The UK music college’s string department has launched a crowdfunding campaign to fund the project

Samson_Diamond

Birmingham Conservatoire is calling for donations towards a new project which aims to provide stringed instrument tuition to under-privileged children in South Africa via video conferencing.

Initially running for a year, ‘Arco’ represents a collaboration between Birmingham’s String Department and the Cape Gate MIAGI Centre for Music in Soweto, South Africa. Twenty-four students from MIAGI will take part in weekly instrument lessons, via video conferencing, from students and recent graduates of Birmingham Conservatoire. Participants in Birmingham will also gain experience in teaching, coaching and video skills.

A crowdfunding campaign has been launched to fund the purchase of instruments, live streaming equipment and the delivery of a music festival at Cape Gate MIAGI Centre for Music.

Arco needs 150 people to pledge £30 each in the next 30 days to fulfil their goal. Contributions can be made at Crowdfunder.co.uk/arco.

The project’s ambassador is violinist Samson Diamond (pictured) –  hailing from Soweto he is a graduate of the UK's Royal Northern College of Music and currently leader of the Odeion String Quartet in Bloemfontein, South Africa .

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