P-06-1509 Fund music education for future generations in the “land of song”

Petitions4

This petition was submitted by Eluned Parrott, having collected 1,290 signatures.

Text of petition:

Music is an inalienable part of Wales’s cultural identity. Our choirs, bands, orchestras & opera companies are world-class, & contribute to Wales’s international brand & tourist economy.
Over recent years, free instrumental tuition has vanished from our schools. The loan of free instruments to learn on has gone. Now, Wales’s biggest university plans to close its music department due to financial pressures

Additional information:

Music in Wales is in crisis. Falling student numbers are a direct consequence of the decimation of grass roots music - if pupils in school cannot learn music, they cannot progress to study it at university.
Music teaches discipline, teamwork, concentration and how to perform, literally, under pressure. These skills are vital to a young person’s development, regardless if they go on to be professional musicians.
Cardiff University’s Music Department has trained some of Wales’s most important composers, including Grace Williams, Alun Hoddinott and Karl Jenkins. It now faces a perfect storm created by the destruction of music education in our schools, the underfunding of higher education in Wales more generally and the loss of income from international students driven by changes to visa regulations.
Wales needs a strategy to protect music for future generations, to retain our place as a global force and support the creative industries.

Status 

This petition was considered completed by the Petitions Committee at its meeting on 28/04/2025. 

Full details of the consideration of this petition by the Committee and related documents can be seen on the Meetings tab above. 

It was first considered by the Petitions Committee on 28/04/2025. 

Senedd Constituency and Region:

• Vale of Glamorgan
• South Wales Central 

[PetitionFooter]