THE borough’s children will continue to be provided with the chance to learn a musical instrument thanks to a £1.8million grant from the Arts Council.
Fears over the future of the Redbridge Music Service (RMS) had been voiced by students and teachers after the Council ordered savings of £635,000 over three years as part of its programme of budget cuts.
But the new money should help ease some of the pressure on the popular service.
The RMS will now join with Waltham Forest Music Service (WFMS) to create a ‘music hub’ which will benefit from the £1.8million grant over a two-and-a-half year period.
Head of RMS, Eric Forder, said: “The combination of the funding which we get from the Local Authority with this national funding will be of immense benefit.
“We expect there will still be some challenges ahead, but this is good news for the music service and the children of both boroughs.”
The Hub will provide the opportunity for pupils and teachers to work with professional musicians at no cost.
Mr Forder also said that the RMS would look to include children from Waltham Forest in the biannual concert held at the Royal Albert Hall.
Head of Music at Beal High School in Woodford Bridge Road, Rebecca Kantor, worked as a teacher at the Music Service for 10 years.
She said: “This is fantastic news.
“I was a student there when I was at Beal and I made friends for life.
“The RMS staff are the cream of the crop and provide an invaluable service.
“We have around 150 students in Year Seven who are learning to play a brass instrument through the music service.
“In September we will have the London Symphony Orchestra visiting the school to help with lessons.
“None of that could happen without the music service.”
Cllr Alan Weinberg, Cabinet Member for Children's Services, said: "This is fantastic and very welcome news.
“Children and young people in north east London regardless of the school they attend, their background or their personal circumstances, will be able to learn an instrument or sing in a choir.
"The Redbridge Music Service already reaches thousands of people across the borough but this money and new hub will mean expanding on that provision."
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