Number One Music Service

Manchester Music Service has proved that it hits all the right notes by scooping the top award in the prestigious National Music Council (NMC) awards.

The annual awards are amongst the most highly regarded that local authorities can obtain for their music education provision and it was the quality and diversity of provision on offer in the city that proved to be real music to the judges’ ears.

Every week more than 16,000 pupils at schools across Manchester get the chance to sing or to blow their own trumpet, clarinet, flute, French horn…in fact a whole orchestra’s worth of instruments ranging from the biggest double basses and cellos to the smallest Irish whistles.

Councillor Sheila Newman, Executive Member Children’s Services, Manchester City Council, said: “Manchester is known throughout the world for its rich musical heritage and this award gives us yet another reason to sing from the rooftops about the fantastic creative opportunities that children and young people in our schools can take advantage of.

“The timing of the award is perfect. There couldn’t have been a better year to win it coming as it does during Tune In - the national Year of Music, which we will be celebrating across the city with a fantastic programme of different events for children and young people to take part in during the year.”

The NMC award was presented to the city in an awards ceremony held at the Albert Hall.

Manchester shares the top award this year with Kingston-upon-Hull.