UNIVERSITY NEWS LAST UPDATED : 14 JULY 2016
On Thursday 7 July Birmingham Conservatoire Principal Julian Lloyd Webber continued his campaign to bring music and arts education to the attention of the Government in his speech introducing the In Harmony Telford celebration concert at The Telford Langley School.
Principal Lloyd Webber used the opportunity of addressing the assembled audience to challenge the Government on the lack of emphasis on music and the arts in education, and added how incredibly proud he was to be invited to speak at such a special occasion.
He said, "I'm so depressed to see the government’s attitudes to music in the school curriculum. It’s completely unfair that some people get to play music and others do none at all. It has been proven by people who study this that children who play an instrument do better in the rest of their school work – it has been proven all over the world."
In Harmony Telford has always had strong connections with Birmingham Conservatoire, both through its well- developed apprenticeship programme and the fact that many Conservatoire graduates gain employment as members of the In Harmony Delivery team.
In Harmony Telford is one of eight ‘El Sistema’ inspired programmes in England that Julian successfully campaigned for back in 2008 before taking his current position as Principal at Birmingham Conservatoire. The programme aims to use music as a transformational tool, benefitting children and their families that otherwise would not have access to music because of social and economic circumstances. The community success of In Harmony Telford was apparent to all in attendance at last Thursday’s concert. The large sports hall was packed with parents, grandparents and other family members who came to support over 400 young musicians.
The academic year 2016/17 sees the relaunch of a new Birmingham Conservatoire and In Harmony Telford partnership. This will include access to student performances in the city, Conservatoire musicians visiting the schools to perform and run workshops, and the apprenticeship programme.
Find out more about the Learning and Participation Programme at Birmingham Conservatoire.