A special meeting of National Music Service Wales’s Partners Board was held in London in November to celebrate and showcase the developments in music education in Wales.
National Music Service Wales is building on a successful first three years, following a new £12m investment from the Welsh Government. The investment will enable the NMS to continue and expand its National Plan for Music Education provision up to March 2028, promoting fair access to quality music education for all learners in Wales.
The meeting coincided with two spectacular Music for Youth prom concerts at Royal Albert Hall on 10th and 11th November, where over 400 young musicians from mid, west and south Wales took part. They included a Harp ensemble from Ceredigion, a female choir from Carmarthenshire, and a 10-county regional orchestra and choir from south-east Wales.
Attendees at the special meeting included representatives from UK Music, National Youth Arts Wales, ABRSM, Trinity College, National Youth Arts Wales, Sinfonia Cymru, Anthem, Urdd Gobaith Cymru, WNO, Charanga, Royal Welsh Collage of Music and Drama, WLGA, Music Mark, Music Education Partnership Group (Scotland), Music Masters, Musicians Union, as well as some of our music service leads.
During the meeting, NMS national co-ordinator Mari Lloyd Pritchard explained to delegates from UK-wide bodies how the first 3 years of Welsh Government funding had rejuvenated the work of music services across Wales, and that each service had the freedom to use the funding to deliver the plan in a way which suited their area. Our connection to Music Mark UK has meant that we are now conversing with our UK counterparts on a regular basis, which has allowed us to share challenges and good practice together.
Partners, including Urdd Gobaith Cymru, National Youth Arts Wales and Charanga shared their experience of collaborative working within Wales with other partners. The meeting culminated in a panel discussion, chaired by the Chair of our Board, Professor Helena Gaunt from Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. The panel was made up by Tom Kiehl, Chief Executive of UK Music; Evan Dawson, Chief Executive, National Youth Arts Wales; and Rhian Hutchings, Chief Executive, Anthem Cymru.
Spectacular evenings at Royal Albert Hall
The Partners Board meeting coincided with performances by young musicians from mid, west and south Wales at the Music for Youth Proms at the Royal Albert Hall.
On Monday, November 10th, Ensemble Telyn Ceredigion and Côr Merched Sir Gâr took centre stage, with wonderful performances by both groups. The girls from Ceredigion also took over NMS Wales’ social media accounts, where their ‘behind the scenes’ content were viewed by thousands of followers.
On Tuesday evening, 220 performers from across South Wales, representing the South-East Wales Youth Orchestra and Choir, took centre stage. Brought together by the Cardiff and Vale Music Education, the remarkable ensemble of students from ten local authorities (Cardiff, Vale, Newport, Blaenau Gwent, Monmouthshire, Torfaen, Caerphilly, Merthyr, RCT, Bridgend), anchored a spectacular evening of youth music.
This initiative in south-east Wales is a flagship for the National Plan for Music Education, which aims to strengthen partnerships and regional support for children and young people’s access to music. Beyond the excitement of performing at the Royal Albert Hall, the project aspires to foster ongoing opportunities for young people across South Wales, united by their passion for music.
