2012: a year of musical opportunity

2012 will be a year to remember. The Olympics coming to London will be a spectacular showcase and Hertfordshire is playing its part, being a host county for the white-water canoeing in Broxbourne. The Olympics are creating opportunities for the Music Service as well, with a number of projects, including events around the torch relay, being planned.

It will be a busy year for our music centres, particularly in the north of the county with the refurbishment of North Herts Music School in Hitchin continuing and the much anticipated new music centre, in Stevenage, part of Nobel's rebuilding  programme, due to complete at the end of the year. 2012 will also see the Hertfordshire Schools' Gala once again at the Royal Albert Hall on Sunday 13th May.

The new funding arrangements for Music Hubs is now published and Hertfordshire Music Service is currently writing its bid to the Arts Council to be lead partner for the Hertfordshire Music Hub. We have a substantial number of partners from across the county whose work, investment and committment to music education is being reflected in our application.

And finally, it will be another year of opportunity for our young musicians; whether they are starting their musical journey in an early years music group, learning an instrument for the first time through a wider-oportunities programme, participating in one of the hundreds of music centre activities, or playing in the county youth orchestra; 2012 will again see the Music Service's committment to music in our schools, music centres and communities provide a packed calendar of events, activities and opportunties.