Access to Music is proud of its close association with a number of outstanding artists and producers in the music and entertainment industries. By supporting Access to Music, these patrons are making a contribution to the development of future generations of musicians.

SIR GEORGE MARTIN CBE

'I am delighted to be patron of Access to Music. They offer rigorous training programmes nationally which focus on essential music skills. They emphasise excellence and engage musicians as tutors with the highest professional standards.’

Sir George Martin CBE is probably the UK's most famous music producer and arranger. In a prestigious career that has spanned over 50 years, he will always be remembered as the 'fifth Beatle', the talented producer who moulded the style and sound of the Beatles as they developed from Merseybeat to psychedelia. As well as his production work, George has also had success as a song-writer, TV presenter and film score composer, with two Ivor Novello and five Grammy awards to his name.

Although retired from making music, he continues to work tirelessly for his famous recording complex Air Studios, the music group Chrysalis and his own music publishing company. In 2002 he organised the Queen's Golden Jubilee concerts at Buckingham Palace, a live telecast across the globe which featured, among others, Ozzy Osbourne, Eric Clapton, Brian Wilson and Paul McCartney.

In 2006 Sir George and his son, Giles, released Love, an amazing remix of the music of the Beatles taken from archive master tapes and commissioned for Cirque du Soleil. The album has received international acclaim.

Sir George has been a regular at Access to Music's Awards Ceremony where he has presented awards to the next generation of music makers.

NITIN SAWHNEY

A gifted multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, DJ, and songwriter, Nitin Sawhney is regarded as one of the world’s most innovative musical talents. He has released six studio albums and has worked with artists as diverse as Paul McCartney, Cheb Mami, Sinead O’Connor and Sting.He has scored over twenty films and this year he has been nominated for the Ivor Novello Composer’s Award for his score to Channel Four’s two-part drama, Second Generation.

In 2000, he was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize and received the prestigious South Bank Show Award for his critically-acclaimed fourth album, Beyond Skin. Two years later he garnered a MOBO Award and a Boundary Crossing BBC Radio 3 Music Award for his millennial epic, Prophesy. He released his latest acclaimed album, Philtre, in 2005.

Nitin is a regular presenter and contributer to Access to Music's Awards Ceremonies.

'I am pleased to lend my support to Access to Music's celebration of musical achievement. ATM works with musicians from all backgrounds and I am always impressed by the diversity and quality of the students' music.'

NEWS
Nitin Sawhney's eighth studio album London Undersound was released in November 2008 to widespread acclaim. Observer Music Monthly made it their Album of the Month and Gavin Martin in The Mirror called it "an ambitious, beautiful album". An album of collaborations with artists like Paul McCartney, Anoushka Shankar, Imogen Heap and Tina Grace, it is intended as a response to the July 7 London bombings.

http://www.nitinsawhney.com/

JOOLS HOLLAND

Jools Holland is a celebrated pianist, band leader and television celebrity dedicated to promoting new music. At the age of 15, Jools met up with Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook and formed Squeeze. With hits like Cool For Cats and Up The Junction, Squeeze achieved spectacular success, selling millions of records and breaking America. In 1985, Jools sowed the seeds of The Rhythm & Blues Orchestra which has evolved into a disciplined 18-piece band, capable of selling out hundreds of shows a year all over Britain and Europe.

Over the years, Jools has performed and recorded with some of the most talented musicians and songwriters in the world, including Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Sting, BB King, Luther Vandross, and Paul Weller. Although Jools remains, first and foremost, an accomplished pianist, a unique combination of gifted musician and articulate interviewer has enabled him to secure regular television and radio dates. He is also a published author, and has made cameo appearances in two films: Spice World and Hunting Venus. In June 2003, Jools was recognised by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II with an OBE in her annual Birthday Honours List for Services to the British Music Industry in his role as a musician and television presenter.

Jools' latest music show Later With Jools Holland has become a showcase for exciting new talent.

JOHN RIDGEON: EDUCATION PATRON

John Ridgeon was born in Barking in 1944 in the East End of London, an area which has always remained important to him and which was later to become the home of Access to Musicís British Academy of New Music (BANM).

John started learning the piano and trumpet at the age of 7 and by the age of 10 was awarded a Junior Exhibition at the Royal Academy of Music where he later gained a scholarship to study full-time.

On leaving the Royal Academy, he performed as a professional trumpet player and taught in East London schools. During this period, John discovered his two professional passions: the physiology of brass playing and the need to help young people develop their musical talents. These two passions have challenged John throughout his professional life and have been the root of his diverse successes.

John has had a wide and varied experience of education having played a major role in developing music education in the London boroughs of Redbridge and Barnet and, from 1977-1992, as Senior Music Adviser for Leicestershire Local Education Authority.

Alongside this, John founded the Guildhall School of Music and Dramaís teaching programme; chaired the National Association of Brass Teachers; was an executive member of the UK Council for Music Education & Training (now the Music Education Council); wrote many books on brass playing which are standard repertoire throughout the brass playing world; wrote exam syllabuses for the Guildhall School of Music and the Associated Boards of the Royal Schools of Music; conducted and lectured in universities and conservatoires in the USA, Japan, Australia, throughout Scandinavia and Europe as well as the UK, and regularly broadcast for the BBC. In 1982, John was awarded a Winston Churchill Fellowship and in 1990 he was awarded an honorary ARAM (Associate of the Royal Academy of Music) for his outstanding services to music.

MICHAEL KAMEN

Up until his death at the end of 2003, the composer and arranger, Michael Kamen, was a patron of Access to Music. New York-born Michael Kamen was a world-renowned composer and arranger. Most recently known in popular music circles for his orchestral collaboration with Metallica, Michael had worked with Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Eric Clapton, Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart, Aerosmith and Herbie Hancock to name but a few. Some of his last work was orchestral arrangements on Kate Bush's magnificent Ariel album.

Michael Kamen, however, was perhaps best known for his film scores and he worked on many blockbusters including the Lethal Weapon and Die Hard series, Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, Mr Holland’s Opus, 101 Dalmations, X-Men, The Winter Guest, Highlander and Brazil.

In his honour, Access to Music has created an annual Michael Kamen Award which is presented at Access to Music's Award Ceremony in London. This is for outstanding achievement in the field of composing acoustic or orchestral music for media applications.