In this section:
(including Choir Schools Scholarship Scheme)
"Access to Excellence"
"The aim of the scheme is to help identify, and assist, children with exceptional potential, regardless of their personal circumstances, to benefit from world-class specialist training as part of a broad and balanced education, which will enable them, if they choose, to proceed towards self-sustaining careers in music and dance." - Music and Dance Scheme Advisory Group's Report 2000/01
- Do you know a child with a special talent in music or dance?
- Would he or she benefit from special training?
- Would they need help with the costs of their training?
If you answered yes to all these questions, you have come to the right place.
The Department's Music and Dance Scheme currently enables around 2,000 exceptionally talented children to have access to the best specialist music and dance training available alongside a good academic education. Some 900 of those children hold Aided Places in the participating residential schools and the rest are attending Centres for Advanced Training (CATs) and benefiting from the national grants scheme so that they can gain access locally to high quality, out of school hours training. The Music and Dance Scheme also supports choir schools in their work and provides a limited number of scholarships for talented young Choristers attending them. This website gives information about the music and dance scheme, which schools and centres participate in it, how to apply for a place, and about recent and future developments.
Please also visit the Foundations for Excellence website for more information, Music and Dance Scheme news and events, and a range of resources to help talented young musicians and dancers achieve their very best.
