The future of a service which has helped thousands of children to make music and learn instruments is uncertain, due to a major shake-up.
The Norfolk Music Hub is a partnership of organisations and schools, led by Norfolk County Council, to get children and young people making music.
The hub ensures children get the chance to learn musical instruments and to perform in ensembles, with public concerts.
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But the Arts Council England, which provides money for the hubs, on behalf of the Department for Education, is slashing the number of them from 118 to 43.
It has said the music hub for Norfolk and Suffolk must be combined.
Norfolk County Council has lodged a bid with the Arts Council to be the lead organisation for the new Norfolk and Suffolk Music Hub from September next year.
The successful bidder will get more than £2m to provide the service and £660,000 to spend on buying instruments between September 2024 and August 2025.
Suffolk County Council has decided not to bid but, if successful, Norfolk County Council would commission Suffolk County Council’s Music Service to oversee music education in Suffolk.
If the council did not bid, then it would be left to a national provider to submit a successful bid - and officers at County Hall said that would mean the continuity of service would be lost.
Penny Carpenter, the council's cabinet member for children’s services, said: “Norfolk Music Hub is held in high esteem nationally and, via Arts Council funding, has been able to secure some fantastic opportunities for our children and young people, such as the SENDfest event in the summer and the annual Big Sing celebration.
"We’re in a strong position to bid for the two-county hub and have the backing of our partners across the region.
"We want our children to benefit from the joy and opportunity that music brings, creatively, educationally and from a wellbeing perspective."
The Arts Council will make its decision in April.
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