Please note: this event has passed
People with disabilities are the world’s largest minority and yet today much of the Arts is still inaccessible and excludes those with special or additional needs. King’s Alumnus, David Stanley BEM set-up the Music Man Project to change this.
Founded in 2019, the now multi-award-winning international education service is challenging perceptions about how music can be used as a universal language to engage all. David has delivered performance workshops to over 10,000 mainstream primary school children, teaching diversity and acceptance through playing and singing alongside adults with learning disabilities. He has also produced concerts featuring some of his adult and special school students, filling both the London Palladium and Royal Albert Hall.
During this event, David will uncover how and why he continues to disrupt the Arts to bring people with disabilities to the fore. Join us for inspiration and top tips on how you can become an effective agent of change.
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Speaker:
David Stanley BEM is a disability rights campaigner, musical director, teacher, composer and Founder and CEO of The Music Man Project, a multi award-winning international music education service for people with disabilities. In 2021, David was awarded the Medal of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen’s New Year Honours List for services to people with special needs. He is a Churchill Fellow, Paul Harris Fellow (Rotary International) and Fellow for the Arts.
In 2020, David was a Global Peace Ambassador for People with Disabilities and become the UK Government’s Disability and Access Ambassador for Arts and Culture. He is also a member of the advisory panel for the National Plan for Music Education.
David studied at King’s College London, graduating with a BMus Music Degree and a Master of Music (Musical Analysis) from the Faculty of Arts & Humanities. In 2021, he won the King’s College London Distinguished Alumni Award for demonstrating outstanding achievement in the arts and culture sector and for his commitment to improving disability rights in the music industry.
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This event is part of the Entrepreneurship Institute’s ‘Festival of Disruptive Thinking’, a week-long series of online events (21st – 25th November) showcasing and celebrating the disruptive thinking happening in and around King’s – from pushing forward new ideas, innovating and challenging a status quo. Join us and be inspired to be a change-maker! See other events in the series.