EUYO Community Projects
To be accessible, classical music does not need to add beats or confine itself to easy listening. On the contrary: excellence draws people to it and makes them hungry for more. Excellent arts centres are a key part of area regeneration, because they give people a reason to move close by. What is true is that in order for music to be accessible, it has to happen close to home.
Among professional musicians, there are plenty of stories of spending all weekend travelling hundreds of kilometres for lessons. But these are the exceptions, not the rule; most people cannot regularly attend lessons or concerts even 50km away. It is no coincidence that countries that have understood the importance of thriving regional orchestras, theatres and music schools are also home to some of the world’s greatest music.
In any case, who wants to live somewhere without culture? At their heart, expressions of culture create meaning through shared narratives. This is why they bring communities together and give them joy.
In this spirit, community music is a core part of EUYO’s activities throughout the year.