Tomorrow night hundreds of schoolchildren will gather at St George’s Hall to showcase their talents in music, dance and drama.

Youngsters from primary and secondary schools across the district will also take to the stage on Thursday evening for the 14th Bradford Schools Prom, to give their all whether it be jazz, brass, percussion, song, dance or a host of other musical skills.

The annual extravaganza is brought to audiences by Bradford’s Music and Arts Service.

Across the district 11,000 children have regular instrumental lessons through the service, including whole class, small groups and individuals. Other activities include Songstars where young people can act and sing, art workshops in schools, the song, dance and music-making festival MAD Day and Christmas concerts.

“The Prom is a showcase for the children - it highlights a whole range of arts activities giving the opportunity for children to perform on a prestigious stage,” says Tony Johnson, head of Bradford Council’s music and arts service. “Music can do so much for children. It can improve their concentration, and raise self-esteem. Seeing a child, or group of children, get on stage to perform is a wonderful thing. We get a lot of very positive feedback from parents.”

Self-funding through charging parents and schools, and with grant support from the Arts Council, the service is the lead partner in Bradford Music Education Hub, which works with a host of organisations involved with music and the arts.

The Department for Education recently increased the amount of funding to deliver music education to the Arts Council by £18million, bringing the amount available to the UK’s 123 music hubs to more than £75 million in this financial year.

“This has made a difference to what we can offer children next year,” says Tony, “We can use it to try and engage with children who are not presently involved with music and give them the opportunity.

Last November the House of Lords held a passionate debate on the importance of arts in education after Education Secretary Nicky Morgan suggested that choosing arts subjects reduces young people's career opportunities. Peers from all backgrounds spoke about their love for the arts, how it has helped them in their careers and why it should continue to benefit children today.

Three years ago the Department for Education announced an inspiring and ambitious initiative - a National Plan for Music to tackle the existing lottery of music education for children across the country, to ensure that “children from all backgrounds and every part of England should have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument; to make music with others; to learn to sing; and to have the opportunity to progress to the next level of excellence if they wish to.”

Leading voices from the music industry including Julian Lloyd Webber and Sting have joined forces in a national ‘Don’t Stop the Music’ campaign to ensure that this pledge is fulfilled.

In June Bradford will be among ten areas taking part in the inaugural BBC Music Day, showcasing some of the BBC’s ‘Ten Pieces’ initiative and the work children have done with community choirs.

The music service is looking towards working with local artists and others involved in cultural education. “Arts provision across the district has constantly grown and we are making sure we all work together to give a wider cultural offering,” says Tony.

Adds the service's business manager Debbie Bellwood: "Music helps children across all subjects. We run the prom over two nights as there are so many schools wanting to take part, and it is still oversubscribed."

Councillor Ralph Berry, Bradford Council’s executive member for children’s services, believes that access to great music and the opportunity to learn an instrument and take part in bands and ensembles is a powerful and enriching part of the curriculum. “It gives young people a lifelong skill, an appreciation of music ,but most of all the pride and self-confidence that comes from music is infectious and bolsters learning in all areas.”

Virginia Haworth-Galt, ex chief executive of Music Mark, the UK Association for Music Education believes that music should be an entitlement for every child, “An integral part of school life and never sidelined as just a ‘nice to have’ subject. A child’s education that embraces music starts a lifelong journey that for many never leaves them. This gift of music is part of the DNA of whole life development and is a cultural anchor for young people.”

*Bradford Schools’ Prom takes place on March 25 and March 26. For Prom tickets contact St George’s Hall on 01274 432000 or visit bradford-theatres.co,uk; See also bradfordmusiconline.co.uk