put together a project where we could provide our young musicians the opportunity that I never had."

Berkshire Maestros students involved in the project, said: “Creating my own music is a means of expression through which I get to tell my own story and emotions that I feel which would have been caged or stuck inside of me otherwise.”

“I’ve always enjoyed listening to music and interested in how it comes together to tell peoples stories, and I started writing my own songs. I think it might be one of the best things ever because you can put so much of yourself behind a project and it’s an amazing creative tool. It’s the best feeling to have a project and make it come alive”

Proceeds from the release will also support accessible and creative music activities at The Music Lounge, a new contemporary music centre based at Newbury's Waterside Centre. This exciting partnership between Berkshire Maestros and Berkshire Youth aims to support disadvantaged young people in West Berkshire through regular music sessions based at this new space.

The Music Lounge offers a safe space for young people to explore and develop their creativity through music. There are many opportunities to create and record in the studio, and it can also be booked as a rehearsal space for bands from just £10 per hour.

Please contact Bookings@berkshiremaestros.org.uk if you would like to make your music come alive.

Berkshire Youth CEO David Seward said they were really grateful to Berkshire Maestros for choosing them as their charity partner for "this super single".

"It’s brilliant that Berkshire Maestros share our passion for supporting young people. The past couple of years have been particularly challenging for local young people, and we have seen a large increase in the number of requests for our help.

"The money raised will help us to help local young people to access engaging and fun activities where they can feel safe and make friends, whilst also accessing support from our qualified youth workers. These include the upcoming Youth Music Nights which we’re launching at Waterside Centre in Newbury on Saturday (July 23) in partnership with Berkshire Maestros.

"We should never underestimate the talents and potential of our young people, and we would encourage everyone to buy this single!”

Please consider supporting the single by paying what you can for an audio download on Band camp or streaming on your preferred music streaming service. If you would like to download the charity single or donate, please click here: https://beacons.ai/comealive

CEO of Berkshire Maestros Dawn Wren said: “I am incredibly proud of what our students have achieved with this single. It is a testament to each and every one of them and the fact that they have been so involved in the creating of this song only enhances the messaging that the song contains. I am also proud to support our friends at Berkshire Youth who do such amazing work with young people.”