Marching towards the Olympics
Current and prospective leaders representing the whole activity are coming together on Saturday January 26th in Leicester to join in a Conference titled 'Marching Towards the Olympics'. Organised by the Federation, the agenda already boasts keynote speeches from Youth Music's No.2 David Sulkin, and Michael McKeever the head teacher of Trinity School in Nottingham.
The Cultural Olympiad team are still being appointed, and the Federation will know during December who they are sending to address the conference. The Cultural Olympiad team has the task of guiding and promoting the 'marriage' between sport and the arts at local, regional and national levels, in the four years leading up to the 2012 Olympics.
This Conference is the start of the whole activity agreeing a four year development strategy that will come into being immediately the Olympics and Paralympics end in Beijing next August and September - when London becomes the Olympic City. The Federation has already been listed amongst the national music organisations that youth music will involve, but we of course need to discuss what we can offer and what we hope to achieve. The Conference agenda includes opportunities for small group discussion so that Federation member organisations can create their 'Olympic Strategy'.
The Federation believes that this is a once in a generation opportunity to create a post 2012 legacy of more young people in more bands. The programme for the conference is on the Federation's web site www.marchingbands.org.uk.
It is important for the Federation that leaders book for the conference as soon as possible so that suitable arrangements can be made. At this stage numbers are limited to four per unit, and bands are welcome to bring young band members aged 14 plus - they will be 18 when the Olympics hits the UK. Places can be booked through marchbands@aol.com. Numbers will be OK for now, but by December 31st he'll need names and their email or postal addresses (plus ages if under 18).
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