MONMOUTH has the potential to be nationally known as a centre for music excellence provided local concert venues can be improved, said Monmouth MP Huw Edwards.
Mr Edwards was speaking at the visit to Monmouth of the Chairman of the Arts Council for Wales, Sybil Crouch.
"Several local music societies receive or are applying for Arts Council funding and this visit was a valuable opportunity for their representatives to meet the Chairman of the Arts Council of Wales."
Mr Edwards invited Sybil Crouch to Monmouth to see the current facilities for classical concerts at the Nimbus Concert Hall and also Monmouth School which hosts the season of concerts on behalf of the Merlin Music Society.
"Monmouth hosts high quality music events through Merlin Music Society, Monmouth Choral Society and Monmouth Operatic Society. It was interesting to hear from the Head of Music at Monmouth School, Jeffrey Gray, about the plans to develop the School Hall as a concert venue. We also listened to young Chamber musicians from the Monmouth schools rehearsing.
"Earlier I took Sybil Crouch to see the Nimbus Concert Hall which has enormous potential as a concert venue if they can secure funding for development through the Arts Council of Wales. We listened to Nimbus Musical Director Geraint Lewis play his composition Waters of the Wye on the Concert Hall piano.
"Tremendous effort is put in to music in Monmouth by the local music societies and there is so much potential to make Monmouth nationally known if our local concert venues can be developed," said Mr Edwards.