Welcome from YAMSEN:SpeciallyMusic.

About Us

YAMSEN:SpeciallyMusic, the Yorkshire Association for Music and Special Educational Needs, is dedicated to providing and promoting high quality musical activities and tuition for adults and children with a wide range of additional needs.

As its members, we recognise the contribution that music plays in people’s lives, especially in the lives of those with difficulties and disabilities.

We currently offer choirs for children and adults with learning disabilities, deliver music and multisensory projects, and organise training workshops for people who work with those with additional needs.  Our members enjoy discounted rates to special event days and belonging to a professional body linked to regional music hubs and national music organisations including Music Mark, MEC and Making Music.

YAMSEN celebrates and values diversity and will treat everyone involved in the organisation with respect and dignity. We aim to provide equal opportunities without regard to race, colour, religion, national origin, gender, sexual preference, age, or disability.  We are committed to safeguarding the welfare of those with whom we work, be they children or vulnerable adults, and we will take all the steps we can to ensure that everyone who takes part with the organisation does so in a safe environment.

 

History of YAMSEN:SpeciallyMusic
YAMSEN:SpeciallyMusic was a voluntary charity formed in 1979 by a group of people who recognised a need for more music in special schools.  Originally called YHAMSE (the Yorkshire and Humberside Association for Music and Special Education), the early associaltion organised training and workshops for staff and one-off big events for those with special needs.
New events were added over the years in response to requests from members, including the Lord Mayor’s Annual Town Hall Christmas Carol Concert, and Big Music Days at Breton Hall, which then became an annual summer music day in various venues, including the EST Donkey Centre and then West Park.  

We later began to include events for adults–annual Ceilidhs and music days became fortnightly workshops. 

All of these ideas have been expanded to leave us with a full annual programme of big music days and also a weekly calendar of activities.

 

Who’s Who

Music Leaders and staff:

  • Jo Brook: Accompanist for YAMSEN choirs and piano teacher
  • Ros Huntley: Music Communication Group leader
  • Diane Paterson: YAMSEN Secretary and leader of Wharfedale Festival Music Makers Class and summer concert, and leader of the Multisensory and Music Days
  • Hannah Rosebury: admin assistant
  • Paul Siddall: Off the Cuff group librarian
  • Sue Siddall: YAM co-leader
  • Sophie Thiruchelvam: One Accord children’s choir leader
  • Mavis West: YAM co-leader and a YAMSEN founder
  • Joanna Winster: YAM co-leader and YAMSEN chair of operations group

 

Trustees:

  • Chair: Prof. Allan House
  • Treasurer: Anne Jackson
  • Secretary: Diane Paterson
  • Gail Lawton
  • Ramesh Narayanan