By Felix Reeves

Musicians with learning disabilities will take to an iconic stage to perform in front of 4,000 people.

Members of the Music Man Project (MMP) will perform at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Monday (April 15) as part of the Music is Magic event.

The scheme is the first full-time, music education service which brings opportunities to musicians with learning disabilities.

The event will feature 47 performers and carers from Medway as part of the 300-strong massed choir.

On stage, the MMP Kent group will be performing alongside the Lorraine Kelly Studio Orchestra, with narration from Downton Abbey actor, Peter Egan.

The Medway-based project regularly sees 60 members take part in lessons. It has grown massively since its inception in September 2017.

As well as the MMP performers, three choirs from Kent and Medway will also travel to London to be part of the show.

MMP Kent regional director Sarah Mann said: “Increasing their confidence and sense of self-worth is the most important thing.

“One of our main aims is to challenge misconceptions with our group.”

The MMP Kent choir has previously performed at St George’s Centre in Chatham, and were told it was the best-attended festive event the venue hosted in 2018.

Ms Mann added: “We are proud of the community that we are growing – the warmth that is expressed and shared between the different members as they continue to build friendships.”

One of the Medway performers, Thomas, will be singing a solo version of Kumbaya, despite his parents being told by doctors that he would never be able to speak or read.

The national project, which has received positive comments from the likes of Prime Minister Theresa May and the Royal College of Music, has been running since 2012.

Following the performance at the Royal Albert Hall, the MMP group will be appearing at the RISE4Disability event on the Kent County Showground, Detling, in June.

They have also performed outreach programmes in South Africa in 2016 and India in 2017, and hope to visit Nepal this year.

MMP Kent meets at three venues around Medway: Tuesday, 1.30pm-3pm at the Salvation Army Hall, Green Stret, Gillingham; Tuesday, 6.30pm-7.45pm at Danecourt School, Hotel Road, Gillingham; and Thursday, 1.30pm-3pm at the Salvation Army Hall in Gun Lane, Strood.

For more, contact Sarah Mann on 07909 515439, email mmpkent@gmail.com or go to www.themusicmanproject.com