Youth musicians and their teachers in East Ayrshire have been presented with a national award recognising the high quality of music provision in the region.
East Ayrshire Council was named as the winner of this year’s prestigious National Music Council (NMC) Local Authority Music Education Awards.
The presentation of the accolade marks the sixth year in a row that the local authority’s hard work in music education has been recognised by the NMC.
And East Ayrshire remains the only Scottish council to have been awarded the trophy – and one of only a few local authorities to have won it on more than one occasion.
The NMC awards scheme is the most prestigious achievement that local authorities can obtain for their music education provision.
Speaking after the event, councillor Hugh Ross, spokesperson for Lifelong Learning, told the Cumnock Chronicle: “Our education department provides expert instrumental instruction in our schools – and as a result, we enjoy concerts of exceedingly high standards.
“Congratulations to the music service and to all the young people who enthusiastically participate in their lessons, performances and concerts.”
Meanwhile, Robin Osterley, chair of the awards panel, said that the standard of competition from local authorities all over the country remained high this year.
“At a time when music education is undergoing a comprehensive review and when financial pressures are so great, we would do well to remember that there are so many authorities out there doing their level best, sometimes with limited resources, to provide outstanding opportunities for young people to learn music and, most importantly, make music,” he added.
East Ayrshire Council was named as the winner of this year’s prestigious National Music Council (NMC) Local Authority Music Education Awards.
The presentation of the accolade marks the sixth year in a row that the local authority’s hard work in music education has been recognised by the NMC.
And East Ayrshire remains the only Scottish council to have been awarded the trophy – and one of only a few local authorities to have won it on more than one occasion.
The NMC awards scheme is the most prestigious achievement that local authorities can obtain for their music education provision.
Speaking after the event, councillor Hugh Ross, spokesperson for Lifelong Learning, told the Cumnock Chronicle: “Our education department provides expert instrumental instruction in our schools – and as a result, we enjoy concerts of exceedingly high standards.
“Congratulations to the music service and to all the young people who enthusiastically participate in their lessons, performances and concerts.”
Meanwhile, Robin Osterley, chair of the awards panel, said that the standard of competition from local authorities all over the country remained high this year.
“At a time when music education is undergoing a comprehensive review and when financial pressures are so great, we would do well to remember that there are so many authorities out there doing their level best, sometimes with limited resources, to provide outstanding opportunities for young people to learn music and, most importantly, make music,” he added.