World Busk 2012
Calling all buskers…
And we’re off! The dates for our World Busk 2012 have been announced. From 11 to 17 June the world’s streets will resound to the sound of music as musicians everywhere turn out to entertain the local crowds and raise money for Musequality.
The event is fast becoming an unmissable fixture on the musical world’s calendar. In 2009, we set a world record for biggest co-ordinated busk. In 2010 we raised money to help the Holy Trinity Music School that was destroyed by the Haitian earthquake. In 2011 we sent money to schemes for some of the poorest children in Uganda, Thailand, India and South Africa.
Naturally we want it to be bigger and better than ever, so this year’s theme is ‘Extreme Busking’. Could you try for the highest altitude busk? How about a deepest busk – underwater? Can you beat the Rothera Research Station’s furthest south busking record? How about furthest north? Most colourful costume? Largest group? What about most unusual location – can you beat the aircraft carrier busk of 2009?
Join the fun
Of course, everyone is welcome to join in, wherever you are in the world. And it’s easy. Just decide what, where and when you want to play (check you have permission) and get out there. If you’ve never done it before, we have plenty of tips and advice. Then send the money you’ve raised to us using our donations pages, or, if you have a specific music project you would like to support, send it direct to them. You can also set up your own fundraising page. Register now and we will keep you updated with all the latest news and developments.World Busk 2011
12 June to 19 June 2011
It began in the icy wastes of Antarctica, and ended a week later in New Zealand. In between, streets and public places around the world were treated to a string of outdoor performances that made Musequality’s 2011 World Busk one of the liveliest and most diverse yet.
Over the course of the week, 59 separate busks involving almost 500 participants took place in 16 countries. This was an extraordinary achievement, and more than £7,000 was raised for projects supported by Musequality as well as money for numerous local initiatives.
On 12 June, more than 230 people in 11 countries turned out to try and help us beat our own 2009 record for largest coordinated world busk. Sadly, we didn’t quite make it, but we are extremely proud of what everyone achieved.
If there was an award for toughest audience, it would go to the Rothera Winter Crew for their attempt to entertain a handful of uninterested penguins in Antarctica. Wettest busk probably goes to the brave performers at Bedford Park Festival Speed Busk in Chiswick, London. Both they and Fredrick Kyewalyanga and the Elgon Youth Brass Band in Uganda should also be congratulated for possibly the first ever mutual live busk, in which they played to each other via a telephone link. A strong contender for most unusual instrument must be the dulcimer played by Bryson Gerard in St Louis.
It was great to have so many schools involved, such as Grove Park Primary School in London, whose efforts continued all week. The Discovery School in Hong Kong took part to raise money for the Ban Mai Mok Cham school project in Thailand – and not to be outdone, the Ban Mai Mok school joined in too. Some events were on an impressive scale, like the choirs, bands and acts who came together in Nigeria for a day of busking to raise funds for a local music project.
One of the busk’s proudest achievements was giving a voice to >Palestinian refugee children in Beirut. A group of children performed songs and classical music pieces on the violin and traditional Middle Eastern instruments in busy Hamra Street. They were from the Al Kamandjati project, a non-profit association that makes music accessible to children in Palestine and the refugee camps. Palestinians in Lebanon often have a difficult time, so it was heart-warming to hear how well the spectators received their performance.
Musequality would like to thank everyone who played and contributed, including long term supporters, The Treblemakers (the Acappella group outside South Kensington underground station); Harriet Cochrane and Isla Ratcliff in the Royal Mile, Edinburgh; Kingswood School in Grahamstown, South Africa; Angela Amati and her Orchestra in Naples, Italy; Ryeland Harp Ring in the US; the Ezra Beats in Madrid, Spain; members of the Shin Nippon Symphony Orchestra in Ramo, Japan; and many, many others.
So far Musequality World Busks have raised over £27,000 to support music education projects for disadvantaged children around the world. In 2010 we raised money to help the Holy Trinity Music School that was destroyed by the Haitian earthquake. This year you’ll be supporting music projects for some of the poorest children in Uganda, Thailand, India and South Africa. Music has already changed their lives and, by getting involved, you can help get more kids into music programmes that make a real difference.
Taking part is easy and it’s fun, too! Just register, find a place to play and get out there. Then send the money you’ve raised to us using our donations pages or, if you have a specific music project you would like to support, send it direct to them. Don’t forget to tell us how much you raised so that we can add your contribution to our total.
World Record Co-ordinated Busk
To set our first World Busk Record we were joined by 483 buskers in 105 acts in 44 pitches in 30 towns or cities in 17 countries on seven continents ... and one sea, to establish a record for the largest coordinated busk. We’re determined to beat that on Sunday 12 June, the first day of World Busk 2011.
It’s easy to get involved. Just sign up, find a place to play (legally, please) … and start busking!
Register now or email us for more information.
Buskers 2009-2010 First row: Barbershop Chorus Light Relief, New Zealand. Falkland Islands’ police chief
witnesses Vocalise with Shirley Adams Leach MBE. Angela Amato’s Sirenide for Musequality, Italy.
Second row:Craig Ogden. Royal College of Music Junior Departmernt string quartet. Sam Meredith and Nick Booth. Jocie Juritz awaits speed busk. Rob Juritz. Wind Chamber Orchestra, St Pancras International.
Third row: London: Tutti Flutti, Chiswick. Heidi Goldsmith, South Kensington. London Tango Quintet.Taro Hakase with
London Tango Quintet, St Pancras International. Senior officers as Peruvian pipers,
HMS Illustrious. Primary school violinists, Woking.
Fourth row: Mark Fennell, Isle of Wight. Royal College of Music Junior wind quartet. Kensington Symphony Orchestra beside the Thames. Goan picnickers join the busk, Middlesex
Fifth row: Nine year old Sarah Gordon, London. Kier the Street Musician, Weymouth. Barbershop Capital Chorus, London. Guitarist Simon Green, London. Acephale the magician, Seattle. The Wandering Skewers, Padstow
World Busk on YouTube
Some of the amazing people who supported our 2011 World Busk:
Tight fisted penguins! Rothera Winter Crew Antarctica
Little Brian's Big Band busking to raise money for prosthetics for Tadeo at the Good Shepherd School, Uganda. Match funded by Musequality.
JustGiving
Ban Mai Mok Chan School in Thailand
2011 feedback so far
"Today's busking went fantastically well and we collected £333.37 in two hours from a very generous audience. Thank you to everyone involved and we hope to update you very soon about progress with young Tadeo's prosthetics."
“Back here in Uganda, all went well and everyone at the busk had fun. We had 30 buskers from EYBB and 15 from the church choir totalling 45. We used our brass band instruments like; trumpets, sousaphone, drums,trombones,tubas etc. We had an audience of more than 400 people at the busk, I have organized to it tomorrow at the Mbale regional hospital."
“Well, our busk was both fun and successful! We only made $41 but we had a great time, and had a very entertained and amazed audience! We had 11 harpists, one fiddler and a percussionist!
Thanks for organizing such a wonderful event!!!!"
“Isla and Harriet did their busk yesterday! It was a sunny day in Edinburgh, but cold and fairly windy. We tried busking in the Royal Mile, but couldn't dislodge a much louder punk rocker playing brash recorded music just 20 yards away round the corner from us. So we moved to Princes Street Gardens, where lots of people passed, some stopped to listen,and a few donated. As usual, it was children and young people who were most interested, including one girl aged about 12 who asked to try out Harriet's violin. Harriet kindly obliged, and afterwards the girl gave a big grin and said it was cool! ."
"Had a great day at Kirtsenbosch ...wonderful weather and everyone loved the music. Hope you too all had a great busk."
Musequality
The world busk aims to raise money for Musequality, whose mission is:
- supports music projects for underprivileged children in the developing world that will foster self-confidence and growth in their social, intellectual and spiritual capacities.
- provides financial assistance to these projects as well as through exchange programmes and training.
- facilitates partnerships between established music organisations and Musequality beneficiaries.
Musequality supports projects in Uganda, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana India and Thailand. By joining the world busk you will help us continue funding these projects – and set up more.
www.musequality.org
Media coverage
The Times, UK, 10th June
There’s no business like snow business – and it’s all in a good cause. More
BBC World News, 5th to 8th June
Clips of a few busk rehearsals were broadcast around the world.
