Creative Scotland's Youth Music Initiative has been nurturing young Scottish talent and helping them fulfil their musical potential since 2003. 

Through a mixture of school-based and extracurricular initiatives, YMI funded projects have engaged some of Scotland's biggest musical names, from Lewis Capaldi to Fergus McCreadie, in music-based learning over the years. This year alone over 362,000 children around Scotland participated in YMI initiatives, with 1,100 jobs and over 5,600 professional development opportunities created in the process.

This year marks YMI's 20th anniversary, which they celebrated by supporting a huge range of Scotland's leading musical events, from Glasgow's hip-hop and grime conference PITCH and Make Music Day at Edinburgh’s National Museum Of Scotland, to naming Berta Kennedy the Sound Of Young Scotland at the Scottish Album Of The Year Award. 

^{Berta Kennedy winning Sound Of Young Scotland Award at SAY Award 2022}

Culture Minister Neil Gray says: 'The Scottish Government is delighted to fund the Youth Music Initiative (YMI) which provides opportunities for young people across the country to take part in music-making and enjoy the well-being benefits as outlined in the latest evaluation. 

'As YMI celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, I’m pleased to see so many projects receiving funding so that our children and young people can continue to have the opportunity to engage with music in a variety of different ways.'

Morag Macdonald, Creative Scotland’s Youth Music Manager adds: 'In its 20th Anniversary year, YMI is continuing to create crucial opportunities to develop both individual and collaborative musical skills in young people, sparking creativity, friendships and increased self-confidence. Not only are these opportunities life changing for the young people involved, but they also provide crucial employment for arts professionals and freelancers across the country.'

^{Hit The Road March 2022 / Picture: Cameron Brisbane}

To finish the year off right, YMI are urging Scottish culture lovers to support music-led concerts spearheaded by young performers this festive season. Head along to events such as RSNO's Gaspard's Christmas (Usher Hall, Friday 23 December, 3pm; Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Saturday 24 December, 1pm & 3pm) and The Snowman (various venues, Thursday 15– Sunday 18 December); The Night Before Christmas (Usher Hall, Sunday 4 December, 3pm; Saturday 10 December Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 1pm & 3pm); Scottish Storytelling Centre's Easy Sundays: Family Ceilidh (Sunday 11 December, 1.30pm); MC Yallah x Debmaster + Eyve at Glasgow's Glad Cafe (Sunday 11 December, 7.30pm); and many more. 

Visit creativescotland.com/funding/funding-programmes/targeted-funding/youth-music-initiative to find out more. 

_{Applications for Youth Music Initiative's Access To Music Making and Strengthening Youth Music initiatives are open until 2pm on Thursday 8 December.}