Music Education Fund
About the Music Education Fund
The Fund was piloted in summer 2010 to give thousands of young musicians the opportunity to make music together, learn from London's top professional musicians and perform alongside them in inspirational venues. The Fund also aimed to develop new, innovative and inspirational partnerships between borough Music Services and professional orchestras.
The Fund has delivered £250,000 for six partnerships involving 13 local authority music services, six orchestras and one music college. By summer 2012 these partnerships will have given over 5,000 8-18-year-olds the chance to develop their instrumental skills and creativity, take part in workshops, ensembles and master-classes, meet other young musicians and perform alongside some of the UK’s finest professional musicians in inspirational venues.
In May 2011 the Mayor of London's Fund for Young Musicians was launched. This new charity will develop additional partnerships between borough Music Services and London's top professional musicians, benefitting tens of thousands of young Londoners. A new scholarships programme has also been unveiled. Over the coming years it will provide intensive support for hundreds of children who have exceptional musical potential but are unable to afford the cost of lessons.
The Mayor of London Boris Johnson said:
‘There can be no greater joy than being able to pick up an instrument and bewitch others with music, but many youngsters in the capital don't get the chance to develop their musical skills. Although there are a great many examples of early and free access to music in London, ongoing affordable tuition is often disparate and patchy. As one of the world’s great cultural powerhouses, it is our responsibility to ensure that youngsters growing up in this city today can benefit from the world-class facilities and institutions we have based here.
‘I hope that this fund will ensure that young people growing up in London get a musical education of a high standard across the board, with instruments generously thrust into the hands of young people irrespective of musical achievement or parents ability to pay. Musical exploration should not be for the few, but for everyone. ‘
GLA funded music partnerships
The six new GLA funded music partnerships are:
Greenwich Music Service, Lewisham Music Service, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and the London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO)
Over 1,200 young people will take part in Trinity Laban and LPO workshops in schools and music service centres. They will have the opportunity to develop their skills with projects including the Animate Orchestra – a brand new orchestra of the 21st Century, led by 10-14 year olds, involving classical instrumentalists and electronic music artists working alongside musicians from the Trinity Laban and the LPO.
Kingston Music Service, Hounslow Music Service and the Philharmonia Orchestra
Over 1,000 primary school students from areas of high poverty, low social mobility and limited access to cultural activities, will receive sustained instrumental tuition, take part in range of specially formed ensembles and perform alongside members of the Philharmonia. The project aims to become rooted in the local community with the Philharmonia performing special community concerts at the Rose Theatre.
Brent Music Service, Enfield Arts Support Service, Haringey Music and Performing Arts Centre and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO). Up to 2,000 young musicians, from beginners through to advanced players, will take part in a series of workshops resulting in the formation of a ‘World Orchestra’. The orchestra will devise and perform their own music with the help of RPO musicians and composers. Performances are hoped to take place at the Royal Albert Hall and the Wembley Arena in 2012.
Croydon Music and Arts, Sutton Music Service and the London Mozart Players (LMP). Up to 2,200 young people age 8-18 will attend LMP open rehearsals and free performances at Fairfield Halls, and take part in master classes, join youth orchestra rehearsals with LMP players, and a series of creative workshops for beginner and intermediate players in schools and music service centres. The project will culminate with a performance of a new piece devised and performed by the young people with LMP players and composers.
Camden Music Service, Merton Music Foundation, Wandsworth Music Service, CEA@Islington and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment (OAE)
400 children age 8-14, and 40 instrumental tutors, will take part in termly workshops with OAE players. New borough string ensembles will be formed enabling students to perform specially commissioned, mixed-ability music. The new ensembles will involve students performing side-by-side with OAE players at the Southbank Centre and Kings Place. Students will also take part in special OAE concert visits.
Barnet Music Service, Harrow Music Service and BBC Concert Orchestra (BBCCO)
Over 300 students arriving at secondary schools in some of the most deprived areas of Barnet and Harrow will be able to continue learning a musical instrument through music service support, weekly in-school ensemble sessions, plus workshops and performance opportunities with BBCCO players. The BBCCO will offer access to live concerts as well as creating a new youth ensemble so that students can pursue their interests further.
