Archived decisions

Contact: Richard Howlett, Head of Hampshire Music Service

Email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 That the Executive Member for Policy and Resources approves the recommendations of the officer panel from Children's Services and Recreation and Heritage for the awarding of two grants to support high achieving students / ensembles in music.

2. Recommendations

2.1 Hampshire Music Ensembles - National Festival of Music for Youth

The application seeks funding to support 250 talented, young musicians in representing Hampshire at the National Festival of Music for Youth in Birmingham, in July 2008. The application is for a grant of £3565 to support the transport/ travel costs of all these groups. The recommendation is to support in full with a grant of £3565.

2.2 Application for Winchester Festival: "Stravinsky-Inventor of Music" performances

The application seeks funding to resource, support and coach nearly 200 talented young musicians and dancers in workshops and rehearsals culminating in two multimedia presentation performances on Saturday 5 July 2008 in The Great Hall - Winchester. The total cost of the event is over £12,000 and the application is for a grant of £6,100. The recommendation is to support in full with a grant of £6,100.

3. Background

3.1 Hampshire Music Ensembles - National Festival of Music for Youth

The National Festival of Music for Youth is a prestigious celebration of youth music, and comprises three stages. The first is a series of regional events, one of which Hampshire County Council Music Service hosts annually. From these events, a small number of the most talented groups are selected to perform at the National Festival. A very few ensembles go on to perform at the Schools Proms in the Royal Albert Hall each November.

In 2008, Hampshire County Council Music Service ensembles have been spectacularly successful. Ten groups of our most talented musicians have the unique opportunity to perform at the National Festival in Birmingham between Monday 7 July and Friday 12 July. 250 talented children will represent Hampshire at these events.

All the ensembles' costs associated with representing their school, area and county in the festival are borne by the ensembles. For groups with `Parents' / Friends' Organisations', these generously support the travel costs through fund-raising. Other ensembles do not have such organisations to fund-raise for such events.

3.2 Application for Winchester Festival: "Stravinsky-Inventor of Music" performances

Two Hampshire dance animateurs are coaching and developing the creative talents of young dancers in schools. A local composer is working similarly with identified "Gifted and Talented" groups in local schools. Multimedia technology is integral to the realisation of the young peoples' creative and artistic vision. The whole performance builds on the 80 talented young musicians of the Winchester Youth orchestra.

The total cost of the event is over £12,000 and the application is for a grant of £6,100 to fund the costs of the two dance animateurs, composer-in-residence, and multimedia provision that directly enhances the creativity and the artistic quality of the performances by these talented young musicians and dancers.

3.3 At the Executive Member - Policy and Resources meeting on 18 July 2007, the Executive Member approved a report from the Director of Children's Services and Director of Recreation and Heritage that proposed the establishment of a fund to provide awards for excellence in Music and Dance.

3.4 The Executive Member agreed to establish an annual grant fund to support excellence in Music and Dance of £5,000 per year with effect from 2008/2009 and an interim fund of up to £40,000 to cover recommendations during the transition period to April 2009.

3.5 An officer panel was established to consider on a termly basis all applications received. This panel will consider applications for grants from an annual grant budget of £5,000 from April 2008, under delegated powers. The panel will consider and make recommendations to the Executive Member on eligible applications for the interim fund.

4. Conclusion

4.1 The purpose of this grant fund is to provide enhanced opportunities for talented young people who aspire to excellence in music and dance. The awards recommended above will maximise well-being and enhance quality of place by supporting young people in Hampshire who aspire to excellence. Encouraging young people to enjoy and achieve and to make a positive contribution are two of the outcomes of the Children Act.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background documents

The following documents discuss facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and have been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB: the list excludes:

1. Published works

2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

None.