“Future opportunities, new challenges” is the theme of a South West Music Symposium at Dartington Hall, Devon, April 19-23. It is organised by Dartington plus, a new collaboration between the Dartington Hall Trust, Dartington College of Arts and King Edward VI Community College in Totnes.

Dartington plus is one of three centres of creative excellence to receive a pound;1 million Arts Council grant. Each day will be devoted to a different area of music: classical; jazz, folk and world; music education; community music; the music industry. Fee: pound;50 organisations; pound;40 individuals per day. Accommodation: pound;40 per night, including breakfast.

Tel: 01803 847003 www.dartingtonplus.org.uk

EVENTS

“Thinking voice, feeling voice: towards a philosophy and a psychology of the voice” is the theme of the Giving Voice international festival at Aberystwyth, March 30-April 3, and Cardiff, April 5-7. It is being run in association with University of Wales Aberystwyth and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Contact the Centre for Performance Research for details.

Tel: 01970 622133

www.givingvoice.org.uk

Wagner’s Overture to The Flying Dutchman and Strauss’s Alpine Symphony are among works being performed by the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain at Barbican Hall, London on April 14, and at St David’s Hall, Cardiff on April 16. Jonathan Vaughan, NYO director, and orchestra members will give pre-concert talks.

Tel: 020 7638 8891 (Barbican), 029 2087 8444 (Cardiff), 0117 960 0477 (NYO) The Loose Roots Festival will be held in Matlock, Derbyshire, April 2-4.

The programme will include workshops, dances and concerts with an Appalachian and old-time flavour blended with Eurodance traditions, including French, Breton and Swedish. A 12-hour Eurodance extravaganza will take place on the Saturday, 1pm-1am.

Tel: 01629 734517

www.footloosefestival.co.uk