Dear friends: Good News!

We want to let you know the good news, AFYM will run in February 2022.

However, due to Covid, it will be run slightly differently, and we will have some classes online and a shorter face to face festival.

In the online classes, performers will send in a video recording and adjudications will also be recorded. The online element of the festival will be released the end of February or early March.

These classes will include the usual graded classes, ensemble and family classes.

The festival will aim for one weekend of face to face classes at the Brangwyn Hall complex one weekend before half term in February. This is currently being negotiated with the venue.

Face to face classes will include the concert and age category classes. However, if the Covid situation worsens over the winter period, the festival feels that these classes may also have to be moved online.

All the classes will be non-competitive, as video recordings will vary depending on the quality of equipment used by individual entrants.

We understand that some of you will be disappointed that the festival will not be in the usual format, however the committee feels it is essential that the festival continues this year, to provide pupils with the opportunity to perform, to have continuity and to motivate students in their music practice. We are also aware that it is important to keep everyone safe.

We are contacting you now so you can start preparing your students for a performance. Hopefully this will regenerate an enthusiasm with our pupils which has sometimes been difficult to maintain during lockdown! We will send more details through ASAP, including when the syllabus goes online, when recordings need to be completed and when and where to send them etc. The final sending date will probably be by mid-January so that the festival has time to sort performances into classes ready for transmission online.

Please would you let us know if you are interested in sending your pupils to the festival again, so that we can keep in close contact with you while decisions are being made in the next few weeks.

You can send an email to [email protected]

Please would you also mention these arrangements to other music teachers who may find it beneficial to enter their pupils and ask them to contact us so we can keep them informed!

Many thanks.

Hope to see you there!

Helen Turbervill

AFYM committee member

A PDF version of this letter can be found via the link below:

Letter to Teachers September 2021[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]