Valley Music Festival grants awards to young musicians

MUCH music-making has been silenced by the pandemic - but local youngsters have been given a boost to keep their ambitions alive.

Organisers of the Valley Music Festival have announced that the awards to help young people with their music tuition have been increased from four to eight.

The doubling of the scholarships follows a huge response to a JustGiving appeal which ran in tandem with a virtual event on You- Tube when the lockdown halted plans for an expanded festival in the summer.

The JustGiving appeal raised an amazing £4,250 - more than double the target figure - and means eight young people have received £250 each for music lessons in 2020 to 2021.

The Dransfield Foundation, the charitable arm of Fox Valley owner Dransfield Properties, has contributed to the fund. Six girls and two boys have received grants for singing, piano and guitar lessons.

Singers receiving scholarships are Karina Butterly, Olivia Froggatt and Charlie Taylor - all three at Stocksbridge High School - Freja Hirst and Rhona Hirst at UTC, Sheffield, and Emily Tomlinson at Bradfield.

Alice Stavert-Dobson, of Stocksbridge High, is having piano lessons and Cailean Simpson, also of Stocksbridge High, is to have guitar lessons.

The JustGiving appeal was swelled by many people who were paying tribute to the late Steve Osborn whose untimely death at age 65 on the day of the virtual festival shocked the community.

Steve, a driving force with his wife Hilary behind the festival, died in hospital after a short illness and had been deeply involved in the planning of the virtual festival along with his son-in-law Steve Franklin.

As a lasting tribute, a trophy will be awarded annually to a young group or school in Steve’s memory.

The Bolsterstone Male Voice Choir Raymond English trophy, donated by Raymond’s family, is awarded annually to the most promising young person or group taking part in the festival.

More than 1,600 people logged on to watch the virtual festival.

Graham Elliott, a member of the festival organising committee, said of the scholarships: “At a time when we are aware of the difficulties facing the whole community we are proud of being able to not only support the young people and their families but also contribute to supporting music teachers many of whom are struggling to maintain their incomes during this time when the self-employed are facing a difficult situation.

“Hopefully, in whatever form the festival is delivered in 2021, we shall with local people’s continued wonderful support be able to carry on providing opportunities to showcase the talent which exists in the Valley and also provide further financial support to our young people to access the lessons they deserve.”

Festival director Hilary Osborn said: “Our family have been so comforted by the money raised in Steve’s name. He was a very humble, caring man who would have been amazed at people’s response and so pleased to have been able to support so many young people on their musical journeys, especially during these difficult times.

“Steve was passionate about making opportunities for young people. He always took great interest in how youngsters developed and progressed in their careers. He was a calming influence and supportive of young people taking music exams in his role as rep for London College of Music Exams and took great pleasure in their achievements and was proud to have been involved.”