We were delighted to welcome Josh Asokan, concert pianist and founder of Odyssey Ensemble, to Willingham on Mon 20 April. During assembly, Josh spoke to the whole school about his own musical journey, explaining how he began teaching himself the piano at just two years old. He shared how music quickly became a powerful way for him to express himself, long before he had any formal lessons.

As he grew older, Josh’s love of music became closely connected with his passion for social justice. He spoke about how his interest in refugee advocacy developed, and how this led him to found Odyssey Ensemble. Through this charity, Josh now uses music as a tool to raise awareness, build empathy, and advocate for refugees, showing pupils how creativity can be used to make a real difference in the world.

Throughout the morning, Josh also led interactive and engaging workshops with Years 2, 3 and 4. These sessions built brilliantly on the pupils’ current music units, giving them the opportunity to explore pitch and rhythm in new ways. The children participated enthusiastically and came away inspired by Josh’s message that music can be both creative and meaningful.