Ed Sheeran marks launch of new music foundation with surprise gig in Cardiff
Singer Ed Sheeran surprised Sound Progression in Cardiff to launch his new foundation. Video from JordanBradleyMayes on TikTok.
Singer Ed Sheeran marked the creation of his new foundation by visiting an organisation for young people in Cardiff.
The 'Thinking Out Loud' singer has launched the Ed Sheeran Foundation to support music education in the UK.
It will aim to improve access to music for more than 12,000 children and young people by providing instruments, creating performance opportunities and opening pathways into the industry.
To mark the creation of his foundation, he visited young people, teachers and youth workers in Cardiff, Coventry, Edinburgh and Belfast.
One of the grassroots organisations visited by Sheeran was Sound Progression in Cardiff, which offers weekend music lessons and mentoring to young people with the foundation’s support - and even surprised them with a rendition of 'Shape Of You.'
Paul Lyons, Sound Progression’s founder, and a DJ and music producer, said: “Our young people come from diverse backgrounds across Cardiff and enjoy creating music in various genres from afrobeats to indie.
“Our weekend workshops serve as safe, inclusive spaces that unite communities — but without additional investment, we risk losing this and the incredible talent they nurture.”
In an Instagram post, Sheeran said he set up the foundation "because recently there’s been less and less importance being put on music education."
He added: "I want kids to be able to learn instruments, learn production and songwriting, performing, and have apprenticeship schemes help them learn different skills to enter the industry.
“I employ 150 people on tour who all have different skill sets, there’s also labels, management, publishing, promoters. Music is such a key part of our society.
“The more I do travelling around and visiting schools and grassroots projects, the more I see there’s passion and inspiring people, who are being undervalued and underserved.
“I’m hoping this foundation is a start to giving them the support they need to keep going, and show them they are hugely important to us.”
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