World Music Conference 2019 promotes Mental Health key messages
- ‘It is events like this that bring us all together irrespective of our differences, which provide a platform for us to celebrate the sheer diversity, in terms of world music, which plays an important part in our daily lives’– British Prime Minister, Rt Hon Boris Johnson
This year’s World Music Conference has once again been hailed a huge success.
The festival, which attracted expert speakers, over 100 school children from all abilities from across the West Midlands and representatives from over 12 countries, was organised by the British Carnatic Choir (BCC) and hosted by Aston University in Birmingham last Friday (Nov 8).
The core objective of this year’s event was to raise awareness of links between music and mental health and well-being.
The whole day event, now in its third year, featured interactive workshops, stage performances and panel discussions, concluding with the popular BCC concert and conference dinner. Presentations included:
- Making music a resource for health – Dr Naomi Norton, Associate Lecturer in Music Education, University of York
- Music, mental health and Offenders – Dr Leela Sivaprasad, Consultant, Forensic Psychiatry, Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust
- Music therapy for Alcohol-related depression – Jas Rai, campaigner
The event also featured two panel discussions with 16-24 year-olds, the themes for which were:
- Student Mental Health and Music – an effective coping strategy, chaired by Ben Parry, Chair, National Youth Choirs of Great Britain (NYCGB)
- The Power of Music, chaired by Heather Clemson, former Deputy Head of the Music Service in Birmingham
Introduced this year were the Midlands Young Ambassadors of Music Awards where educationalists, parents and guardians were encouraged to nominate children and young people for their flair for singing, playing instruments, dance, or anything related to music. Winners of these inaugural awards were:
Anupama Harish– She has won the BCC’s Patrons Award for 3 successive years and is a Grade 3 violinist.
Maisie Stewart– A member of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. A violinist, Maisie is currently at Solihull Sixth Form.
Sami Rao– A Year 11 student at Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls, Sami is a viola player. She is an inspiration to her peers.
Ankita Sai Ananth Kumar– Music is her passion and she enjoys entertaining audiences. Her passion lies in music from both East and West.
A second set of awards, the BCC annual awards, were presented to those who have demonstrated excellence in the Arts & Culture sector, through innovation, passion and pride in the work that they undertake to make a positive difference to the lives of individuals and communities. Winners of these awards were:
Ben Parry– Artistic Director & Principal Conductor, National Youth Choirs Great Britain
Stuart Birnie– Head of the Music Services, Services For Education
Nikhil Kapoor– Dance instructor, Shiamak Midlands
This year’s event was supported by Aston University, West Midlands Combined Authority, the Consul General of India in the Midlands and NHS Mental Health Trust Foundation. The keynote address was given by Professor Martin Levermore MBE DL, Chief Executive of MDTi Limited.
In addition to Eastern European, other countries represented were India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, China, Iran and several African countries.
The evening programme, compered by Aston University engineering student Sreenivas Ramakrishnan, featured the popular City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra’s String Quartet, as well as performances by young people and students of organiser Dr Chithra Ramakrishnan FRSA. Distinguished guests included John Crabtree OBE, Lord Lieutenant for West Midlands, Councillor Stephen Reynolds, Mayor of the Borough of Telford & Wrekin, Marcia McLaughlin, Managing Editor, The Phoenix Newspaper, Professor Nazira Karodia from University of Wolverhampton.
Once again, this event saw a large representation from Commonwealth Nations. Last year delegates were encouraged to sign a life-size ‘World Music Conference’ card which was delivered to HM The Queen by the event chief organiser, Dr Chithra Ramakrishnan FRSA.
“We are hugely proud of HM The Queen and all that Her Majesty does for our nation but also for the Commonwealth. This card was a token of our respectful gesture to Her majesty for embracing the sheer cultural diversity that we have here in Great Britain”.
Dr Ramakrishnan added:
“Music has a phenomenal effect on mental health. This multidisciplinary conference brings young people, leading researchers, mental health practitioners, communities and music professionals together from all backgrounds to share their perspectives about the positive benefits of music through their work and expertise and contribute to a wider audience and their wellbeing.
“In addition to this, the conference will also focus on practical ‘’hands -on’’ musical experiences for children and adolescent people.”
Andy Street CBE, Mayor for West Midlands, had this to say:
“The festival is unique in its aim of bringing together artists, academics and music educators from across Africa, Europe, the USA and India.”
The World Music Conference, launched in 2017, aims to promote and bring together academics, musicians, experts, children and young people of all abilities representing all facets of multicultural Britain under one platform.
To find out more visit www.worldmusicconference.co.uk
Photographs(high-res images available on request) Please credit photos to: S M Irfan Tahir
