The Power of Performance: Celebrating Creativity at The Connection

ASMF have been working in partnership with The Connection at St Martin-in-the-Fields since 1999, delivering projects to empower people experiencing homelessness through music-making. On 28 November 2024 participants shared work they had developed across the Autumn through playing, devising and composing together, performing to an invited audience alongside ASMF musicians and students and Fellows from the Royal Academy of Music ’s Open Academy department. The evening also featured a performance from poet Errol McGlashan, talks from photography course leader Jon Rees and Service Manager Jack Weeks, plus an exhibition of artwork created by clients of The Connection.

Juliet Welchman, ASMF Cellist, was one of the musicians involved in the project. In this article she reflects on her experiences of the project and the performance day.

As a culmination to this autumn’s series of music workshops at The Connection for those experiencing homelessness, the music group gave a performance at Stone Nest, a music and performance venue a few minutes walk from St-Martin-in-the-Fields. Stone Nest is a converted domed old Welsh Chapel, squeezed between buildings just off Cambridge Circus. You might hardly notice the blue entrance door around the back, and inside is a beautiful pared back domed space, not too large and ideal for smallish, intimate and informal performances.

The music group all walked up together from The Connection for a fairly intensive afternoon rehearsal and 6pm performance, after 8 weeks of working together at the centre. None of us knew quite what to expect as this was a first time venture, and I felt it was with a brave spirit that those who came along threw themselves into the rehearsal, bringing the pieces together under the expert guidance of Jackie Walduck who leads the workshops. It was a joy to be part of the group experiencing this new place for the first time. The invited audience included professionals in education work from other arts organisations, students, and friends of ASMF and The Connection, about fifty people in all. The team had thought of everything, from lighting and stage managing to bringing in a photographer who themselves had experience of homelessness. Hot drinks were provided for everyone (it was a cold November day) and pizza for the participants between the rehearsal and performance was an inspired idea!

“I thoroughly enjoyed the event, the music was really great and it so heartening to see the creativity that can emerge from collaboration” – Audience member

This warm, informal gathering provided an ideal space and time for the group to perform two pieces that had emerged out of the weekly Monday sessions. The group inevitably fluctuates in size over the weeks, and among those that came to Stone Nest were people that have become regular participants and some that have only just started coming along. They were joined by staff and leaders from The Connection who also attend the sessions and contribute their skills, along with ASMF players and students from the Royal Academy of Music as part of the Open Academy. The first piece was based on a West African rhythmic song which gave ‘C’, a committed member of the group and an expert drummer, a chance to shine and for everyone to join in with simple improvisations and flow around the ‘groove’. The second piece was a quieter reflective song about the ocean, written and sung by ‘M’, another invaluable member of the group. In this piece his verses were interspersed with duets between himself and the harp, played by Anna, an Open Academy Fellow. Anna had been working with the group for the whole series, bringing an empathetic ear to the sessions. There were also beautiful solos from Eric on French horn and and Tianao on cello, who are both also on the Open Academy course training in social purpose work.

“It was great fun creating a band over the last eight weeks. Everyone always had so much to contribute, and I particularly enjoyed working with the beautiful lyrics that one of our band members wrote himself. The process of preparing for a live performance, giving a concert and sharing in that together was electric! I felt we all had such a strong bond afterwards and we left walking on clouds!” – Anna Philips, Open Academy Fellow

The performance ended with the spoken word artist Errol McGlashen performing three of his powerful poems, with the last one underscored by four of us musicians trying to catch and support the rhythm of his wonderful poem – about rhythm! As part of the purpose of the evening was for all of us to gather and meet and exchange ideas, it was a lovely end to the evening to chat (with more tea and cake) and get to know people a little better. Of course, the music workshops are not just about a final performance, but are an ongoing process that gives people a valuable safe space to come and share music together; to listen, observe or join in, feel part of the group and enjoy expressing themselves through music.

“The surroundings are stunning, and the music and stories were very powerful.” – Audience member

ASMF’s programme of work with people experiencing homelessness continues to grow, connecting with more centres across London throughout 2025. This performance was the first live public sharing as part of this area of our work since 2019. As we expand, we will see an increase in public performances with the groups we work with. If you’re interested in finding out more or working with us, get in touch.?