Farewell from Peter Bolton

Inevitably at a time like this you take a look back. Sixteen years is a long time. People born when I started took their GCSEs last year and a great deal has changed at Kent Music and more broadly in the world of music education during that time. When I started we provided instrumental lessons, ensembles, groups and choirs from beginner to county level. We did this in schools, in our music centres, on holiday courses and at our annual summer school.

We still do all of this but have a wider role as the lead organisation for the Music Hub for Kent & Medway funded by the Department for Education. This means that we work in partnership with others to bring music to as many children and young people as we can, and we work closely with teachers in schools to support them to provide music in their schools and to develop their work as music practitioners. We now have a well-developed school support programme, a professional development programme and a much greater focus on giving opportunities to the most disadvantaged children & young people.