One of the most innovative music projects to give long term assistance to brass band player development in Wales was recently launched at the Brit Awards in London.
Initiative
The Big Music Project (TBMP) is a £4 million initiative funded by The Big Lottery Fund and organised by UK Youth, BPI and Capital FM. It is aimed to encourage young people into education and training to broaden horizons, change lives and transform communities through the power of music.
The project will see millions of young people from across the UK finding new directions to their futures, with Ty Cerdd one of 8 organisations in Wales which has been specially selected as a ‘Hub’ to work in partnership Youth Cymru.
Champions
This will see Ty Cerdd working with 10 community bands from across the Greater Gwent area, selecting 10 young people to act as ‘Champions’, to take on the challenge of encouraging 100 more new young musicians to become involved in their local brass bands and make a positive change in the community through a hands-on music project.
Positive impact
Project Leader for Ty Cerdd is the highly respected arts management consultant and brass band conductor Craig Roberts, who exclusively told 4BR: "We were tremendously pleased for Ty Cerdd to have been chosen as one of the 100 UK Hubs for The Big Music Project and look forward to the project making a really positive impact on bands in the Greater Gwent region."
Tredegar champions
The London launch at the O2 Arena saw Tredegar Band’s principal euphonium star Matthew White (above) and solo horn Hannah Drage join more than 150 other young people from across the UK, as they represented Ty Cerdd and the Centre for Welsh Music.
The pair, who hope to become part of the innovative project with the British Open champions, enjoyed access to the behind the scenes preparations for the high profile media ‘Brits’ event headlined by chart-topping artists Plan B and Chase & Status.
We were tremendously pleased for Ty Cerdd to have been chosen as one of the 100 UK Hubs for The Big Music Project and look forward to the project making a really positive impact on bands in the Greater Gwent regionCraig Roberts
Recruiting
Craig Roberts added: "The trip to London and the Brits for the launch was a great experience for our first ‘Champions’ such as Hannah and Matthew, and we’re now looking forward to recruiting the rest of the team and partner bands to work together with Ty Cerdd in the Greater Gwent area."
More information:
For further information please contact:
Craig Roberts, Big Music Project Officer – Ty Cerdd
croberts100.com@gmail.com / 07901 991 013
Additional information can be found at:
http://www.croberts100.com/big-music-project.html
