This year visitors of The Great Yorkshire Show may well think they’ve gone a lot further a field than Harrogate, as they find themselves surrounded by bongos, maracas and drums thanks to an inaugural performance being put together by children from across the region.

The three-day countryside showcase takes place from Tuesday 12 to Thursday 14 July at the 450 acre site on the edge of the spa town of Harrogate. Tuesday will see the launch of Tune-in, a local initiative run by North Yorkshire’s Youth Music Action Zone (NY YMAZ), supported by Harrogate International Festival and organisers hope visitors will be flocking to the HSBC stage, to see this spectacular display of world music.

NY YMAZ, (run by a consortium of experienced partners across the region) are, as we speak, planning their showcase performances, set to feature music from around the world, from local children of all ages. Keen to support the initiative hands on, consortium members will be featuring in the performances, over the 3-day period, including YMAZ Manager Edwin Preston learning percussion, and Harrogate Festival Director William Culver-Dodds trying out Salsa.

Established to provide music-making for 0-18 year olds, NY YMAZ’s consortium is made up of Harrogate International Festival, Cube Media, CYC, Pied Piper Projects, Swaledale Festival, & Whitby Musicport.

All are pitching in, but there is only so much preparation that can be done, as the event is based largely around interactive workshops, and teaching young people in the audience the joys of different music on the day.

Edwin Preston, NY YMAZ Manager, said: “ Tune-in is all about bringing world music to young people in North Yorkshire.  We have performances planned from existing workshops and mentoring groups, and are very excited about showcasing this talent, but a big aim for us at The Great Yorkshire show is to interest young people not yet involved, by getting them to take part in our workshops, and then feature in our performances. No musical ability is necessary – enthusiasm is the most important thing!”

The bill for the day includes Hands and Voices, the first singing and signing choir, heralded as one of the most exciting new choirs to emerge from Yorkshire in recent years, whose simplicity yet flamboyance is electric. Choir members with learning difficulties will lead workshops in singing and signing, as part of a unique training programme promoting positive models of disability for tune-in, which will be performed at the show. 

Also on the bill are Rhythm Attack, a well-respected musical group, who’ll bring a variety of instruments and sounds together in a percussion workshop, teaching samba to salsa. Workshops will run, to teach the young people the pieces, then a live performance will showcase their new skills.

Add to this traditional Indian drumming demonstrations from the Punjab, brought to us by Noise Blasters, who will teach rhythms from around the world, and a Youth Orchestra incorporating drumming, keyboards, turntable and mc-ing skills, and you’ve got a truly energising mix of music.

Rose Kent, from York based Cube Media, who is a consortium member, and the inspiration behind Hands and Voices said: “We are very excited about the scope of tune-in. There’s so much creative talent in North Yorkshire, I think it’s great that we’ve now got a way for young people to develop their musical interests, whether it’s through dj-ing, an orchestra, or a Punjabi drumming class. I’m really looking forward to getting stuck in on the day, and learning some new skills myself!”.

Tune-In is a regional division of the National organisation Youth Music, which funds and facilitates music-making for young people up to the age of 18, particularly those living in areas of social and economic need. By 2010 Youth Music aims to have reached 3 million children and young people in a nationwide strategy to support youth music-making.

For more information, to arrange an interview, or photography please contact:
Jo Waye or Jessica Matthews at Chocolate PR
T: 0113 245 9132
M: 07939 105334
E: jo@chocolatepr.co.uk E: jess@chocolatepr.co.uk

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Note to Editors:

1. Tune-in is made up of a consortium of: Harrogate International Festival, Cube Media, CYC, Pied Piper Projects, Swaledale Festival, & Whitby Musicport.

2. Since December 2000, Youth Music has set up 24 Action Zones. The aim is to provide music-making activities to young people who might not otherwise have the opportunity. The Zones are made up of established organizations from the public, voluntary and private sector. They cover all genres of music and deliver a wide range of activities, including workshops, rehearsals, performances, one-to-one teaching and mentoring.
See www.youthmusic.org.uk for more information.