ABRSM has announced a new partnership with Music for Youth (MFY), the music education charity providing free access to performance and audience opportunities for young musicians across the UK. ABRSM will become one of six significant sponsors supporting MFY in its continued growth and development. ABRSM's sponsorship will support the ongoing promotion and expansion of MFY's Regional Festival Series, the world's largest youth music festival taking place throughout February, March and April and involving over 50,000 musicians and singers. ABRSM's contribution will also be recognised across the whole MFY season which includes the National Festivals in Birmingham and Perth, the Schools Prom and its Primary Prom concerts. This year ABRSM's support will help fund around 70 festivals in over 50 different venues throughout the UK from Truro to Inverness. The festivals will be attended by musicians of all levels: from school choirs to punk bands, duos to county youth orchestras. Some of the performers will have had experience of performing in large venues while others may be performing for the very first time. "We're extremely proud to be one of Music for Youth's key sponsors this year, and in particular give our support to the Regional Festivals. It's fantastic to see the growth of the series encouraging even more young people to take part in these unique festivals. We want to inspire as many people as we can to participate and progress in music and giving young musicians the opportunity to perform live and receive feedback from the mentors at MFY is something we applaud loudly."
Guy Perricone, Chief Executive, ABRSM. "Music for Youth and ABRSM have been working together since 1995 to support young musicians across the UK. This is a significant development for our longstanding relationship and we see huge potential with this new sponsorship agreement."
Lincoln Abbotts, Chief Executive, Music for Youth. For more information on the Regional Festival Series please visit www.mfy.org.uk.