16/07/2008
Talented young musicians are missing out on fulfilling their potential because they are not aware of support schemes that could help them, according to Royal Opera House chief executive, Tony Hall.
Hall was speaking at a symposium of music and dance education leaders, whose students benefit from the government's Music and Dance Scheme. The Music and Dance Scheme (MDS) currently provides means-tested support for 1600 young musicians and dancers to access high-level training, either at specialist boarding schools or at one of the 13 Centres for Advanced Training (CATs) across the country.
However, there are concerns that talented young people are missing out on this financial support, and therefore on top-level training, simply because they do not know about MDS. "We need to raise the profile of what the Music and Dance Scheme does," said Hall. "Finding talent and giving opportunity is what it's all about."
"MDS is a very well-kept secret," agreed Ihsaan de-Banya, a dancer on the Place Centre for Advanced Training programme, who joined the scheme two years ago with no formal training. "The fundamental people don't know about it - mums, dads, schools. It needs to broaden its horizons and attract people who might not have danced before, people like myself."
Among other issues raised at the symposium was the importance of the 'pyramid' structure that is essential to a healthy and inclusive arts industry; the fact that elite-level performers will only grow from a broad base of high quality participation at an early age. "There is increasing thought that you can have the tip of the pyramid without having a broad base, and that's not the case," said Nicholas Kenyon, Managing Director of the Barbican.
Linda Jasper, of Youth Dance England added, "Considering the diversity we have in terms of genres and access, it's not one apex we're looking at, it's more like the Alps."
A full report on the event will be available from the Excellent! website
Find out more about the Music and Dance Scheme
Photograph © Richard H Smith