FOR THE JOY OF PLAYING AND THE LOVE OF LEARNING
Past and Present Project Outcomes
Music House’s Past and Present project was a vibrant and inspiring journey, bringing together creativity, curiosity, and a strong sense of community.
Led by Joe Williams and Mathew Bellwood, the Heritage Group explored the history of 1 St Mark’s Avenue, alongside the diverse cultural heritages of our local communities. Using music as a shared language, participants reflected on place, identity and lived experience.
As part of the project outcomes, participants gathered and shared personal heritage stories, uncovering common themes and connections. These stories informed a co‑created photographic exhibition and digital collection, celebrating the richness of our community’s heritage
Music House Past and Present
Researchers – Joe Williams and Matthew Bellwood
Additional research by members of Music House Gospel Choir
Poster design, layout and illustrations by Wingfinger Graphics, Leeds
Unless otherwise stated, all photographs have been reprinted by kind permission of Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
Music House Past and Present was funded by Leeds Community Foundation 
Original Recordings
Working alongside composer Christella Litras and poet and lyricist Seki Lynch, the group transformed this research into three original song recordings. This playlist brings those tracks together, capturing stories of identity, connection, and the power of community through music.
Written by: Seki Lynch
Composer: Christella Litras
Researchers: Joe Williams & Matthew Bellwood
Song Production: Seki Lynch
Mix Engineer: Malik Morgan Murphy
Written by: Seki Lynch
Composer: Christella Litras
Researchers: Joe Williams & Matthew Bellwood
Song Production: Seki Lynch
Mix Engineer: Malik Morgan Murphy
Written by: Seki Lynch
Composer: Christella Litras
Researchers: Joe Williams & Matthew Bellwood
Song Production: Seki Lynch
Mix Engineer: Malik Morgan Murphy
Bringing History to Life
The rich and vibrant history of 1 St Mark’s Avenue was explored through this project. These 16 heritage stories capture moments of research, discovery, and reflection, highlighting the diverse cultural heritages within our local communities. Click the images to read.
We are grateful to Leeds Community Foundation – their funding made ‘Past and Present’ possible.