Written question WQ85304

Our new National Music Service, and associated National Plan for Music Education, formally launched on 17 May, set out to provide a sustainable future for music education in Wales. To this end, we have trebled our funding to support music education to £13.5 million across three years (2022 -2025).

As one of its key aims, the National Music Service will work with key partners to ensure that children and young people across all areas of Wales have access to a broad and diverse range of genres of music, including classical music.

A part of the National Plan for Music Education is the ‘Live Music Experiences’ offer to schools and settings. This element will pilot strands of activity to identify and work in partnership with a range of music organisations, such as BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Welsh National Opera, Ensemble Cymru and smaller chamber ensembles; to develop performance and participation activities for children and young people in all areas of Wales. The programme will also work in tandem with the Go and Explore’ strand of the joint Welsh Government-Arts Council of Wales Creative Learning through the Arts programme, which will support school visits to concerts halls, theatres, and a range of other cultural venues. These elements of the National Plan aim to develop both new musicians and new audiences for music, for the future.

Here is information regarding classical music provision in North Wales, either supported via Arts Council of Wales Grant in Aid, National Lottery funding or Arts Council Officer support and advice:

• Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias - (org.uk) Arts Portfolio Wales (APW) organisation, revenue funding £82,351

• Welsh National Opera (APW) has a base at Venue Cymru and has a community Choir there - https://wno.org.uk/take-part/community-chorus

• Ty Cerdd (APW) supports composer development across Wales, including North Wales, as well as support for amateur music associations, such as operatic societies

• National Youth Arts Wales (APW) supports young musicians across Wales as part its national music ensembles

• North Wales International Music Festival – which programmes classical music - (com)

• Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod – has programmed classical music, this year: Friday 8 July - Anoushka Shankar & Manu Delago In Concert - (international-eisteddfod.co.uk)

• North East Wales Sinfonia – are also resident orchestra for North Wales International Music Festival - (NEW Sinfonia)

• Ensemble Cymru - (com)

• OPRA Cymru - OPRA Cymru (based in Blaenau Ffestiniog)

• Theatr Clwyd Music Trust - Theatr Clwyd Music | Theatr Clwyd

• Wrexham Symphony Orchestra - (co.uk)

• Bangor Cathedral Choir - Bangor Cathedral | Choral Evensong

• In addition, Mid Wales Opera (NOW) tours both its Small Stages and Mid-Scale Operas to venues in North Wales (MWO is based in Montgomeryshire)

• Live Music Now also does some work in North Wales as a pan-Wales organisation, and the BBC National Opera Wales performs in Bangor