Trust to lead music hub

BERKSHIRE Music Trust – formerly Berkshire Maestros – has been appointed by Arts Council England to lead the Berkshire Music Hub from September, as part of an ambitious national programme to provide high-quality music education for all children and young people.

As the new hub lead organisation for the Berkshire region, Berkshire Music Trust will receive £1.7m from the Department for Education.

This much-needed funding will enable Berkshire Music Trust to coordinate music education in the local area, as well as to invest in new musical instruments, equipment and technology tailored to the needs of children and young people in Berkshire, including those with special educational needs and disabilities.

The Berkshire Music Hub will deliver high quality music education, accessible to all children and young people in West Berkshire, Reading, Wokingham, Bracknell Forest, Windsor & Maidenhead and Slough through diverse partnerships between educational, creative and community organisations, in their local communities and throughout the county.

This new partnership with Slough Music Service will facilitate more opportunities for children and young people across the whole Berkshire region as Berkshire Music Trust and

BMT contemporary band

Slough Music Service work together in this innovative way.

Berkshire Music Trust CEO Dawn Wren said: “I am beyond delighted that our bid has been successful as fundamentally this partnership with Slough Music Service will enable us to reach and empower more children and young people than ever before.” Berkshire Music Trust’s appointment is part of a major investment in a new generation of the nationwide network of Music Hubs. This investment will help to deliver the Government’s National Plan for Music Education and give all children and young people the opportunity to develop their musical interests as far as they wish, including helping them to begin careers in the music industry. Berkshire Music Trust chairman Jon Carroll said: “This funding will enable us to provide the highest quality music education to all children and young people throughout Berkshire, regardless of their background or ability. We look forward to working with our partners across the county – and beyond – to deliver a vibrant and inclusive programme that inspires creativity, builds confidence, and fosters a lifelong love of music – truly making music for everyone.”