The Channel Islands Music Council was established in 1974 and its unique success is due to the supportive approach and the professional experience of its representatives. With increasing financial pressures from all angles, the mutual dependency of a group such as this should never be underestimated. Each body is dependent on the others to make it feasible to attract high quality performers for children and adults in all the Islands to enjoy. The Council remains confident that it once again brought to the Islands some excellent, high quality, traditional and innovative music.

The remit of the CIMC was, and still is, to promote and co-ordinate musical events both for schools and public performances in Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney and Sark. Having no funds of its own the CIMC promotes on behalf of the participating organisations but nevertheless is responsible for the contractual arrangements with artists. Fees and travel expenses are divided between the organisations on an agreed basis. As the policies, requirements and finances of each organisation change, so the Co-ordinating committee reviews its methods in order not to disadvantage any one organisation and maintain a balance which enables each Island to benefit from such mutual co-operation.

A glance at the 2003 Tours Programme once again demonstrates the very broad range of music presented in all of the Islands for both public and schools’ consumption. As in previous years, Sark has not participated during the winter months due to the unreliability of sea travel at this time of year.

The success of the first two Schroders World Music Series in 2001 and 2002 led to a third in 2003. The increasing importance of world music in the National Curriculum was the driving factor that led to the inception of the Series and since then the tours have been acknowledged as highly successful for all parties involved. The Sponsors continue to be delighted with the content of the Series and their association with such popular concerts which attract a broad range of audience.

Attendance has been very good as well as audience response, although the most enjoyable of the concerts have certainly been those where the artists involved the audience, talked about their country and its culture and explained the origins and development of the music and instrumentation. This communication is of course of paramount importance in the case of the education concerts. As always, the concerts were carefully selected to be entertaining, accessible and to introduce young people and adults to the instruments and music of different cultures. The concerts proved successful with large audiences, often at capacity, and an excellent response from schools demonstrating the demand for World Music in all the Islands.

CIMC Delegates
Colin Amos, Instrumental Music Service, ESC, Jersey (Chairman)
Roger Pierpoint, Alderney Music Society (Secretary)
Kirstin Simon, St. James Concert & Assembly Hall, Guernsey
Mervyn Grand, Guernsey Education Department Schools Music Service
Daniel Austin, Jersey Arts Centre
Roy Cook, Sark Music Society