LOCAL EDUCATION AUTHORITY MUSIC AWARDS
1999/2000

DIPLOMAS

Oxfordshire County Music Service produced one of those submissions which has an embarrassment of riches. We were particularly attracted by one unusual and laudable feature - taking county-wide groups into rural towns and villages and raising money for charity - and we received details of several fine examples of that initiative. TAPS (Traditional Arts Projects) worked with students from the Central Music School and the County Youth Orchestra first to introduce folk music and, secondly, to work with GCSE and A level students to compose their own Oxfordshire Folk Suite for orchestra based on Oxfordshire folk tunes. A four movement piece was subsequently recorded and taken on tour by the Youth Orchestra. A second project was also set up by TAPS involving improvisation and crossover/fusion resulting in a meeting of eastern and western instruments and musical styles. The Service maintained the publication of the thrice yearly Community Music Newsletter and, as a means of further encouraging community and school music across the genres, continued to support area music festivals, providing an increasing selection of performance opportunities. The LEA charged for group lessons, but funded a remissions policy exceeding £160,000 per annum and guaranteed free access to all weekly ensembles and orchestras. The Service remains sensitive to the needs of pupils and students with special needs and disabilities.

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