Over 1,200 schoolchildren are facing uncertainty over the future of their music lessons as Ceredigion County Council chiefs ponder massive cuts of 67 per cent to the service for next year, it is being claimed.

County Hall run a team of peripatetic music teachers and tutors offering singing and instrumental lessons across all 46 of the county’s schools, as well as organising bands, choirs and orchestras.

But plans to balance the authority’s books have put the respected service - which has produced world-renowned musicians such as harpist Catrin Finch - on the chopping block, with the National Eisteddfod at Tregaron little more than a year away.

It is feared that the council’s proposal to cut the music budget by over two thirds - from £490,000 to £160,000 - is likely to lead to teaching jobs being lost, threaten the future of choirs and instrumental groups, cause huge uncertainty over the future of music lessons, and lead to parents having to pay more.

The Friends of Ceredigion Young Musicians, a voluntary group which has raised thousands of pounds to support purchasing instruments and music for local children, have pledged to fight the proposed cuts.

Secretary Angharad Fychan said: “We all know that these are tough times for local government, but how is it fair to single out this service for such enormous cuts, which threaten to rip the heart out of music-making among Ceredigion youngsters?

“Cuts of this size, on top of cuts in staff and budgets last year, will inevitably mean redundancies among the small team of dedicated tutors who work so hard to provide opportunities for local children, often way above and beyond the hours they’re contracted to work."

Liberal Democrat councillors Paul Hinge and Ceredig Davies also say they’re concerned over the proposed cuts.

Cllr Davies said: “Ceredigion council made much of finding £200,000 to support the National Eisteddfod in the county next year.

“Little information was provided as to the source of that money, but if one was to dig deep into the authority’s accounts, one would find £100,000 had been taken out of the county’s music service last year.”

A council spokesperson said: “Ceredigion council continues to need to make significant budget reductions.

“The council is reviewing many aspects of provision, and this includes the music service. Discussions regarding various delivery options are ongoing and more information will be shared at the appropriate time.”

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