So... we won our category of ‘Excellence in Primary / Early Years’ at the Music and Drama Education Awards, sponsored by Classic FM. How incredible! Founder of London Rhymes, Rosie Adediran went to the ceremony at the Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square, presented by Myleene Klass - and had a blast meeting some legends of the music and drama education world. So here's is a little virtual acceptance speech from Rosie! ⬇️💥
"I started London Rhymes about 7 years ago in 2015 as a bit of a frustrated workshop leader looking for a bit more of a creative challenge and more agency over my work. With a small grant from Sound Connections 'Innovate' fund, I had the chance to experiment - to have a go reimagining the nursery rhyme with families with young children. Songs that represented them, their lives, their style and culture, and which reflected the highs and lows of parenting in this century! It's been quite the journey...
We’ve worked with many families from all over the world and from many backgrounds, including those facing unimaginable hardship. Yet through the writing of the 80 plus songs in our collection, the universality of family life really shines through - there’s more that binds us together than divides us.
It’s such a privilege to win this award, in a shortlist of other incredible projects and we are very grateful to the panel of judges for seeing, and recognising our work.
I’d like to extend some thank yous! BIG HUGE thanks to my amazing team of musicians many of whom have stayed with me for years, and I’m so grateful! To Creative Futures for partnering with me to support and manage our projects and doing such an incredible job. To our current and past project partners Magpie Project, East London Mother and Baby Unit, Hackney Playbus, PACT and many more. And most importantly - the families themselves who really give something of themselves through working and collaborating with us despite being at the very least knackered - and often going through the thick of it themselves. Thank you!"