Charlie Baxter, a senior music leader at The Music Works, has won the title of Inspirational Music Leader at the Youth Music Awards 2025 – recognising his incredible work with young people at one of the UK's biggest celebrations of grassroots music.
SoGlos caught up with Charlie to talk about what the award means to him; what motivates his work; and why he's been passionate about making music accessible for young people in the county for the last 10 years.
Charlie, how did it feel to win the Inspirational Music Leader Award?
Winning the award was a total shock! It was more than enough for me to be nominated in the first place. The event was filled with incredible, inspiring people and when my name was read out, it took me several minutes to recognise it was actually me!
The walk to the stage was long and truly terrifying but I just about managed a speech before being whisked off on a media tour – very little of which I can remember as it went by in a whirlwind of emotions and energy.
Once the shock settled down and I was able to process what this win meant, I couldn’t be more grateful.
What drew you to youth music work initially?
I've been into music since I heard Nirvana for the first time aged 12. A year later I found my way into the school music room and picked up a bass guitar.
I grew up facing significant health challenges after developing type-1 diabetes aged 16 and subsequently threw myself into music as a coping mechanism for the physical and mental stress of this, developing my skills in songwriting, production and performance.
I knew from a young age that I wanted to work in music, but I also knew I wanted to be doing something to ‘give back’.
I’ve always wanted to spread joy and make other people happy, whether that is through leading a music session or from my own live music performances.
What does 'making music accessible for every young person' look like in practice?
Much of my work is based on the social model of disability, seeking to remove systemic barriers, derogatory attitudes and social exclusion to allow fully inclusive access to music.
A lot of what I do is in SEN schools and I find myself working with young people who might never have considered themselves to be musicians, despite having a deep love of music.
My work can involve using accessible technology to offer up new ways of making music, such as using computer software, iPads, synthesisers and musical gadgets, as well as live looping and the voice to work with young people on what they can do, rather than what they can’t.
Children and young people are innately creative, so I use that enthusiasm and encourage a playful environment where there are no wrong notes and they can access music in a way that feels natural to them.
In your acceptance speech, you mentioned a young person who wants to do your job – tell us more about that moment.
Growing up, it’s hard to see how to make a job out of music. For me, working in music was all I ever wanted to do, whatever form that might take. Being a music leader is now a tangible goal for a young musician – they can see a real varied representation in our staff and, through us working with them, can see what the role might involve.
The young person I referenced in my speech is someone I’ve worked with for over two years now in one of our school programs and have gotten to know very well. She is incredibly creative and has real empathy for others through her own experiences of growing up as a young person with challenges, which are valuable qualities for any music leader.
Being told that she’s ‘coming for my job’ when she’s older is exactly the sort of inspiration I’m looking to give out through my work.
What advice would you give to someone who's thinking about getting into youth music work?
I think the most important thing to do is to listen.
As a music leader, I’m constantly learning, whether that is from reading about new music technology; listening to new music so I can keep up with what the young people I work with are into; and trying new approaches in my own musical practice.
Listening also applies when doing the work in the moment – we describe our work as being ‘youth-led’, which means we ask the young people what they want to do and react to this.
Sometimes this might be making a collaborative electronic dance music beat; other times it might be singing songs from K-Pop Demon Hunters on repeat; and sometimes they may simply want someone to talk about their day with.
Music leading is this conglomeration of music therapy, teaching, youth work and mentoring that always keeps participant-led music making at its core.
To find out more about The Music Works, visit themusicworks.org.uk.
