Press
The Greater London Authority (GLA) Music Education Programme
Mayor’s music education fund
A £100,000 grant was announced this week to seed fund partnerships between local authority music services and orchestras and ensembles in London. The programme will open in May 2010 and will cover projects in the academic year September 2010 to July 2011. The aim is to give young people the experience of working with professional musicians, encouraging them to make music in ensembles whilst helping to raise their musical aspirations. It will also strengthen and deepen the partnership working between London’s music services and the orchestral sector. The fund will be administered by the GLA in partnership with the Federation of Music Services’ London region, and working closely in the first instance with the Association of British Orchestras (ABO).
The GLA Music Education Programme steering board will be chaired by Karen Brock, Head of Tower Hamlets Arts and Music Education Service (THAMES).
You can download a copy of the GLA Music Education Strategy here:
Making Music Matter - Music Education Strategy for London 2010-2012
Joint FMS/Sing Up Collaboration Celebrates with 3500 Young Performers at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall
A unique collaboration of 14 West Midlands Music Services, which form the National Sing up Project West Midlands Consortium, was rewarded with a successful Sing Up event held on Monday 26 January at Birmingham’s prestigious Symphony Hall.
The combined event involved over a 3500 KS1 and 2 young singers, and nearly 500 teachers and other adults as part of a huge CPD input, in two singing workshops led by vocal supremo, Lin Marsh, together with singing leaders from each of the authorities. Both workshops included specially written material by Lin Marsh and a versatile band which accompanied the pieces.
In the evening the Sing Up event culminated in a spectacular massed transition choir featuring 350 children from across the region; it was directed by the well known conductor, David Lawrence and presented by BBC Midlands Today host, Michael Collie. Lichfield Cathedral Girl’s Choir, City of Birmingham Young Voices and choirs from a selection of Music Services provided solo performances.
Head of Birmingham Music Services and FMS national executive member, John Clemson, commented: “This is a huge credit to all the music services that took part and a great example of what can be done by combining the regional resources of Music Services and harnessing the power of so many young voices!”
ENDS
Note to Editors
1. The FMS is a registered charity that was formed in the 1990s to help the regional Music Services organisations to be more effective and represent them in dealing with central and local government.
2. There are more than 160 Music Services organisations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, of which 156 are members of the FMS. Their role is to provide primary and secondary schools with all that they need to teach music: they set standards, provide teaching aids, equipment and training for heads of music/ music teachers. They employ about 10,000 people nationwide.
For further information contact: Douglas Adamson
Mobile: 07860 420763
Telephone: 01423 569000
Email: douglas@watershed-consulting.com