Arts / Funding will keep schools music festival going for next five years
SHETLAND Schools Music Festival is set to return in March, under the banner of the newly formed umbrella organisation Shetland Youth Music Foundation (SYMF).
Financial backing to keep the festival going has been secured for the next five years too.
The much-loved event will be held from Monday 16 to Thursday 19 March this year at Mareel, with daytime performances free for the public to attend.
The festival alternates annually between primary and secondary school-aged participants, with an opening for an upper age of 18 for the senior young musician class.
Individual and group performances, including choirs, ensembles, duets and soloists, on a wide variety of instruments and voices are showcased across the week.
SYMF thanked its funders and “dedicated organisers” for their efforts to put the event on.
“The committee is delighted to announce that main funding has been secured from the Shetland Charitable Trust, alongside the Educational Institute of Scotland, Lerwick Port Authority and Shetland Arts, as well as donations, sales of SYMF merchandise and some impressive prizes in the festival raffle,” it said.
“This vital backing guarantees the future of the festival for the next five years, ensuring its continued impact on young musicians and the wider community.”
The money will enable participation from all schools and privately taught pupils across the isles during that time.
SYMF said the festival “plays a key role in building inclusion, celebrating Shetland’s rich musical heritage, and highlighting the importance of participation and community spirit, keeping music thriving throughout the isles”.
Entries are now open and can be accessed via the festival website here.
Tickets are required only for the evening concerts, which include the Wednesday evening junior and senior musician competitions and the Thursday evening gala performance.
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