Current and former pupils of the Ceredigion Music Service will hold a ‘street concert’ tomorrow to raise awareness of the threat to music tuition in the county.

Pupils of all ages will show off their skills, learnt with the help of Ceredigion’s dedicated team of peripatetic teachers, at Aberystwyth’s Owain Glyndwr Square, from 10.30am until 12.30pm on Friday, 26 April.

The move comes as it is reported that meetings have been scheduled for early May to begin a consultation on music teaching staff job losses, pay and conditions.

Angharad Fychan, secretary of the Friends of Ceredigion Young Musicians, said: “So many of the hundreds of pupils who receive music tuition in the county are determined to show their support for their tutors.

“Not only did the pupils themselves organise an impromptu concert at the council offices earlier this month, they’re now focusing on building public support ahead of key decisions being made in the next few weeks.

“This free street concert will be a treat for the public, but it has a serious message. The Ceredigion Music Service has done an excellent job in developing local talents over the years, but these opportunities must be available to the next generation.”

Also, the Friends of Ceredigion Young Musicians have this week submitted a major petition calling on the county council to rethink its proposed cuts to the music service.

Despite the short timeframe since Ceredigion’s proposals became known, over 3,000 signatures have been collected.

The petition will now be considered by the council Cabinet at its meeting at the end of the month, and the Friends are planning further steps to ensure that councillors are aware of the public opposition to the cuts, before the next meeting of the Education Scrutiny Committee on 9 May.