The Music Manifesto campaign launches into a new phase, at the State of Play Festival Conference at London’s Roundhouse venue on January 16 and 17.
Download the conference Diary of Events

The conference promises to be a unique event with over 200 speakers, session leaders and specialist participants, including Music Manifesto Champion Marc Jaffrey, Youth Music Chief Executive Christina Coker and Secretary of State for Edu cation and Skills Alan Johnson, who will announce fresh Music Manifesto plans.

Panel sessions include:

• The Transformative Power of Music: chaired by Jon Snow, with Camila Batmanghelidjh, Hugh Masekela and  Kinetika Bloco.
• Music and a Child’s Development : chaired by Radio 4 presenter Winifred Robinson with Head of Social Exclusion Task Force, Prime Minister's Strategy Unit Naomi Eisenstadt,  Professor Lord Robert Winston, Howard Goodall 
• Question Time on the Music Manifesto – Making Every Child’s Music Matter: chaired by Krishnan Guru-Murthy with David Lammy MP, Marc Jaffrey, Youth Music Chief Executive Christina Coker, s   former Specialist Adviser for Music, OFSTED Margaret Martin Griffiths, and former Chief Inspector of England's schools David Bell 
• Supporting the Creative Industries: chaired by Sarah Weir, Chief Executive of Arts Council England, London, with Eric Nicoli, Tony Hall, Member of the House of Lords Estelle Morris and Shaun Woodward MP.

Alongside this runs a dynamic programme of Forum debates, a participative Learning Lab programme, insights into young people’s music-making through the Creator’s Bedroom and the music industry brought to life through the Music Clinic.

For further information visit
www.musicmanifesto.co.uk/stateofplay

For general media information and pictures contact:
Terri Anderson
T: 07802 872348
E: terri.anderson@bigredkitecomms.com or
Lucinda Hilbery
T: 020 7324 1880
E: lucinda@serious.org.uk

_{Notes to Editors:}   

<sub>1.      Serious is the UK's leading producer of live jazz, world and new music.  Working with partners at home and internationally, we have helped to change the landscape for contemporary non-classical music in the UK. We act as a catalyst, creating the conditions in which people can be inspired, as artists, as members of the audience or as individuals within the wider community whose lives are enhanced by active musical engagement. Our activity ranges from commissioning new work and presenting a huge variety of concerts, tours and special events, including performances by young people, through to innovative professional development and outreach programmes.
 
2.      The Music Manifesto was launched in July 2004 bringing together an historic 60-strong coalition aimed at putting music at the heart of every school. The manifesto commits the signatories to five key priorities to drive improvement:

• To provide every young person with first access to a range of music experiences
• To provide more opportunities for young people to deepen and broaden their musical interests and skills
• To identify and nurture our most talented young musicians
• To develop a world class workforce in music education
• To improve the support structures for young people’s music making</sub>

_{These are backed up by pledges of action from the partners to make these priorities a reality. These can be found at www.musicmanifesto.co.uk.}