Madam, - The recent coverage in your newspaper of the difficulties in the National Chamber Choir highlights how difficult it is for our talented young singers (and instrumentalists) to have a viable career in music in Ireland. At a recent plenary meeting of the Forum for Music in Ireland, two major points were expressed:
1. The need to make it possible for musicians to live, work and make a decent living as musicians in Ireland.
2. The need to support the campaign for a national system of local music education services.
In the light of the approaching general election, we need to become politically engaged in order to highlight some of the issues affecting music in this country.
Music in Ireland has depended for too long on the services of committed people, giving their time and energy without the support of a coherent, policy-driven national structure. With the decrease in volunteerism in today's busy society, there has never been a greater need to invest in music education and to support music-making in all the regions.
This is an important quality-of-life issue. And that fact must be brought home to politicians.
In a country that has seen unprecedented rate of growth in recent years, it is unacceptable that the economy should not support the provision of music services in each county in Ireland. The forum seeks to be "a voice for music in Ireland." But it is a collective voice that must be raised loudly and passionately, if it is to be listened to by those in a position to implement change. The forum's new website is www.forumformusic.ie. - Yours, etc,
Dr EVELYN GRANT,
Chairperson of the Forum for Music In Ireland,
19 Fishamble Street,
Temple Bar,
Dublin 8.