September 10, 2025
We are thrilled to invite our Joy of Sound supporters to experience our photographic exhibition, “Through Their Lens: A Journey in My Community.” Thanks to the generous support of the Skinners Charity Foundation, we have engaged the Hackney community in sharing their unique perspectives and experiences.
This exhibition highlights the diverse self-expression of our Hackney community, offering visitors an insightful look into the vibrant and varied lives within it.
For this project, we invited participants and support workers from our St Mary’s of Eton music group. They were equipped with cameras and guided by written instructions with explanatory icons to make the process accessible for everyone, especially those who felt uncomfortable with reading. Many of our participants come from day centre communities and some live independently, bringing a wide range of perspectives and experiences.
Support workers were also encouraged to participate, allowing them to expand their own experiences beyond their usual roles within the community. The expressive works created during this project are now proudly exhibited at Albeit Studios, located in Trowbridge Gardens, 1 Trowbridge Road, E9. The exhibition will run from the 1st of October to the 9th and all are welcome.
Throughout the project, participants visited interesting locations, challenged themselves to capture unique images, and thoroughly enjoyed the creative journey. We are proud to showcase their talents and the power of self-expression through this vibrant collection.
June 3, 2025
June 3, 2025
April 14, 2025
October 20, 2024
Click this link for photos and stories from our summer at the Windmill Centre in Brixton where he had a series of events exploring the cultures and background of a mixed group of local Lambeth residents with music, dance, food and costumes from countries around the world from India to Australia to Colombia.
September 13, 2024
A massive thank you to The Bailey Thomas Charitable Fund for your £2000 funding and to The Ashley Family Foundation who funded us with £2500, which means we can continue our Online Interactive Zoom Sessions for a full 6 months, with three fun and wellbeing centred sessions every week.
These online sessions were set up during Covid enabling people to connect, have fun and stay physically and mentally well whilst social distancing was essential. They meant that people from all over the UK joined the JOS community and have become regular co-creators and contributors to our sessions. This funding will be paramount to supporting the existing community to stay together, whilst welcoming new participants from GP’s practices, residential homes and day care centres.
This the second time these two charities have given grants to Joy of Sound, so from all of the JOS community, a huge thank you dear Bailey Thomas Charitable Fund and The Ashley Family Foundation for your continuing support and most importantly the donations from all the families of the JOS community that have kept the sessions up and running!!
March 18, 2024
April 22, 2023
“Connecting the Distance” is a collection of co-devised poetry and prose pieces written on Zoom during Lockdown, as part of our Inclusive Creative Covid 19 Legacy project, funded by the National Lottery Community Fund.
Joy of Sound (JOS) Creative Director William Longden adapted our inclusive working approach to the Zoom platform, so that we could continue to support and promote the mental well-being of our participant group. Inclusion and listening to each other was the bedrock.
Find All our projects here at joyofsound.org. Follow us on Instagram Twitter and Facebook
April 3, 2023
All of us at Joy of Sound send our heartfelt best wishes for the future to Clive and Judith Main, who left the Parish as Clive retired from his post as the vicar at St. Barnabas Church in Homerton.
Clive and Judith were instrumental in helping us establish a regular group in the parish, welcoming us in when we had to move from our previous location at nearby Chat’s Palace in 2017.
JOS volunteers and participants attended the farewell service, along with the whole St. Barnabas congregation, and presented a copy of our book to commemorate our work together. We thought he found the title, “Connecting the Distance”, fitted very well with our shared outlook.
As well as the use of the space, St. Barnabas gave us sense of community from the start when we used the space for a series of photographs of our participants which were featured in the “I Love Chatsworth Road” magazine.
At first we used to bring instruments every week, but Clive worked with William Longden, the founder of JOS, to install a beautiful custom fitted storage unit. Designed by Zoran Radivojevic in an inclusive process working with members of the congregation, with parts made and assembled by Julian Millership, it fits in harmoniously and will be a lasting legacy.
October 17, 2022
September 19, 2022
We like to thank Sutton House for inviting us to deliver a participatory community music workshop with the wise elders of Hackney and Sutton houses’ community volunteers..
Many of the participants had never played an instrument before and fed back that they enjoyed exploring and connecting with their peers through their musical interaction.
By the end of the session everybody was out of their seat dancing and laughing with a renewed energy.
September 18, 2022
A massive thank you to all the families, participants and even Happis the dog
that made Lambeth country show outreach a session to remember.
Angela and JOS team delivered the session with uplift and cheer getting everyone in tune
with JOS signals, and even though we had a PA system blaring away next door, we got
an effusive play of sounds and voices filling the space.
Lots of people of different ages and backgrounds explored new
instruments they had never touched before, and many young folk
tried out the signals in the centre with a resounding acknowledgement
that brought wide smiles full of confidence.
There have been whispers that this may be the very last Lambeth country show.
We sincerely hope this is just a rumour, but if there is any truth there,
we have had a good run of intensive fun community participatory improvised music.
Thank you Lambeth Country show for inviting us back again and again over the last decade.
June 23, 2022
Go see this brilliant production by Amici Dance theatre company and produced by Turtle Key Arts!
JOS regular and co-creator Aime and our playful JOS lead facilitator Angela will be treading the boards in ‘AMICI’s One World: Wealth of the Common People’
Amici Dance Theatre Company celebrates their 40th anniversary with a full-company production which tells the personal and sometimes harrowing stories of just a few of the refugees and displaced people in the world today.
Starting next week on Wednesday 29th June through till Saturday 2nd July.
There will be Matinee and evening performances, to book your tickets go to
https://lyric.co.uk/shows/amicis-one-world-wealth-of-the-common-people/
You can also visit the Lyric Theatre in person to purchase tickets however, tickets are selling fast so to avoid disappointment – Book now!
Amici Dance Theatre Company is a unique company integrating disabled and non-disabled artists and performers. Founded by Wolfgang Stange in 1980, their productions and workshops have had a major impact worldwide, challenging conventional attitudes about disability and the arts. They are community-artists-in-residence at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre where they run weekly classes, organise open workshops, residencies and student placements and stage performances throughout the year.
February 10, 2022
We are very happy and grateful to have received two new donations to kick off 2022. These funds will go towards sustaining the return to live in person sessions by covering costs as we get back to normal.
Attendances are slowly building as we gradually re-start our live work in the aftermath of Covid19, though the Omicron variant has affected the recovery. One venue is delaying re-opening and many participants are continuing to shield, while numbers at the other venues are very encouraging.
Many thanks to Lockie Ashley-Holligan, a long standing volunteer for JOS, for introducing us to the Ashley Family Foundation.
Huge thanks also to Lee Clifford who organised the fantastic and very stylish Portobello Rd Antique Market Dealers who recently and rather heroically climbed Ben Nevis to raise money for us.
February 9, 2022
Local children’s charity The Treasure Basket Association and combined arts charity Joy of Sound
are hosting an all-inclusive “fun-day out” for families on Sunday 20th February 2022- 10:30am – 15:00pm GMT Add to calendar
There’ll be some very special musical instruments that people of all abilities can play, and music-making workshops will be running (in parallel with other art-based activities) throughout the day.
All activities have been planned so that children with SEND can attend and enjoy themselves as much as everyone else.
A packed lunch will be provided.
This is a donate*-what-you-can (only if you can) event. However, places are limited. Please book now to secure your place.
Angmering Village Hall is a spacious, safe, wheelchair-accessible venue with disabled toilets and a fenced garden at the back. It also offers free parking.
If you would like more information, or would like to discuss any concerns,
please get in touch with Simona (T: 07790 499317; E: simona.ttba@gmail.com).
She is looking forward to hearing from you, and to welcoming all.
November 10, 2021
The last two of our “JOS Incredibles” stories can now be viewed on our Galleries page, including long standing volunteer Tom’s Adventures in the Flower Garden, and Lulu’s brilliant story “Rumble in the Carpark” where an elephant and a dinosaur rumble on roller skates for possession of the last available stock from ‘Giraffes R Us’!
You can see all our illustrated stories and videos here – produced during inclusive lockdown Zoom sessions with topics ranging from participant’s responses to Covid, international adventures inspired by their diverse heritages, and wonderful stories developed through sheer imagination and improvisation.
December 23, 2021
The Jos workshop time table will remain the same as last year and if there are any additional workshops due to a covid lockdown we will keep you posted. See the JOS session time table here https://joyofsound.org/join-a-session/
November 23, 2021
August 28, 2021
“I enjoyed taking part and it made me feel very happy inside.” (Gengiz Hussein)
“For me to be part of this film is an incredible part of my life story.” (Jennette Fone)
This feedback from the participants about the process of making the short film “Inside I’m Free” is what the new Joy of Sound film endeavour was about: to enable those stuck inside their flats and gardens in London during the first 2020 lockdown to feel happier, taking part in dancing and filming. Isolation and shielding became much more bearable on the days they were dancing around forgetting the gloomy restrictions of the confusing pandemic times we were living in. The joy of movement combined with the joy of music proved once again to be a winning therapeutic tool, transforming the entrapping walls and closed doors into healing spaces where they felt free.
Dances were choreographed by Ekaterina Peskova. The film was directed and edited by Vesna Marich.
Ahead of general release, “Inside I’m Free” is on the festival circuit and has gained many awards: Short listed at the Leaulea International Film Festival, Sweden; Award Winner Best UK Woman Directors Mount Fuji International Film Festival, Japan; Winner Best Mobile Film, Singapore New Award ; Winner Women’s Film category Druk International Film Festival, Butan and Art Film Awards Monthly Best Quarantine Film, Skopje Macedonia.
Meanwhile you can view the trailer:
Inside I am Free – trailer.mxf from Joy of Sound on Vimeo.
August 21, 2021
We are looking forward to our second road trip this year to a Bank Holiday open day event for The Treasure Basket Association
They work around the coast of West Sussex, enabling access to play therapy and therapeutic resources to support the emotional well-being of children and families in the community.
August 20, 2021
It’s now eighteen months since JOS started its Zooming program and we are continuing as we wait for news of lockdown conditions ending. After some fast learning about Zoom and running inclusive trials and scoping with JOS participants, we delivered our first zoom session on March 27th 2020, and quickly developed several different Zoom sessions covering a range of interactions and artforms.
Click here to come and take part – Join a session
Creative Writing and Ever New Story Sharing– sessions generating poems and stories capturing the emotions, challenges, sharing the intensity of lockdown. Click here to see Creative Writing gallery and videos
Inclusive Movement & Dance – dance, exercise and dynamic movement.
Seated Yoga, Breath and Movement – with more subtle exercise and mindful breathing.
Musical Games and Song and Sign – the chance to sing songs and practice Makaton signing skills.
Adventures into Here, There and Everywhere – multi-media virtual explorations of different countries, cultures and environments around the world during cyber journeys guided by different participants at each session.
Seriously Silly Sensory Sessions – a means of exploring the potentials, challenges and joys of improvisation through the use of ‘sensory looping’, in the spirit seriously shared fun — the core of JOS ethos and practice.
Despite being unable to travel and meet up, people can still enjoy socialising and keeping in touch with friends and associates. During 2020, we delivered more than 408 sessions – well over 4,000 attendances, including visitors from London, UK wide and around the world, with families, support givers, favourite objects – and pets! – all being involved, generating new creative approaches and relationships, fresh learning opportunities and shared community.
August 20, 2021
Our Covid 19 Response Creative Writing sessions ran between November 2020 and March 2021 co-producing 24 illustrated poems and stories sharing the intensity and capturing the emotions and challenges of lockdown. Around 40 people were involved an inclusive process of group co-creation.
We started off each of the pieces in lively Zoom online workshops, with groups of JOS participants coming together weekly, contributing themes and ideas. At the end of each session writers were elected to develop that session’s group input into poem, prose or dialog form, then to work with an editor to produce final pieces ready for publication online and in print.
A team consisting of an illustrator, graphic designer, video producer, voice artists, sound artists and composers took these pieces to another level, working together to create immersive videos with narration, music and soundtracks that express the shared communal response and personal reactions around lockdown in unique ways.
We are also producing an illustrated book of all the stories which will be a lasting reflection on an extraordinary time.
Click here to view the 16 videos that have been uploaded so far…
July 30, 2021
Please make yourself comfortable, sit back and listen to this 1hour continuous track that weaves an inclusive sonic journey through time and space towards your delight and wonderment.
Two years in the making and undeterred by covid-19 restrictions, this epic work has been produced in acknowledgement and appreciation of each and every one of the many thousands of creative individuals who have contributed to JOS’ legacy of inclusive participatory community music making since January 2000.
The Album demonstrates how JOS’ live improvisational approaches can be readily applied with the same vital spirit and energy to the playing, recording and production of an original, remarkable and moving music of shared atmospheres, emotions and embodied expression.
Rising and falling, flowing to cascade, gently whispered, and in shared voice resounding with a profound and seriously playful joy that gives colour, texture, and a freedom of creative expression particular to JOS inclusive aesthetic.
Available to download or stream from one of these platforms of your choice :
July 21, 2021
July 14, 2021
May 14, 2021
December 22, 2020
April 9, 2021
May 21, 2020
June 30, 2021
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The Joy Of SoundArtist: The Joy of Sound Title : Gurgle in an Elephant’s Belly Cat number: WAHEVER011 Joy of Sound (JOS) was founded in January 2000 as a Millennium Commission Fellowship Award for pioneering grassoundcloud.com |
January 19, 2021
In loving Memory of our dear friend and volunteer
Hossein Pakzad
10th May 1957 – 27th December 2020
Hossein has been one of the most popular and highly regarded
JOS volunteers since he joined the team in 2013.
His attitude and energy were never less than inspiring, and his
natural warmth and open humanitarianism was ever brightly
engaging and uplifting.
Hossein exuded natural beauty and spirit.
He would light up any group of people with his spontaneous
laughter and creative expression, even when he was
experiencing pain and discomfort, he would still raise up the
energy and vitality of any group he attended.
Hossein is much admired and respected by everyone he worked
with and he will be greatly missed by us all.
September 10, 2020
<https://www.voluntaryarts.org/epic-awards-peoples-choice-voting
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Epic Awards The Epic Awards shine a spotlight on the achievements of creative groups across the UK and Republic of Ireland each year. The 2020 Epic Awards closed for applications on 14 June 2020.
www.voluntaryarts.org
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November 13, 2020
December 17, 2020
April 9, 2021
July 13, 2020
August 26, 2020
May 31, 2020
May 14, 2020
May 7, 2020
May 6, 2020
May 4, 2020
April 27, 2020
June 29, 2020
July 4, 2020
April 21, 2020
April 19, 2020
April 18, 2020
April 14, 2020
April 14, 2020
April 11, 2020
May your mind be crystal clear and bright
Your body strong of radiant light
All else be subject to no law
But natures essence found in wondrous might
Your spirit borne of no thing more or less than this
And given so to freedoms boundlessness in flight
April 8, 2020
To join the Zoom session please use the following link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8092399186
OR USE Meeting ID: 809 239 9186
April 3, 2020
To connect with Zoom session click the link below
Or use
Meeting ID no. 754 181 147
Password: 071 481
JOS Online Dance & Movement sessions are now taking place weekly on Tuesdays at 14:00-15:00 GMT. All are welcome. Please share this information with your friends as well.
For those of you who will be joining us online for the first time:
To join Tomorrow’s session you need to access either — a computer / a laptop / a tablet / or a smartphone. The bigger your screen, the better.
You will also need to install a ‘Zoom’ Application (Free, and quite easy to do – If you have a problem just call me and I will assist).
You will then be able to use the link given below to join the session:
You could otherwise use the Meeting ID and Password to access the session:
Meeting ID: 754 181 147
Password: 071 481
JOS Online sessions are FREE of charge.
If you would like to donate to JOS, you can do so at JOS website (top right corner, home-page): https://joyofsound.org/
March 31, 2020
http://soundcloud.com/user-986326410
March 31, 2020
Due to increasing demand these Online sessions will now take place weekly on Tuesdays 14:00-15:00 GMT. All are welcome. Please tell your friends.
To join Tomorrow’s session you need to access either — a computer / a laptop / a tablet / or a smartphone. The bigger your screen, the better.
You will also need to install a ‘Zoom’ Application (Free, and quite easy to do – If you have a problem just call me and I will assist).
You will then be able to use the link given below to join the session:
https://zoom.us/j/747964918?pwd=TEpVcWJxRTZGakFnRkdXTCtITi9KQT09
You could otherwise use the Meeting ID and Password to access the session: (as below)
Meeting ID: 747 964 918
Password: 023879
JOS Online sessions are FREE of charge.
If you would like to donate to JOS, you can do so at JOS website (top right corner, home-page) https://joyofsound.org/
Please see the attached flyer for more information.
Feel free to email or call me if you have any further questions: Katia – mob. 07848 242516
Looking forward to dancing with you tomorrow.
March 25, 2020
March 23, 2020
March 21, 2020
March 19, 2020
March 16, 2020
March 10, 2020
Social prescribing day!
Thursday 12th March 2020
March 9, 2020
March 3, 2020
Come and Join us for an inspiring evening of Inclusive, devised theatre.
Inclusive Reality theatre presents together with ‘Hackney can sing’ choir
Kaleidoscope
From 7pm till 9pm on March 24th at St Barnabas. Homerton
To find us on your phone simply enter in the post code E9 6DL
The event has free admission with an interactive Q&A afterwards.
Any question or simply would like to know more please contact
Katia – 07848242516
email: peskova.ek@gmail.com
Follow us on Instagram@Inclusive_reality_theatre
March 3, 2020
Harry, Raf and Henry, Mirror Mask have just released their New Album Take Root.
Go to band camp to listen to this hypnotic electronic rock album!
https://themirroredmask.bandcamp.com/releases
January 28, 2020
Krar Night at Shawl Volcanic Cafe on Monday 17th February 2020 from 7pm till 11pm.
The address is 271 Clapham road SW9 9BQ.
Nearest tube station is Stockwell and is a 2 minutes walk.
Come and join Joy of Sound Volunteers playing, listening and exploring Traditional and modern design Krars.
There will be music making with special guests and local people, who have been part an important part of the design process and development for this modern krar to be used in participatory community music.
For more information please call Chris – 07866 139 692 or William – 07906 916 524
January 17, 2020
December 31, 2019
December 23, 2019
December 12, 2019
December 6, 2019
October 31, 2019
October 6, 2019
Come join us for an enriching evening of delicious seasonal vegetarian food and to have the great pleasure of listening to traditional Ethiopian music played by Haymenot Tesfa – Ampharic singer and Krar player. There will be also be the chance to explore and handle Krar instruments. Look forward to seeing you there.
Please remember we can only take cash payments for the food.
September 26, 2019
Come Join us for this fun afternoon of connecting and socialisng.
September 9, 2019
September 3, 2019
September 3, 2019
August 15, 2019
One of our volunteers and long time associates
Ebony Rose Dark, is up for Best Drag Queen nomination!
To vote, please type in to your browser window:-
QX Cabaret Awards 2019 – QX magazine
once on the QX magazine site, click on the link ‘to vote’ on the flyer
Best Drag Queen is item no.8!!
August 11, 2019
August 9, 2019
August 5, 2019
August 1, 2019
August 1, 2019
A chance for people to de-mystify instrument making!
During these workshops participants make 6-string instruments from a simple kit of components and tools – just an allen key is used, so no cutting, drilling, sawing, screwdriving etc.
There is also the chance to play the instruments and explore the krar – a traditional east african lyre type of instrument – as a very versatile and inclusive instrument.
July 25, 2019
July 20, 2019
July 19, 2019
June 18, 2019
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE ACCESSIBLE ENTRANCE TO THE SACKLER ARTS AND EDUCATION CENTRE IS ON EXHIBITION ROAD . SO PLEASE GET YOUR TAXI OR TRANSPORT SERVICE TO DROP YOU OFF THERE.
UNFORTUNATELY THERE ARE NO LIFT ACCESSIBLE TUBE STATIONS IN THIS AREA.
June 6, 2019
May 25, 2019
April 1, 2019
Dear All
Unfortunately the Joy of sound Training scheduled
for this Friday 12th April has been cancelled due to
unforeseen circumstances.
Please excuse any inconvenience caused.
We will reschedule the training at the earliest possible
opportunity and you will be notified well in advance.
Friday mornings Inclusive Participatory Community Music workshop
will happen none-the-less at St Peters Heritage centre at 11:30,
regardless of the Training cancellation.
All are warmly welcome to attend if you wish to do so.
January 13, 2019
January 4, 2019
December 10, 2018
November 25, 2018
Many thanks to all of you who have supported the Nepal film festival outreach fundraiser.
November 20, 2018
William and Katie with Ram Prasad Kadel, Founder and Director of the Music Museum of Nepal.
They are giving a set of ‘The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians’ for the Museum library as a gift from the JOS volunteers.
The Film Festival will commence tomorrow!
We have only today and tomorrow left to donate, so please lend your support towards this rare and exciting opportunity for JOS volunteers Katie and William to showcase JOS’ project work and research at an outreach in Nepal as selected presenters at the 8th International Folk Music Film Festival in Kathmandu – hosted by the Music Museum of Nepal.
Katie will present JOS’ short film Katie’s Song that features her therapeutic journey as a JOS volunteer.
William will present his PhD research into the design and production of bespoke music instruments and access devices for disabled and impaired people who are too often excluded from active participation in community music making. See the JOS website instruments page for more information.
To see further details about the project and to make a donation please go to:
https://crowdfunder.co.uk/joy-of-sound-reaches-out-with-katie-s-song
Please also forward this request to your personal friends and social networks as soon as you can – the campaign has only 2 days left.
Every penny will help and we will keep you updated throughout.
Thank you for your support and consideration,
Joyofsound (JOS)
October 25, 2018
Dear Joy of Sound volunteers, friends and associates, There are only 3 days left to reach our £2500 target!
Please lend your support toward this rare and exciting opportunity for JOS volunteers Katie and William to showcase JOS’ project work and research at an outreach in Nepal as selected presenters at the 8th International Folk Music Film Festival in Kathmandu – hosted by the Music Museum of Nepal.
Katie will present JOS’ short film Katie’s Song that features her therapeutic journey as a JOS volunteer.
William will present his PhD research into the design and production of bespoke music instruments and access devices for disabled and impaired people who are too often excluded from active participation in community music making. See the JOS website instruments page for more information.
To see further details about the project and to make a donation please go to:
https://crowdfunder.co.uk/joy-of-sound-reaches-out-with-katie-s-song
Please also forward this request to your personal friends and social networks as soon as you can – the campaign has only 3 days left.
Every penny will help and we will keep you updated throughout.
Thank you for your support and consideration,
Joyofsound (JOS)
