News
ABRSM to sponsor FMS during 2010–11
ABRSM, the world’s leading authority on musical assessment, is to sponsor the Federation of Music Services (FMS) for the academic year September 2010 to August 2011. John Witchell, Chief Executive of FMS, announced the sponsorship agreement at the FMS Conference 2010 in Belfast (16–18 June). The grant will support the ongoing promotion and provision of the 12- month FMS course “Rising with the tide: managing and leading music services in the 21st century”.
Rising with the tide
Launched in 2010, the course aims to support beginning, developing and established leaders, both individually and collaboratively, in building professional knowledge around learning- centred leadership. The programme extends over 12 months and seeks to enhance school leadership capability and capacity across local authorities in England and Wales, by engaging individuals in a series of innovative development sessions.
A sustained relationship
ABRSM has sponsored a series of FMS activities since 2004. The two organisations announced a new consultancy partnership in 2008 in which ABRSM, through its Director of Professional Development Richard Crozier, would provide FMS with consultancy on professional development within music services at a strategic level. The development and launch of ‘Rising with the tide’ has been a major part of Crozier’s role as consultant.
Guy Perricone, Chief Executive of ABRSM, said: “ABRSM recognises that Music Services make a vital contribution to the teaching and learning of music across the country. We are delighted to continue supporting FMS – and specifically the course ‘Rising with the tide’ – as part of our sponsorship programme for music education organisations in the UK.”
John Witchell, Chief Executive of FMS, said: “Music services in the FMS truly appreciate the ongoing support from ABRSM. This year, as we develop the leadership training programme, we are particularly pleased that ABRSM will be directly supporting colleagues who are preparing for
leadership and management posts in music services. The partnership between the two organisations is testimony to the dedication of those who are committed to the values of music education.”
Download the press-release (63Kb PDF)
FMS Conference 2010 programme
You can also read about the cross culture Irish welcome that conference delegates will receive from talented pupils in each of the Education and Library Boards.
Presentations from the conference will shortly be on the conference page.
Download the Feedbackformhere! Conference Feedback Form 2010
Cross Culture Irish School Bands to Welcome Conference Visitors
The Federation of Music Services’ annual conference in Belfast from 16 – 18 June will be the first occasion that the conference has been held in Northern Ireland and it comes at a time when the future level of government support for music education after 2011 is still uncertain.
On the first full morning of the conference at the Belfast Hilton hotel, delegates will be greeted by a youthful Irish musical extravaganza in the form of ‘Celtic Fusion’. The band has a meld of talent from across the province including drummers and dancers are from St Cecilia’s College (Western Education and Library Board) and the Southern Education and Library Board (SELB), and traditional musicians from Our Lady’s Grammar School (SELB).
Said Caitríona Ruane MLA, Minister of Education, in welcoming the FMS to Belfast, “Music has a very important role to play in the curriculum as it forms an essential part of a balanced education; it is a powerful and distinctive form of communication and expression, as well as enhancing young people’s self-esteem and confidence.”
The boys and girls performing are aged from 14 – 17 years. ‘Celtic Fusion’ consists of sixteen drummers and seven instrumentalists including fiddlers and whistlers and one keyboard player. They will be playing an assortment of instruments including violin, tin whistle, harp and concertina. Percussion will be provided by Lambeg, Bodhran and African drums. This exciting combination of instruments and styles will provide the accompaniment for their own ‘river dance’ as they are joined by traditional dancers performing jigs, reels and horn pipes.
John Witchell, FMS Chief Executive, said: “What better Irish welcome could we have with the magic and mystery of a traditional fiddle, whistle and drum band to play us into our conference? The spirit of creative cross-school collaboration is an inspiration to all music teachers and demonstrates children making music at its best.”
There are a series of other musical highlights throughout the conference from the Province’s schools including A-Freek-A, 25 players of African drums, Codetta, City of Derry Civic Choirs who will sing in Belfast’s City Hall on Thursday evening at a drink’s reception, St Malachy’s College Senior Traditional Group, a Jazz Ensemble and a Harp Ensemble.
The FMS conference speakers include Sir Tim Brighouse, educational guru and former London School’s tsar and Roy Leighton, motivational speaker and education, learning and enterprise specialist. It is anticipated that all five of Northern Ireland’s regional Education and Library Board Chief Executives will be in attendance. The conference is also hosting a variety of workshops covering such diverse subjects as Music and Special Educational Needs, New Business Modeling and Music Camps.
New Chief Executive appointed at the Federation of Music Services
The Federation of Music Services (FMS), the organisation that represents all music services in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, has announced that Virginia Haworth-Galt is to become its new Chief Executive. She takes up the post on the 9th August 2010.
Ms Haworth-Galt is the first FMS chief executive to come from outside the world of music services and her appointment signals a mood of change within the music education sector as budgets come under scrutiny and streamlining of services moves into sharper focus.
Ms Haworth-Galt was previously Chief Executive of Artswork, the national youth development agency that provides a range of creative and cultural opportunities for Young People at Risk, which she is credited with steering to national prominence. She has worked closely with both the DCMS, DCSF (now Dept for Education) and the Arts Council and has been an adviser to the Secretary of State for Culture in matters concerning cultural provision and the interests of Young People at Risk. Ms Haworth-Galt also has a strong background in advocacy and communication for the arts sector both regionally and nationally.
The outgoing FMS Chief Executive, John Witchell, said: “We are delighted to have attracted someone of Virginia’s talent and experience to help lead the FMS through the challenging times that lie ahead. The role of the Federation in education has never been more crucial: music’s contribution to the wellbeing of our children’s cultural development is inestimable. I am certain that Virginia will ensure that access to music for all young people will remain at the forefront of the educational agenda.”
Ms Haworth-Galt commented:” I am very much looking forward to joining the FMS. It is an influential and well-respected organisation and I am excited about building on the excellent work that has been done in recent years, working with its members on new developments and reinforcing the Federation’s key role on the educational and cultural agendas of the day.”