This month, we celebrated another milestone for the Pathways Programme at Live Music Now Scotland, as Pathways musician Simeon Chien performed for the first time with The Stone Combo at a care home in Dundee.
Simeon, a multi-instrumentalist with over 16 years of experience, has a diverse musical background spanning jazz, soul, classical, funk, rock and more. He plays bass and guitar as his main instruments, alongside drums, piano, ukulele, double bass and bass ukulele. His love of music began in primary school during Nordoff Robbins music therapy sessions and continued through his studies in Popular Music and Audio Engineering at Perth College UHI.
Since joining Pathways in March 2025, Simeon has been receiving personalised support tailored to his needs as a disabled musician. The programme provides guidance, mentorship, and fairly paid performance opportunities, helping musicians like Simeon access professional settings and grow their careers while shaping their own musical identity.
The Pathways Programme was initially piloted with musicians Magnus Turpie and Ethan Loch, who both thrived with the freedom to select support artists and perform in care homes and ASN settings. Following the success of the pilot, the programme expanded to support fiddle player David Nicholson.
For his first performance with The Stone Combo, Simeon was joined by Cameron Duff (double bass), Calum Steel (guitar) and Charlotte Stuart (vocals). The trio’s versatile mix of jazz standards and contemporary favourites created the perfect setting for an engaging and interactive performance. The musicians shared:
“It felt great — especially for a first performance as a four-piece! The audience responded very well, with many audience members dancing and singing along. There were many moments of audience interaction through conversation too, with one lady staying for a chat after we finished.”
Moments like this capture exactly why the Pathways Programme exists: to provide meaningful, inclusive, and professional experiences for musicians who face barriers to entering the music profession. By offering tailored support and collaborative opportunities, LMNS helps artists build confidence, develop their performance skills, and share the transformative power of live music with communities across Scotland.