Commitment to giving every Cornish child access to music education

An organization has pledged to ensure every child in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly gets access to music education after being awarded £922,247 in funding.

ASONE Hub has been confirmed as the successful lead organization for music education in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly in 2025 following a competitive tender process led by Arts Council England.

The music organization was considered to be most suitable to fulfill the ambition and targets music centers as outlined in the National Music Education Plan.

This news comes as ASONE published impact figures from 2023, during which its work with partners directly affected more than 20,000 people in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Based on their continued success, the newly restructured ASONE Hub team is now looking to enhance best practice and make further progress in music education for both children and adults through 2025.

ASONE Hub has successfully won the bid to deliver a music program in schools across Cornwall and has already introduced a diverse programme.

The offering includes workshops, youth voice, ensembles and backing choirs, as well as the much-celebrated Songfest, which brought together over 100 schools from across the county, from Penzance to Bude.

The focus was on providing hands-on, grassroots music education, capitalizing on the strengths of the county-wide distributor consortium.

Partnerships have also fostered innovation in the merging of traditional and contemporary musical forms. Initiatives with Ephraim Masudi and Lowender Festival, as well as collaborations for Songfest, Cornwall Music Festival, exemplify the creative synergy achieved.

These projects have not only preserved cultural heritage, but opened new avenues for young budding musicians.

ASONE Perform managing director Cindy Dalgleish said: “We are really excited to be the successful Hub Lead organization in 2025. We intend to maximize this opportunity to grow by driving our ambitions which are supported by industry standard management practices to ensure that every young person in Cornwall has access to opportunities, can learn a musical instrument and succeed in the sector.

“We would also like to thank all our ASONE Hub partner organizations and independent teachers who work so consistently to make a difference in the lives of young people.

“When we reflect on the past year, we realize how much we have achieved together, not just in numbers but in a major expansion of all types of access to music for young people in Cornwall. We look forward to expanding our reach into local communities.

“Our short-term ambitions are now set on seeking domestic investment to scale up our collaborative work.”

Darren Henley, Chief Executive of Arts Council England, said: “Music education is hugely powerful – it can enrich young people’s lives, help them connect with the people around them and set them on the path to fruitful and fulfilling careers.

“We are delighted to announce this investment in a new generation of Music Hubs, which will support the brilliant work of our dedicated music teachers across the country and help bring high quality music education to even more children and young people from every part of the country. England.”

Phil Gibby, South West Area Director, Arts Council England, added: “We are delighted to award £12.5 million from the Department for Education to seven music centers in the South West. Each main Hub organization will connect thousands of children and young people with high-quality music education – because everyone everywhere should be able to pick up an instrument and express themselves.

“This support package includes more than £3 million to purchase the latest technology and equipment in the industry – sure to remove barriers for aspiring creatives so their ideas can reach new heights. Thanks to public funding and the dedication of talented people in the sector, a new generation is set to sing, compose and play their way to a fairer future.”

Andy Dockerty, founder and director of Adlib Ltd, the UK’s largest independent live production company, said: “I think ASONE Hub being named as the leading organization for music education in Cornwall is fantastic news. It is one of the few organizations that has industry-recognized partners such as Nub Sound, guaranteeing young people the hands-on experiences required by the industry. I think this is a model that many other areas of the UK should follow.”