SoundSchool by Julian May

Overview

SoundSchool is one of those concepts that seems simple enough but which actually has an incredibly complex and profound effect on the lives of the young people it has touched. In short, Oli Mistry, Jay Hemsworth and Jarrod Paul formed SoundSchool after Oli travelled to India and saw the interest and joy that his guitar, and music in general, sparked in the underprivileged kids he encountered in the streets. SoundSchool, formed in April 2010, aims to raise money to provide children around the world with the otherwise unlikely opportunity to learn and play music, thus bringing the uplifting gift of creative expression into their often challenging existence.

Photographer Julian May was so inspired by the SoundSchool mission he jumped onboard as the official photographer to document the musical magic-making as it happened. In his first solo exhibition Julian presents his images spanning the first fundraising event for SoundSchool at the Beach Rd Hotel (rock-star pics all around) through to his beautiful images of the kids under the care of Salaam Baalak Trust in Delhi, India, getting the SoundSchool experience.

The final piece in this jigsaw of the community-minded collaboration is the Camera Club — the setting for the Julian's visual representation of the SoundSchool journey so far. Located upstairs at the Beach Rd Hotel, this sweet gallery space (complete with bar and pizzeria) celebrates and promotes creativity and community by exhibiting photographic works around a particular theme each quarter.

So at every level of its conception and execution, SoundSchool by Julian May is an exhibition about real people intervening in the lives of those less fortunate by offering creative opportunities to uplift and add richness and depth where they are truly needed. Much respect. Lend your support to the SoundSchool mission and get acquainted with the work of Julian May and the Camera Club concept from this Thursday.

The exhibition is open every day and Thursday nights will feature a revolving schedule of music, food and additional photography activations.