I hope that you, like me, enjoyed watching the King’s Coronation last weekend. I was glued to the sofa for the whole morning and was both moved and wowed by the pageantry of the event. As I wrote last week, the music was such an important element of the ceremony, and it was inspiring to see the wide range and incredible quality of what was on offer; the service did not disappoint.
So, whilst we continue to enjoy a sense of national pride in everything we demonstrated last Saturday to the watching world, it is at the same time disappointing to know that much of this undeniable musical excellence is under serious threat (and I don’t mean from Republicans!). Sir John Eliot Gardiner, conductor of the Monteverdi Choir (which includes our own VMT, Jack Comerford!), gave an impassioned interview to the BBC after the service about the current threat to the performing arts, and in particular to classical music in Britain, citing the proposed cuts in Arts Council funding Sir John Eliot Gardiner on the BBC. Could it be that, as he suggests, the next two generations may not be able to enjoy this kind of opportunity? It would be disastrous if the musical world were damaged in the ways that it could be; it is damage that will not be repaired easily.
Fast-forwarding on to this week, I spent Tuesday and Wednesday attending the Choir Schools' Association Conference at King’s School, Worcester. It was wonderful to connect with similar schools, and indeed schools who contribute so much to the ecosystem of fine music that this country is able to produce (such as that which we heard at the Coronation). Sadly though, much talk at conference was centred on the specific threats posed to our Choir schools. Firstly, this may come through possible cuts to the Music and Dance Scheme; a vital lifeline for all sorts of organisations (including some Choir schools) who support the Arts; and secondly, the proposed policy suggested by the Labour Party, which will affect all independent schools, namely the removal of charitable status and its tax advantages, and the imposition of VAT on school fees. This regressive policy will have all sorts of unintended consequences, and one will undoubtedly be the impact on classical music in this country in the long term.
How do we convince our politicians to see the value of this world leading industry? I quipped at conference that it would be so much easier if we produced cars, not musicians, as perhaps then we would get some tax breaks! This is difficult, but a number of organisations, including the Independent Schools Council (ISC) are working hard to highlight the significant public benefit that schools like ours provide, and the valuable contribution that we make to the wider cultural life of this country.
I am very glad that, as Sir John Eliot Gardner points out, in King Charles we have such a steadfast advocate of the value of classical music, and indeed all of the performing arts. This is an area where Britain excels, and such a valuable and precious commodity needs to be protected so that future generations are able to enjoy the same life-enhancing experiences we have come to take for granted. I feel very proud of the role our school, other choir schools like us, and the wider independent sector has always played in contributing to our 'greater cultural good'.
Alistair Duncan
Interim Head
