New fund for music education in London
Howard Lake | 13 May 2011 | News
Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, has announced a new music charity, which aims to raise £2 million by March 2012 to boost music education for children in London.
The charity, The Mayor of London’s Fund for Young Musicians, will provide 400 children aged 7 to 11 who have significant musical talent and commitment, with four-year music scholarships. These will provide them with small group instrumental tuition, access to instruments and Saturday music school, individual mentoring and regular performances.
There will also be the opportunity for around 10,000 children, up to the age of 18, to enhance their music education by working alongside professional musicians. This ‘Partnership’ scheme is an extension of an existing GLA pilot project.
The charity has developed from the Mayor’s Music Education Strategy, part of The Mayor’s Cultural Strategy 2012 and beyond.
Munira Mirza, Mayoral Advisor on Arts and Culture, said: “We know that music education can have a hugely positive impact on a child’s life but sadly there are many families who simply cannot afford it. The Fund is an ambitious initiative that will transform access to music education in London and with it, help improve the lives of many disadvantaged young people.”
Trustees include Sir John Tusa, Lord Black of Brentwood, also trustee of the Royal College of Music, Jonathan Moulds, President (EMEA & Asia) of Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Trustee of the LSO, Peter Millican of Kings Place and Lord Marland. The chairman of the Fund is Sir John Baker, the Vice-Chairman is Richard Morris who will speak at the launch.
www.mfym.org.uk
About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.