'Children's orchestra scheme is inspirational'

Musicians in a children's orchestra based in one of Liverpool's most deprived communities have been described as "some of the most inspirational kids I have ever met in my life" by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy.

The government minister made the comments after watching a performance by In Harmony, a project set up by the city's Philharmonic Orchestra in Anfield and Everton in 2009 to teach music to children in primary school.

Ms Nandy said she enjoyed the children's performance so much she had to be "prized away" from her seat.

She said the project was an example of how investment in grass roots creative projects could make a lasting difference to communities.

It comes as it was revealed the Liverpool city region will receive £25m from the government's Creative Places Growth Fund.

More than 40% of children who take part in the In Harmony programme are classed as living in poverty. The Philharmonic said that since 2009, over 4,000 children and families had benefited.

Nandy said the project was "unlocking talent and ambition everywhere".

Jane Ward, a trustee of the Early Music As Education charity, told BBC Radio Merseyside the future of music education was hanging in the balance due to a lack of teachers.

She asked Nandy if she could ensure that music was not counted as a "soft subject" that "didn't count" on the curriculum.

In response, the secretary of state said: "In a few weeks' time we will be publishing our curriculum review and it has an explicit aim to put art, music and culture back at the heart of the curriculum where it belongs."

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport said the funding would support creative growth across the whole of the UK, including providing business support for local creative businesses, regional skills initiatives, innovation capacity building programmes, or by providing sector-specific support such as TV and film production funds.

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