1/12/2004 - Youth Music Action Zone for Cumbria

Thousands of young people in Cumbria are expected to take part a major new music initiative across the county. 

Cumbria County Council and Youth Music will launch the Cumbria Youth Music Action Zone, or YMAZ, for young Cumbrian musicians at Forum 28 in Barrow on 2 December, between 3.30pm and 4.30pm.

With 20 exciting projects planned around the County, reaching thousands of young people, the Cumbria YMAZ promises to provide a boost to opportunities for young people in the county to make music together.

CumbriaYMAZ will be one of 24 Youth Music Action Zones in England and Wales, providing music-making activities for all ages up to 18 who might not otherwise have the opportunity.

The programme of CumbriaYMAZ activities, including workshops, performance, rehearsal and recording opportunities, will start in June 2005.

The initiative will also create job opportunities. Cumbria YMAZ will require a team of experienced community music practitioners and people with a musical background who want to develop their skills in helping young people to realise their musical ambitions

Newly-appointed CumbriaYMAZ director Dave Camlin, himself a native Cumbrian musician from the west coast, said: "This is a unique and exciting opportunity to celebrate the great wealth of young Cumbrian music, to create more opportunities. It will help more young people to get involved in music-making, and will develop imaginative ways of linking young musicians around the county together to create a real ‘buzz’ about young Cumbrian music. 

"It will also be a great opportunity to bring adult Cumbrian musicians together into a solid professional network, so that together they can inspire and support young people’s musical creativity."

For further information visit www.cumbria-artefacts.org.ukor contact:

Sheila Stalker on 01228 607306 or e-mail sheila.stalker@cumbriacc.gov.uk