Features

Music hubs: a view from the bridge

With new Hub Lead Organisations looming, music education providers are re-grouping ahead of September 2024, when hubs will serve wider geographic areas. MT's Phil Croydon reports from Oxfordshire's Music Service to learn of its preparations.
 Emma Coulthard (with bass flute) at the Centre for Music, Oxford
Emma Coulthard (with bass flute) at the Centre for Music, Oxford - Courtesy Emma Coulthard

I am at the Centre for Music, Headington, where Oxfordshire's school symphony orchestras and wind orchestras (and over 200 young musicians) meet regularly on Saturday mornings. It's also the operational home of the county's Music Service, which supports schools through curriculum delivery, weekly singing sessions, WCET (brass, wind, strings, plucked strings, djembe, folk music) and music for wellbeing. The hub serves around 280 schools across the county, and runs area network meetings for teachers and large-scale performances.

I'm meeting the head of music service, Emma Coulthard, who's been in post since October 2021. Coulthard was previously head of music service for Cardiff county and the Vale of Glamorgan, and is a working musician as well as hub leader.

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