Society for Wessex Young Musicians

No organization such as the CWYM could function without administrative and volunteer support. The Society for Wessex Young Musicians is the “engine” behind the CWYM, enabling it to run smoothly.

SWYM has many roles including concert promotion and centre publicity. It also covers the cost of printing and advertisements, concert hall hire, the hiring and buying of music, music stands and orchestral percussion instruments, fees for concert soloists, orchestral transport and recordings. It absorbs both concert losses and profits.

All this work is carried out by volunteers – parents of Centre members. All parents/guardians automatically become members of SWYM when their children join the Centre).

Some of the individual jobs are more obvious than others. Apart from general CWYM decision making, done by members of the SWYM Committee, we have a music librarian, treasurer, van driver and stage crew.

But perhaps the most visible of helpers are the canteen and tuck shop staff whose tireless efforts to keep the shop shelves well stocked mean our young musicians are able to keep their energy levels up, during an exhausting morning of music making!

Whether the rest of the “behind the scenes” work is noticed by our members or not, the effects of the society’s work is obvious and the rewards are felt by all. 

Society for Wessex Young Musicians Trust

In 2003 a local music lover with no living relatives, decided to leave her estate to six different charities – 3 for the blind and 3 for musicians and music making. She chose to encourage the music making by the various ensembles who meet on Saturdays and the SWYM Trust was formed in order to manage the legacy. The Trust is answerable to the Charity Commission.

Whilst not offering individual bursaries, the SWYM Trust supports music making principally through the ensembles that meet on Saturdays.

SWYM Trust String Prize

As an extension of the Trusts work, the SWYM Trust String Prize was set up in 2005. Taking place biannually in the month of September, entrants should be under 20 years old with a playing standard of at least grade 8 distinction.

With a 1st prize of £250 (increasing in 2007 to £350), the first competition welcomed 11 finalists. A full day of competition and performance was adjudicated by renowned violinist and tutor/string coach at Trinity College of Music, Nona Liddell MBE.

The 1st prize was awarded to violinist Sarah Sew, now studying at the Royal Academy of Music. In acknowledgement of her winning performance, Sarah was invited to play a concerto with the Wessex Youth Orchestra and joined them on stage during their Gala Concert in March 2006 for a performance of Mendelssohn`s Violin Concerto.