SWALEDALE Festival’s community and education programme will this year see a record number of performances in schools and care homes.

The aim of the school sessions is to give as many children as possible the opportunity to hear and learn about musical styles and instruments they may not have encountered before.

These are likely to include the 78-string Qanun which the Syrian musician Maya Youssef, a leading player of this extraordinary instrument, will demonstrate in performance-workshops designed to introduce secondary school students to some of the musical and cultural traditions of her country.

A total of 13 Dales schools – a record number – and five care homes will receive visits from musicians, including violinist Emma Fisk, guitarists James Birkett, Alexandra Whittingham and James Girling, cellists Kristiana Ignatjeva and Rebecca Hepplewhite, percussionists Delia Stevens and Le Yu, viol player Susanna Pell, lutenist Jacob Heringman, flautist Meera Maharaj, and the popular Yorkshire folk duo The Hut People.

Genres and styles range from British and Middle-Eastern folk to European Baroque, classical, South American tango and American jazz.

The schools include: Arkengarthdale, Gunnerside (with Reeth), Carnagill, Leyburn, Askrigg, Bainbridge, West Burton, Richmond Church of England, Hawes, Colburn, St Francis Xavier, Risedale Sports and Community College and The Wensleydale School.

Malcolm Creese, the festival’s artistic director, said: “With curricular music provision disappearing from schools by the day and with mainstream pop being so all-pervasive in the media, it is crucial that we enable young people to experience some of the beautiful and varied musical traditions from around the world.

"Hopefully this will inspire some of them to search for more, and perhaps even take up playing an instrument.”

The festival’s Wandering Minstrels scheme involves sending visiting musicians into care homes to entertain people unable to travel to concerts.

Swaledale Festival has received a clutch of local, national and international awards for its community and education work. Visits are arranged and paid for by the festival, which receives some financial support from a funders, trusts and foundations, as well as donations from individuals.

Mr Creese added: “We are extremely grateful for this support, which enables us to reach and make a difference to many more children and elderly people than we would ordinarily be able to.”

Details can be found on the website swalefest.org.