SOUTH WEST MUSIC SCHOOL (SWMS) is a unique ‘virtual’ music school which provides high quality and innovative tuition and mentoring close to where the students live, rather than them having to travel or move elsewhere in the country to develop their talent. The school is part of a national network of centres for advanced training of young musicians. It operates through a regional partnership between Dartington Plus (The Dartington Hall Trust), Wells Cathedral School, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Federation of Music Services South West and Wiltshire Music Centre. Auditions for young musicians aged between 8 and 18 are held annually throughout the region and around fifteen successful candidates are invited to join the programme each year. So far there are 30 participants on the programme. Each musician is assigned a mentor who works with them and their parents to create an Individual Learning Programme (IPL) which, typically, includes the provision of a suitable and highly experienced teacher, exposure to many different styles of music, performance opportunities and three residential programmes each year, led by experienced professional musicians. In this project, the SWMS students will have a unique opportunity to work and perform with the famous composer Miguel Mera and a team of significant artists and professional musicians. Mera will be commissioned to produce a new work to accompany a series of short silent films on urban and rural life from the South West Film, Television and Video Archive. In their first residential in February 2009, students will work with Mera on producing a programme of music for eight short films, totalling about 30 minutes altogether. The personal backgrounds of the young people will inform the work, which will be based around the themes of: history; festivals; landmarks; trades and influences in the region. The first residential will provide seminars and workshops on composing for film and the students will be expected to compose some music themselves. Further development of the pieces and final preparation will take place at the second residential in July 2009, culminating in a performance which will combine the students’ work with Mera’s commissioned piece. The films will be shown on outdoor screens and projected onto buildings during the live performances of the music. Subsequent performances will be programmed at additional venues from September 2009. Project Budget The First Stage of the project will cost around £18,000 and will include the commission fee, artists and animateurs fees, accommodation and food, support staff costs and facilities. The Second Stage of the project will cost around £12,000 include the artists and animateurs fees, accommodation and food, support staff costs and facilities