A group of Kilbirnie musicians with learning disabilities have spoken of their “joy" after performing alongside singer Michael Ball as part of a concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

The group, from The Salvation Army's George Steven Community Hub, were among hundreds of performers who took to the stage in April for a special two-hour concert, Music Is Magic, hosted by The Music Man Project, performing alongside the West End and Broadway star and His Majesty's Band of the Royal Marines.

The project was founded in 2017 and teaches children and adults with learning disabilities to sing, sign and play original music and arrangements.

The 14-strong group, who travelled with their project teacher Stephen McGhee, their families, carers and Salvation Army support workers, wowed audiences with a range of songs using vocals and sign language.

One of the participants, Tom Mitchell, from Kilbirnie, said getting up on stage in front of an audience was one of the most nerve-wracking but rewarding things he’s ever done.

The 53-year-old said: “It was amazing. Truly amazing. From the journey down on the bus to then getting to perform on stage.

"But I was only able to do it with the support of our teacher Stephen and all The Salvation Army staff who came down with us. It was nerve-racking but they made us believe in ourselves."

Tom has been attending the George Steven Community Hub since it opened in 2000 and was first introduced to The Music Man Project in 2019.

The project continued during the Covid lockdown, with people who use the service regularly meeting up on video calls to "jam”.

Tom said: "Stephen and The Music Man Project have changed my life.

"I had no confidence in myself. Learning to sing and play instruments has given me the confidence in all parts of my life to try things I might not have thought I was capable of doing.

“During the pandemic, when everyone was isolated and in their homes, we would meet up on Zoom and jam with each other. I don’t know what we’d have done without it.”

Stephen, who is the Music Man Project's director for Scotland, said: “Being with the students from the George Steven Community Hub and seeing them perform on the big stage was inspiring.

"This project has been about getting people together and using music as a way to build their confidence, both in the hub and in their day-to-day lives.” 

"Our songs are made up of singing, Makaton, which is a language programme that uses symbols, signs and speech to enable people with disabilities to communicate, percussion and some other instruments like drums, piano and guitar." 

Joanne Graham, the Salvation Army’s disability engagement adviser, said: "Everyone at the concert learned the same repertoire of songs and performed them altogether on the day.

"It was a magical demonstration of what inclusion is and a wonderful event like this can really change people’s perceptions." 

Michael Ball was named as the project's latest celebrity patron in 2023.

The star of countless West End and Broadway shows, who has also achieved chart success as a solo artist, is supporting the organisation’s mission to provide inclusive music education and performance opportunities to people with learning disabilities.

For more information on The Music Man Project, visit: www.themusicmanproject.com