New initiative to promote music education
Board members of the Devon Music Education Hub have come together to mark its launch at a free concert in Exeter attended by thousands of school children.
The Devon Music Education Hub consists of a wide range of organisations involved with music education, and working with schools it will deliver the national Plan for Music Education on Devon County Council’s behalf.
It aims to ensure that every child in Devon aged between five and 18 has the opportunity to learn a musical instrument through whole-class ensemble teaching programmes on a weekly basis.
The launch was held at a concert attended by 2,800 school children from over 60 schools in Devon and Cornwall, at the University of Exeter’s Great Hall. The festival was organised by national music education charity Music for Youth, in partnership with the new Devon Music Education Hub.
Ken Parr, Devon Music Education Hub Lead said: “Working with partner organisations like Music for Youth to maximise opportunities for young people is at the heart of the Devon Music Education Hub and we look forward to providing more opportunities to celebrate young people’s musical talents as part of our work moving forward.”
Babcock LDP Music Service lead the Devon Music Education Hub, working with partner organisations locally, regionally and nationally.
Devon County Councillor Christine Channon is Chairman of the Devon Music Education Hub Board. She said: “Devon is fortunate to be blessed with huge musical talent and several key organisations who promote that talent. The Music Hub Board and Stakeholders Group are from across a wide number of organisations, including Higher Education, Further Education, Charities, Devon Schools and Academies, Independent Schools, the Youth Service and Industry. We already have some impressive music groups covering the wide spectrum of music education and the Hub Board presents an opportunity to build on this reputation not only in Devon but nationally”.
Performing at the concerts were young musicians including Kagemusha Junior Taiko from Exeter, folk duo Ben and Alfie who have been supported by the South West Music School programme, the Devon Youth Jazz Orchestra and the Penzance Youth String Orchestra, supported by Music Cornwall.
