Music for Youth

What Music for Youth does

Music for Youth is a UK national youth music charity (registered charity no. 285831) founded in 1970, headquartered at CBSO Centre, Birmingham, with operations at the Royal Albert Hall in London and 20+ additional regional venues across the country. The organisation delivers a year-round programme of live music festivals, concerts, and creative development opportunities for over 30,000 young musicians aged 4-25 annually, spanning all genres from classical to contemporary. Its core product portfolio comprises three flagship events — Regional Festivals (spring), National Festival (summer, Birmingham), and MFY Proms at the Royal Albert Hall (November) — supplemented by specialist sub-brands including Frequencies (careers agency for ages 16-25), Mentor Connects (digital submission platform for remote participation), Creative Careers Programme (paid work experience), New Music Residency (£1,000 bursary programme for composers), Accelerando (teacher training in disadvantaged London schools), Primary Live (concerts for ages 4-11), Together for Music (inclusive festival for D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent musicians), and MFY Invites (high-profile performance opportunities).

The organisation operates with a small central team of 1-10 employees and depends on a distributed network of professional Music Mentors, music education hub partners, and venue relationships. Its technology stack is minimal — primarily a Squarespace website with a digital submission tool (Mentor Connects) that accepts audio/video uploads via YouTube, Spotify, Soundcloud, and Vimeo for written mentor feedback. The platform provides no proprietary AI capabilities, APIs, or software products; the offering is fundamentally experiential and event-driven.

Music for Youth's revenue model combines three streams: individual and institutional donations (including Arts Council England NPO funding, The Neville Abraham Foundation, Backstage Trust, The Underwood Trust, and Amazon's Regional Creatives Fund), corporate partnerships and sponsorships (BBC Ten Pieces, ABRSM, NEU, Musicians Union, Royal Albert Hall, CBSO), and modest participation fees (Regional Festivals £35/group, National Festival £35-£100/group, Proms £150/group, Creative Project £8/ticket, Primary Live £3/ticket). A subsidy scheme reduces financial barriers for participants. The charity is governed by a Board of Trustees chaired by Professor Tony Harris (Principal of ICMP) and led by CEO Phil Castang MBE, with no shareholders, no private equity backing, and no disclosed revenue.

Name

Music for Youth

Legal name

Music for Youth

Website

https://mfy.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Music for Youth is a UK national youth music charity (founded 1970) that delivers live festivals, concerts, and creative development programmes for over 30,000 young musicians aged 4-25 annually, progressing from regional events to the MFY Proms at the Royal Albert Hall.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Music Education and Festival Services

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Concerts & Music Festivals (THAJAFAA), Creative Arts, Music & Movement Content (EDAGACAG)

Keywords

• Youth music festivals
• Music education programmes
• Creative careers mentoring
• School music events
• Inclusive music projects

Headquarters

HQ city

Birmingham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Music for Youth is a registered charity (no. 285831) that relies on donations from individuals, corporate sponsors, and institutional funders to support programme delivery and ensure accessibility for young people from all backgrounds.
2. Participation Fees: Revenue generated from participation fees charged to groups attending Regional Festivals, National Festival, Proms, and Creative Project. Fee structures vary by event type and group size.
3. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorship: Partnership and sponsorship arrangements with organisations including Arts Council England, ABRSM, BBC Ten Pieces, Ev-Entz, and others. Benefits include recognition in digital and print materials, tickets to events, VIP invitations, and creative programme alignment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Music for Youth is a registered UK charity (no. 285831) that produces a year-round calendar of live music festivals, concerts, and creative development programmes for young musicians aged 4-25. Its core offering progresses groups from Regional Festivals across 20+ UK locations, to the National Festival in Birmingham, and culminates in the MFY Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, supplemented by specialist initiatives such as Frequencies, Mentor Connects, Accelerando, Primary Live, Together for Music, Creative Careers, and the New Music Residency.

Product overview

Music for Youth operates as a national youth music charity offering a comprehensive programme of festivals, concerts, and development opportunities rather than a single software product. The core portfolio consists of three flagship events: Regional Festivals (UK's largest festival series held across 20+ locations in spring), the National Festival (summer celebration in Birmingham featuring world-class venue performances), and MFY Proms (iconic annual showcase at Royal Albert Hall in November). Supporting these are specialist initiatives including Frequencies (careers agency for ages 16-25), Mentor Connects (digital submission programme for remote participation), Creative Careers Programme (paid work experience), New Music Residency (composer/artist development), Accelerando (teacher training in disadvantaged areas), Primary Live (concerts for ages 4-11), Together for Music (inclusive festival), and MFY Invites (high-profile performance opportunities). All participants receive mentorship from professional musicians through the Music Mentors programme. The offering is unified by an annual season structure progressing from regional to national to flagship Proms, creating a 'journey from the school hall to the Royal Albert Hall' for young musicians across all genres and abilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Frequencies: An agency for young people aged 16-25 that exists to help anyone who wants a future in music. Provides live performance slots, paid work experience, mentoring, financial support, and professional film and photography materials.
• New Music Residency
• Creative Careers
• Accelerando
• Together for Music
• Primary Live
• MFY Invites

Products and services

• Regional Festivals
• National Festival
• MFY Proms
• Frequencies
• Mentor Connects
• Primary Live
• Together for Music
• MFY Invites
• Accelerando
• Creative Careers Programme
• New Music Residency
• Creative Project

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 30,000 young musicians participate annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, programme, ambassador and board.

• Arts Council EnglandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor funder and national partner supporting Music for Youth's annual programme of events and festivals for young musicians across the UK.
• ABRSMcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgramme partner collaborating on Creative Project, New Music Residency, and joint initiatives to support young musicians.
• BBC Ten PiecescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Creative Project at the MFY Proms, featuring BBC Ten Pieces commissions and new works for young musicians.
• Royal Albert HallcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for annual MFY Proms, hosting over 1,500 young musicians each night in one of the world's most iconic concert halls.
• City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBirmingham-based orchestral partner co-presenting National Festival events and Primary Live concerts at Symphony Hall and CBSO Centre.
• National Education Union (NEU)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor partner and sponsor, providing access to NEU conference for MFY Invites performances.
• Musicians Union (MU)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor partner and sponsor supporting the music education mission.
• Ev-EntzmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent production partner providing expertise for National Festival and Creative Careers programme.
• B:MusiccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBirmingham music venue operator partnering on Primary Live and National Festival events.
• Trinity College LondonprogrammeStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgramme partner supporting Together for Music inclusive music festival through ACMD qualification in association with Sounds of Intent programme.
• Royal Marines Band ServiceprogrammeGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner providing conducting workshops and masterclasses at the National Festival.
• National Youth ChoirprogrammeGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner leading singing workshops at the National Festival as part of the festival fringe programme.
• BBC Get SingingprogrammeStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with BBC Get Singing resource for 11-14 year olds, featured in Creative Project 2026.
• East London Music AllianceprogrammeChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLondon Music Education Hub partner for Accelerando programme delivery in disadvantaged areas.
• South East London Music HubprogrammeChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMusic education hub partner for Accelerando programme delivery.
• Southwest London Music HubprogrammeChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMusic education hub partner for Accelerando programme delivery.
• The HoosiersambassadorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmbassador partnership with million-selling indie band supporting MFY throughout their 2026 tour, spotlighting accessible music education.
• Jack PepperambassadorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmbassador and young commissioned composer supporting MFY since 2019, passionate about music education and state school access.
• Institute of Contemporary Music Performance (ICMP)boardStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganisation of incoming Board Chair Professor Tony Harris, Principal of ICMP and SAE Creative Media Institute.
• Ev-EntzprogrammeImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIndustry professionals contributing to Creative Careers programme as expert mentors.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Music Mark: UK subject association for music education, representing and supporting Music Education Hubs. Wider sector incumbent that MFY partners with; comparable focus on access to music education but operating as a membership/professional body rather than a programme delivery charity.

Emerging players

• Drake Music: UK charity pioneering music, disability, and assistive technology. Direct overlap with MFY's Together for Music (D/deaf, disabled, neurodivergent young musicians) and Accelerando SEND focus, and shared trustee cross-pollination (Jon Pelluet).

Direct peers

• Music for All: UK charity providing instruments, lessons, and grants to enable wider participation in music. Adjacent mission to MFY: same beneficiary pool, similar Arts Council funding relationships, and complementary role in the youth music ecosystem.
• National Youth Music Theatre (NYMT): UK charity providing performance opportunities for young people in music theatre. Same beneficiary age range (school-age to early 20s), similar festival/production model, comparable Royal Albert Hall and regional venue presence, and shared reliance on donations and trusts.
• Youth Music: UK charity focused on marginalised children and young people's music-making. Most direct peer: same beneficiary age group (0-25), similar grant-funded model, complementary but non-overlapping programmes (Youth Music funds grassroots projects while MFY showcases via festivals).
• Awards for Young Musicians: UK charity providing financial and developmental support to young musicians aged 5-17 from disadvantaged backgrounds. Same mission (removing barriers to music progression), overlapping funder base, and overlapping beneficiary pool as MFY's subsidy scheme.
• Sistema Scotland: Big Noise programme delivering intensive ensemble music education in Scottish communities. Compares as a youth music charity with similar ensemble-based pedagogy, subsidy/removal-of-barriers ethos, and focus on disadvantaged beneficiaries.
• National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain: Charity delivering performance opportunities and training for young classical musicians aged 13-19. Direct peer to MFY's Proms pathway: both run national showcase events, source talent from schools/music hubs, and rely on Arts Council and trusts for funding.
• BBC Young Musician: BBC flagship competition for young classical musicians, partnered with MFY on Ten Pieces Creative Project. Operates as a talent identification and showcase platform for the same age cohort, with national broadcast reach that complements MFY's live festival format.

Others

• Royal Albert Hall (Education Programme): Venue partner hosting MFY Proms and broader own education/outreach programmes. Comparable audience development and youth performance agenda, but as a venue operator rather than a standalone charity; structural constraint to MFY's flagship event.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/musicforyouth
• YouTubeyoutube.com/musicforyouth
• Facebookfacebook.com/musicforyouth
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/music-for-youth
• Instagraminstagram.com/musicforyouth
• TikToktiktok.com/@musicforyouth

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Music for Youth