On Saturday 12 July 2025, Foakes Hall in Great Dunmow was transformed into a vibrant celebration of grassroots music, community spirit and youthful talent. The Great Dunmow Town Band presented their Summer Concert with performances from the Buskerteers Choir and Great Dunmow Youth Band. The musical celebration raised funds for Uttlesford Community Action Network, a charity that works to combat loneliness and isolation.
The event was more than a concert; it was a testament to the transformative power of live music and the importance of nurturing the next generation of musicians.
Energy and artistic direction
The Town Band ensemble delivered a programme that ranged from film scores (Out of Africa by John Barry) to contemporary pop medleys (by Earth Wind and Fire). Their range of music, including pop, jazz, film, show, big band and traditional, is impressive.
The Buskerteers Choir opened their set with a spirited rendition of Everywhere and God only knows. This cemented the tone for an evening of joy, resilience and musical excellence.
Under the musical direction of James Cairns, the Town Band has flourished. Cairns has a formidable CV. He brings technical expertise as an accomplished flautist and a contagious enthusiasm that has elevated the group’s artistic direction.
Encouraging young musicians
Cairns approach is rooted in inclusion and aspiration. In 2024, he created the Great Dunmow Youth Band to encourage musicians aged seven and over to develop their skills and musical passion.
Cairns’ ability to draw out the best in each performer was evident throughout the evening, with even the youngest players holding their own alongside seasoned teens. “Mr Cairns makes music fun,” said 8-year-old trumpet player Olive, whose father added, “Thanks to Mr Cairns, our daughter looks forward to attending Band practice every week. We have seen how her social skills have improved alongside her musicality.”
Believing in music
The success of the Youth Band is not solely down to talent and leadership. It is also a story of institutional support. Essex County Council, through Essex Music Services, has provided instruments, rehearsal space, and branded t-shirts and hoodies that give the young performers a sense of identity and pride.
This support is part of a broader initiative by Essex County Council to promote music education across the county. Their investment in ensembles, workshops and summer programmes has helped thousands of young people access music regardless of background. It’s a model that other councils would do well to emulate.
Grassroots music
Grassroots live music venues are the lifeblood of the UK’s music ecosystem. These independent and intimate venues provide a platform for emerging talent and youth ensembles like Great Dunmow Youth Band. In an increasingly pressured world, fostering community cohesion and offering young people a creative outlet is so important. Yet, as recent reports from the Culture, Media and Sport Committee highlight, grassroots music is in crisis, with one venue closing every week and funding cuts threatening the very spaces where future stars are born.
The arts are often the first to suffer when budgets tighten. Music education, in particular, has seen a 35% drop in funding over the past decade, despite mounting evidence of its cognitive, emotional and social benefits. Learning an instrument improves memory, discipline and emotional resilience. It teaches patience, teamwork and self-expression. And as the Great Dunmow concert proved, it builds confidence in ways that few other activities can.
Confidence through performance
The data backs this up. A 2023 study found that children who play instruments are 20% more likely to report high self-esteem and 30% more likely to engage in collaborative activities. Performing live accelerates this growth, offering real-time feedback, emotional connection, and a sense of achievement that no exam result can replicate.
For many of the Youth Band players, this was their first time performing in front of a live audience. The impact was palpable. One of the parents, who is nominating James Cairns for Classic FM’s Music Teacher of the Year, told East Anglia Bylines, “Mr Cairns and the other volunteers have given the children of Great Dunmow an opportunity to learn and play music in a safe environment with no additional costs to parents. We are so grateful that our child has had this opportunity.”
A call to action
While raising much-needed funds for Uttlesford Community Action Network, the concert raised awareness of something equally vital to the community – the need to protect and promote grassroots music. If we want our children to thrive, not just academically, but emotionally and socially, we must invest in the arts. We must champion teachers like James Cairns, support councils like Essex, and ensure that every child has the chance to pick up an instrument and play.
As the final chords of Bohemian Rhapsody rang out, one thing was clear, the future of music is bright in Great Dunmow but it needs our support. We must not let the music fade.
As Plato said: “Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.” On that Saturday night, in a small hall in Essex, a musical collaboration across the ages gave hope.
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