The WAM Foundation
In a spontaneously inspired moment of the summer 2006, Duncan set forth to spend a month teaching piano to the students of four music schools in Kerala, Southern India, with friend Esme Anderson. Finding an excessively exam-focused culture, they inspired the children with a broader love and understanding of Western classical music, encouraged ensemble playing, improvisation, and in some cases even organised the students’ first ever concerts for their parents. The trip was such a huge success that on their return, they decided to establish a charity to encourage other young musicians in the UK to follow in their footsteps.
With the help of Michael Maslinski, an experienced banker and former governor of the English Speaking Union, they have now founded the WAM Foundation (standing for Worldwide Appreciation of Music as well as being the initials of the three founders). They have enlisted the support of Trinity College of Music, the British Council, the English Speaking Union and several individual and corporate sponsors.
In February 2009, WAM had another highly successful trip to India making arrangements with the music schools in Delhi and Kerala. The British High Commissioner, Sir Richard and Lady Stagg hosted a fantastic launch party at their residence in New Delhi including a piano recital and speech by Duncan. In the WAM pilot scheme 2009, following an overwhelming number of applications in January, interviews in March, and an induction course in May, 8 young pianists spent July and August teaching in music schools in Delhi and Kochi.
Following the success of the pilot scheme, in 2010 WAM will be selecting 14 young UK musicians to teach in schools in Delhi, Mumbai, Pune and Bangalore. Meanwhile, the charity has attracted the interest of Pt. Ravi Shankar who has invited Duncan to study with him in California, Summer 2010.