Overview
Virtuoso is helping young people build their skills, talents, and confidence through a remote platform where everyone can be a music maker.
It’s reported that state schools in the UK have, on average, reduced their music provision by more than one fifth over the past few years. This change in curriculum is making music harder to access for some, and generating inequality across creative industries. To make the creative world more inclusive and representative, we need to be looking for ways to improve opportunities for all talented, passionate young people.
Helping to make this happen is Virtuoso. Founded by brothers Austen and Scott Smart, the former professional DJs, producers, and label owners developed an innovative learning solution, employing more than 80 tutors across the country, to deliver a new, relevant, modern music curriculum to UK schools to help maximise music engagement.
During a challenging period when learning opportunities were reduced due to school closures, the Virtuoso team turned to Innovate UK’s Sustainable Innovation Fund for help bringing to life the concept of a remote production studio and virtual learning environment. Today, the interactive Virtuoso platform is succeeding in bringing together music enthusiasts from around the world with video-based courses and live industry sessions from some of the biggest names in music, from Carl Cox to Fatboy Slim, and more.
