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Charanga & MusicFirst celebrate exciting new chapter
Published: 10th January 2025
Charanga, the UK’s largest digital platform supporting music and arts education, and MusicFirst, a recognised leader in digitally supported secondary music education, today announced their acquisition by New York-based private equity firm Achieve Partners, a leading investor in the future of learning and work. This is a significant step forward in Achieve’s efforts to build a comprehensive global educational software platform for music and the arts.
Investing in UK music education, leading innovation
‘We are delighted to begin a fantastic new era in Charanga’s development,’ said Mark Burke, Co-Founder of Charanga. ‘Achieve is the perfect partner to help us take Charanga forward. Their commitment to investing in UK music education and belief in the social good it creates align strongly with our own values and view that inclusive and accessible music learning for all is a force for good. Bringing together Charanga and MusicFirst’s products and services will also significantly benefit our music hub and music service partners, and the schools, teachers, and young people we all support.’
‘This is an exciting new chapter for MusicFirst,’ said Dr Jim Frankel, Founder and Managing Director of MusicFirst. ‘Achieve’s commitment to education and technology aligns perfectly with our mission to empower music educators and students alike,’ ‘I am proud of what we’ve accomplished and look forward to collaborating with Achieve and Charanga to drive even greater innovation and impact in music education.’
‘We are thrilled to welcome Charanga and MusicFirst to the Achieve family,’ said Troy Williams, Managing Director of Achieve Partners. ‘These companies have a remarkable track record of delivering innovative music education to schools, teachers, and students worldwide. We value the experience and know-how of their management teams and believe we can support the companies’ growth, ensuring they’ll continue to set the standard in digital music education while preserving their unique cultures and dedication to their customers.’
About Charanga
Over 70,000 teachers use Charanga’s online platform to help them teach music, and more than 2.5 million children in 64 countries enjoy a Charanga-supported music lesson every week. Its platform is entirely customisable. The UK-based company is best known for its award-winning online platform, music curricula, technology, CPD and teacher training, which, together, boost music in schools. Charanga also has a 25-year history of partnership working with music hubs and services UK-wide, national and state governments, and others to support their ambitions for positive change in music education. To learn more about Charanga, please visit charanga.com.About MusicFirst
MusicFirst, which includes Focus on Sound and OGenPlus, is the premier online music education platform focusing on secondary music education. The company has revolutionised music learning through its innovative technology and software bundles. To learn more about MusicFirst, please visit musicfirst.co.uk.About Achieve Partners
Achieve Partners is engineering the future of learning and earning by investing in cutting-edge technologies and novel business models to bolster skill development and secure the future of work for millions of people worldwide. By harnessing digital transformation, Achieve helps teachers, administrators, and schools improve student learning and outcomes. To learn more about Achieve Partners, please visit achievepartners.com.For more information, please contact:
Tony Pinkham, Head of Marketing and Communications at Charanga
Telephone: +44 (0) 7711 888 655