The EMI Music Sound Foundation has hit a £6 million grant distribution milestone; offering thousands of young people the chance to access music education.
Since starting in 1997, EMI Music Sound Foundation has provided more than 6,400 young people and numerous schools with financial awards totalling over £6m through its support programme. The Foundation is accessible to children from all backgrounds, with additional support available through its hardship fund to provide over 250 young people in schools with music lessons each year.
The charity has built up relationships with 36 secondary schools across the country, having provided sponsorship grants that have helped institutions to specialise in teaching music and the performing arts. It has also provided specialist music training for more than 200 primary school teachers across the country.
Furthermore, over 500 applicants have benefitted from funding grants from the charity’s bursary funding to eleven colleges: Royal Academy of Music, English National Opera, Royal Conservatoire Scotland, Birmingham Conservatoire, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Centre for Young Musicians, National Children’s Orchestra, Irish World Music Centre, National Youth Jazz Orchestra and BIMM institutions in Brighton, Bristol and London.
Adam Barker, chair of EMI Music Sound Foundation and Universal Music UK’s director of Business Affairs, said: "We believe that music should be a part of every child’s education and development. The EMI Music Sound Foundation is committed to providing access to music education to as many young people as possible - and from the most diverse backgrounds - for many years to come.”
Jonathan Williams, head of music at Stradbroke High School, Suffolk, said: “We are extremely grateful to the EMI Music Sound Foundation for having the vision to support schemes that nurture a love of music in young people. This exciting project is helping to inspire primary school pupils to learn a musical instrument.”
Sean Collins, head of Art at Bluecoat Academy, Nottinghamshire, added: “This has given us diversity in our teaching approach for Year 7 and Year 8 - allowing students to experience using a string instrument. They have been enthusiastically used already and will be an integral part of the curriculum from now on.”
