The UK’s Help Musicians Announces New Ambassador

Conductor John Wilson has joined the charity to support wide ranging musicians in times of need 

Help Musicians is an independent UK charity for professional musicians of all music genres that aims to support and fund musicians in times of need and opportunity.

Conductor John Wilson, who is currently the artistic director of the Sinfonia of London ensemble, is now the newest Help Musicians Ambassador. He joins the likes of Chris Difford, Isata Kanneh-Mason, and Soweto Kinch in the ambassador cohort. 

Currently the artistic director of the Sinfonia of London ensemble, John Wilson has now joined the likes of Chris Difford, Isata Kanneh-Mason, and Soweto Kinch as a Help Musicians Ambassador.

Wilson first began conducting in the mid-1980s, and studied at London’s Royal College of Music (RCM). There, he first learned percussion before going on to study composition and conducting, and later won RCM’s Tagore Gold Medal for outstanding academic excellence.

Since then, he regularly conducts the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, and has led the Philharmonia Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Glyndebourne Touring Opera, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. 

Recently, Help Musicians and the Musicians’ Union (MU) delivered the first UK Musicians’ Census — a project running every three to five years to measure changes in the music sector over time in order to respond to musicians’ needs, and improve the future of the industry. Alongside fellow ambassadors, Wilson’s support aims to reach more musicians in the coming years and enable them to realize their music careers. 

“Nothing beats the thrill of hearing live music and here in the UK we have some of the greatest musicians in the world — singers and players who continually strive to be the best they can be, in an environment which is often precarious and uncertain,” Wilson said in music-news. “For over 100 years, Help Musicians has offered a vital lifeline to those in trouble and I am proud to be an ambassador for this wonderful organization.”

“When working at the Royal Albert Hall, I was privileged to see the exceptional talent of the John Wilson Orchestra — bearing witness to the energy and inspirational leadership he brings to the stage to deliver truly exceptional performances to the audience every time,” said Sarah Woods, Help Musicians and Music Minds Matter’s CEO. 

“His connection to the musicians on the stage is palpable and extends to the audience, demonstrating the power of music to unite and move everyone within the space,” Woods continued. “Having trained at the RCM, John understands the incredible hard work that it takes to forge a career as a professional musician; the hours of practicing, the financial investment needed and the pressure that comes with it. I know that as a Help Musicians Ambassador, John will help us inspire more musicians in future to continue on their journey to forge a sustainable career in music.”

“Everybody should have the opportunity to study music,” Wilson added. “If we don’t make those resources available the number of people who have access to studying music at the highest level will shrink. It will be only for those who can afford it,” he added. “We need to make sure that we have the resources in place to support these brilliant people. I’m very proud to be asked to be a Help Musicians Ambassador. It can be very precarious to earn a living as a musician and Help Musicians is a lifeline in times of need. I see it as an honor and a privilege to be asked to help in whatever small way I can.”

A short video on Wilson as a Help Musicians Ambassador can be viewed below.