The sound of hope

Organisers were forced to turn away hundreds of people from a fundraising event for music education in India.

SoundSchool, a new Sydney-based music initiative, exceeded all expectations at its first fundraising event at the Beach Road Hotel in August.

Co-founder of SoundSchool, Jay Hemsworth, said over 600 people showed up on Saturday August 21, and 200 guests had to stay outside due to restrictions on the venue.

“Our first event sold out the day before. It’s a great positive thing but at the same time it´s unfortunate when you have to turn people away.”

Hemsworth founded SoundSchool four months ago with Oli Mistry and Jarrod Paul. Their aim was to raise money to purchase musical instruments, teaching aids and music tuition for children in third world countries.

SoundSchool’s first event raised $19, 500 in funds, which will be used to set up a music school in Delhi, India.

”Initially we hoped to raise $3000, then we hoped for $10, 000, but we honestly thought that was a little optimisticm,” said Oli Mistry.

So far, only one school will be set up to allow the SoundSchool team to follow the progress during the first three to six months.

A team of SoundSchool partners and volunteers will travel to India in November to start up the project.

SoundSchool will work with The Salaam Balaak Trust children’s shelters in Delhi, an organisation that runs an intervention program to care for neglected children living on the street.

Hemsworth said this was not a business but an opportunity to help Indian children living on the streets.

“Music is just as important as food and water; it helps their brain grow, and if we can give these kids one or two hours of joy the job is done.”

What started as an idea over beers and pizza will now send the founders and partners off to establish the first SoundSchool in Delhi, India. More fundraising events in Melbourne and Brisbane are planned for 2011.

– By Therese Hansen