Jonas Foundation

A second chance

  • Français
  • English
  • Deutsch
  • Home
  • The Foundation
    • Aims and Origins
    • Board
    • Contact, Donations
    • Prizes, special donations
    • Constitution of the Jonas Foundation
  • Switzerland
    • Le Choeur « Jonas », Genève
  • Camps
  • Permanent Projects
    • London
      • Objectives & History
      • Elephant & Castle
      • The Jonas Singers
      • Project at a Carehome
      • Events & camps
    • Paris StDenis
    • Tbilisi, Georgia/Caucasus
    • Kyrgyzstan
  • Past temporary projects
    • «Musik, Theater, Freude» – SOS Children’s Villages, Berlin
    • Camps for children with special needs in Armenia
    • Puppet workshop for the children of Gaza-City
    • Drama Workshops towards a nonviolent culture, Ramallah
    • Dance and drumming classes for youngsters who have been traumatised by violence, Tel Aviv
    • Music therapy for children with autism, Haïfa
    • Russia, St Petersburg
    • Madagascar, Africa
  • News

Elephant & Castle

The project aims to provide children who would normally not have the opportunity, the chance to receive a broadbased musical education which will also incorporate the areas of dance and drama.

The intention of the music project is to create a sense of stable community for these children, where they may learn social interaction and increased self-esteem through value orientated learning and using the musical skills they are learning to create and participate in concerts and shows that will be performed in the local community.

The project aims, through music and the performing arts to promote cultural integration and cross-cultural understanding among students and help offer the children a greater perspective in how to fulfil their greater potential, thereby having a better opportunity to transcend many of the difficulties they are faced with in their daily lives.

The project welcomes children and young people on Saturdays to teach them music (Recorder, Flute, Violon, Cello, Singing, Music Theory). Ensemble performances and singing lead the children, while making music together, to establish friendships and enhance their ability to work as a team.

Coordinator: Felix Buser
Contact: info@jonasfoundation.org
• The project has been active since 2003. It emerged from the «Swiss Church Music School» at the Swiss Church, London (starting 1997. Founders: Dr and Mrs Ulrich and Christine Sigwart) – see also history
• The project is officially recognised by the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme (volunteering for public benefit)
• The project offers the possibility to take examens (ABRSM, Guildhall School for Music and Drama

Felix Buser

Felix Buser

Coordinator of the Jonas Foundation Music Project, Elephant-and-Castle
Public relations
Felix Buser is teaching the cello.

Alumni, Cello Teacher, «Swiss Chuch-and Jonas Foundation Music Schools» (2000-)
Felix Buser has been running numerous workshops and ensembles, as well as contributing dynamic input to the composition of musicals: «Crossroads» (2010), «Aline ou la princesse qui s’envola» (2009), «Dialogue» (2007), «William Tell, a musical» (2002), which brought the School to perform at the Fringe Festival Edinburgh in 2002.

Konservatorium Basel. Teaching Diploma.
Chamber Music Studies with Heinz Holliger.
Basel Sinfonietta.

Felix Buser teaches privately. He performs regularly with Chamber Music Ensembles in England and abroad.

Sue Klein

klein_sueRecorder
BA Hons Exon, Certificate of Performance of early Music GSMD, PG Cert Ed, Institute of Education
Teaching in two schools and privately in SE22, and performs, though not as much now as earlier in her life.

Stuart Whatton

whatton_stuartPiano Teacher and pianist to the Choirs.

Alumni «Swiss Church Music School» (1997-2003), when he has been teaching the piano and co-leading the choir.
Stuart Whatton has been helping the choirs on numerous occasions.
He played the piano for the Jonas Singers at the UN-Session on Human Right’s (June 2006).
And accompanied the Choir on the organ at StPeter Cathedral, Geneva.
MA (Oxon), B.Mus (King’s College London), FRCO, PGCE, LTCL, FRSA
Prizewinning music graduate of King’s College London and Fellow of the Royal College of Organists.
Director of Music, Esher Parish Church and Artistic Director, Music on the Green.
Stuart Whatton has also been a volunteer, helping out the Choirs, at the Olympic Games, 2012.

Nick Sigsworth

sigsworth_nickViolin Teacher, Music Theory (since 2010) –
BMus, IstClass Hons (King’s College, London) –
Currently studying for a MSc in Music, Mind and Brain (Goldsmith University).
Nick started a new Violin Beginners’ Class in September 2012.
He has been singing with the Jonas Singers for a number of years.
Violin Teacher for the Bridge Project, part of London Music Masters, based at a Primary School, Lambeth, London.
Duke of Edinburgh Award, “Silver” (2005)
Nick has been running the Junior Great North Run in aid of music therapy (2004)
He is very interested in the psychology of music perception. He enjoys contemporary composition and the production of experimental electronic music.
Grade 8 “Distinction”, violin and piano (2003 and 2004).

Yu-Wei Hu

yu-wei_huBaroque and Modern Flute
Master in Advanced Performance (Distinction), Royal College of Music, London
B.A.Piano (National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei)
Winner of International Early Music Competition, Middleburg, Netherlands (2011)

Ngudi Lema

lema_ngudiGeneral help with children and their families.
Assistant teacher (Theory) and pianist for the choirs.
Ngudi Lema is member of the Alumni (Swiss Church – and Jonas Foundation Music Schools, 1997-2003-)
He is a founder member of the Jonas Singers (2004 – )
BA in Management (Middlesex University, 2010)
Ngudi is working for the Kids Corner Project as a Youth Worker.
As a Rank Foundation Apprentice, he is studying towards a Youth Worker Qualification.
«At the end of the course, I hope to have developed my skills, techniques and understanding of ways I can be of use to the young people that I work with.»
IT skills, Logic and music software.
Hobby: running, football, basketball

Manuel Nsita

nsita_manuelPercussion and Rhythm
BA Business and Human Resources Management, Coventry University.
Alumni of Swiss Church – and Jonas Foundation Music Schools (since 1997).

Stephanie James

james_stephanieLeader of the Jonas Children’s Choir (has joined the Jonas Singers in 2006).
Third year student in Law, LLB (University of Hertfordshire).
Duke of Edinburgh Award («Silver»). Candidate for the «Gold Award».
(Expedition, Sports, Arts, Volunteering).
Singing: Grade 8 (ABRSM).

Diane Bakemhe

bakemhe_dianeChoir leader of the Young Jonas Singers (13–17 yrs).
(September 2014: On a  sabbatical)
Alumni «Rossignols de Soho», «Swiss Church-and Jonas Music School» (1992-1997-2003-)
Founder member of the Jonas Singers (Co-Director of the choir in 2010 «BBC-Choir of the Day»).
Diane Bakemhe took up singing and is interested in Arts in general.
In 2007, Diane Xaverie Bakemhe and Lola Adeshigbin have launched an African Fair Trade entreprise: Bot i Lam.
By designing original African Wear, both designers want to «promote African culture in a positive light…a way of reinvesting in Africa».
B.A. Law and French (Middlesex University)
B.A. Legal Studies, LPC (Professional)
As a compliance professional, Diane Xaverie Bakemhe is dealing with regulations, fraud and anti-bribery.
She has been working for the British Government and OXFAM.

Hon. Treasurer: Ngudi Lema
Volunteers: Nathalie Brown (lunches, pastoral), Efua Boakye, Esther Frimpong
Alumni Teaching Staff: Anthony, Bailey, Jane Brandon, Robert Masarachi, Lisa Yacoub, Joey Padasian

News

  • Geneva, january 2021: Enrique Meija wins music prize
  • Geneva, january 2021: Elisa Primiceri wins music prize
  • Pleven Guitar Festival : Special Diploma for Enrique
  • New Year’s Calendar – Windows of hope
  • Tbilisi/Georgia: Admissions and diplomas

Events

No Events planned for the moment

Special piano concerts – CD available


The CD of a concert of Rati Skhirtladze’s (13 years) and his teachers Natia Beraia Taktakishvlili and Dachi Taktakishvili is available – order here: info@jonasfoundation.org
The concerts took place in Switzerland (Berne, Bioley-Magnoux, Geneva) from 12th to 15th March 2015.
On the program: Liszt, Chopin, Ravel, Lagidze.

Donations

You would like to donate? More informations you can find here.

Middle East

Drama workshops in Ramallah (Kathy Bergen, Faten Khoury) – Read more

Milman Center, Haifa

Musictherapy for children suffering from autism at the Milman Center, Haifa. Read more

Armenia: Integration of disabled children

The Jonas Foundation supports the project “Art for Inclusion” in Armenia. Documentary films: "I am a hero", "If you have wings" and "Only love". Read more

Paris-StDenis, France

The Jonas Music Class at Collège Pierre-de-Geyter, StDenis, France. Read more

London Music School

Read more about our music school.

Puzzle «Creation»

«The Creation», a painting in form of a huge puzzle! A piece of art put together by handicapped children and children from the Bernese Oberland (summer 2007). During the International Year 2008 of the Earth, «The Creation» was hosted by the International Airport Geneva at Gate A8. Read more

June 2006: UN Human Rights Council

Jonas Choir UN Geneva
19th June: The «Jonas Singers» sing with the «Petits Chanteurs de la Cathédrale» at the first Session of the Human Rights Council, United Nations, Geneva. Young singers from countries as varied as Iran, Zimbabwe, Angola, Rwanda, Cameroun, Bulgaria, Germany, United Kingdom, France and Switzerland, have been invited to sing at the first Session of the Human Rights Council.

Jonas Foundation · CH–1407 Bioley-Magnoux · info@jonasfoundation.org