Community Focus – #5 – The Music Box

Pudsey has a number of wonderful groups and charities within the town. Each month we want to shine the spotlight on one and let them tell you more about what they’re up to. This month we caught up with Kate from The Music Box. The Music Box was setup by Dan De Lissandri, Kate Frazer and Rich Huxley, a group of musicians with a passion for sharing their talents. The Music Box was setup to work with Children, Young People and Adults to deliver music based lessons, workshops and much much more around the world of music making and performing.

Tell us about yourselves, where it all began and your ties to Pudsey?

We established in 2020 & based in Pudsey, West Yorkshire we are a team of experienced musicians and artists, and we aim to spread the power of music throughout the community. We do this by working with Children & Young People and Adults by passing on our skills & knowledge to empower people with music. We deliver music based lessons, workshops, activities, projects and events to anyone who shares our passion or who want to learn more about music making and performing.

Dan is a DJ and Music Producer who loves making music and performing. On the weekend Dan can be found DJing in Bars and Clubs in Leeds and during the week he teaches DJing and Music Production to Young People in Schools and on youth projects as well as Adults on other courses. Dan enjoys passing on his musical skills to other people who want to learn more about music and can teach anyone how to DJ and make music.

Kate is an all rounder within the music industry who has worked on events within the community, collaborating with musicians and performers at venues in the local area. Kate recently recorded and released a song in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust and is founder of Schoolz at Home. Kate will be releasing new original music soon with European Music Producers The Marveltonez. Kate has years of teaching experience in schools and colleges around West Yorkshire, and she is passionate about sharing musical experiences and knowledge to aspiring young musicians and people.

Rich is a musician, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, vocalist, record producer, educator, ukulele enthusiast, one-man community music hub. Rich plays strings and things and sings with Hope and Social and is founder of the world’s first fan-funded record label. Rich is an award winning creative entrepreneur who works internationally as an artist, songwriter, producer and creative entrepreneur. Rich is a strong believer in the power of music as a force for empowerment, joy, for social engagement and for the greater good. You can find him enthusing people into playing music across Yorkshire and the globe

How would you describe your group in one sentence?

Empowering people with the power of music!

What makes you do what you do?

The team at the music box are passionate about music, and have a wealth of experience in the industry. Music is part of our everyday lives, and to be able to work in an industry that we love is just so exciting. We hope to pass on our expertise to the next generation of musicians within the local area and beyond!

Tell us more about what you’re up to in the community

We have some exciting events coming up in the not too distant future…..watch this space!  In the next few weeks we will be advertising a junior open to give the younger generation a chance to perform, and we hope for this to take place in Pudsey House!  We will also be open for registration so young people and adults can book on one of our of activities from our exciting programme that starts from September!

Are there opportunities for the community to get involved with you or support you in any way?

We want to involve the community as much as possible with what we are doing, and we want local people to tell us exactly what they want! They can do that by completing our questionnaire, which is on our website.

You can find out more about The Music Box and what they’re up to in the community by checking out their Facebook page alternatively, head over to their website for all things Music Box.