Posts tagged Southampton Wind Band (SWB)

Southampton Youth Wind Band invited to perform at Symphony Hall, Birmingham on 5 July 2024

Southampton Music Hub’s senior wind band, Southampton Youth Wind Band (SYWB) have been invited to perform at the prestigious Symphony Hall, Birmingham on Friday 5 July 2024.

SYWB have been selected following their performance for the regional Music for Youth Festivals. The band submitted a digital entry performing; Fanfare for The 3rd Planet & Wall of Sound.

Music for Youth mentor Andy Grappy commented on the band’s performance that SYWB play with, “Excitement in your performing” and that, “You play with enthusiasm!”, adding, “You perform with great confidence”. The band’s performance can be viewed below.

Following the regional festivals around the country, a few high caliber performers have been selected to participate in the National Festival, SYWB are thrilled to have been one of those. SYWB percussionist, Reuben, 17, said about this opportunity:

“I’m really excited to perform at such an amazing venue, I know we’ll sound amazing in Symphony Hall. I’m also really looking forward to hearing other groups from around the country.”

The band will now be rehearsing hard to give their very best performance possible. SYWB Musical Director, John Hanchett, spoke about representing Southampton:

“We are so pleased to be celebrating the fantastic work of Southampton Music Service on this national occasion. The band would simply not be able to perform to the standard we do if it wasn’t for the incredible team of teachers and support staff that deliver brilliant music education to schools and colleges across the city. Southampton should be really proud and celebrate the achievement of SYWB!”.

Zoe Hunting, Ensemble Manager, Southampton Music Services:

“The Southampton Music Services are incredibly proud of what SYWB have achieved. The result is very well deserved after all the hard work of every player and director John Hanchett and assistant director Kevin Withell. We wish them all the very best for 5 July which is going to be such an amazing experience for all.”

We wish SYWB all the best, we know you’ll be brilliant!

You can watch SYWB in concert locally when they present their Summer Celebration Concert at Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church on Saturday 6th July.

EnsemblesHannah Buckingham7 May 2024Southampton Wind Band (SWB)

Southampton Music Hub celebrates the end of the year at Southampton Mela

On Saturday 16 July Southampton Music Hub brought performances and workshops to Southampton Mela as part of Art Asia’s vibrant celebration of the city’s cultures and creativity.

With performances from Southampton Youth Wind Band, Harmony Junction, and FLOW rap workshops from the DNA Team, the Mela was a celebration of many of the themes of the year at Southampton Music Hub.

Live Music is BACK

Southampton Youth Wind Band played a phenomenal set at the Mela, and they are just one of the hub’s many groups, bands and orchestras who have enjoyed performing live music this year. Since last September, the city and it’s young people have seen an exciting return of live music. We’ve seen performances for schools, at MAST and the community. We’ve seen performances from young people often alongside and supported by incredible established artists and groups, including rappers, orchestras and more.

Co-creation and Partnership

Harmony Junction was a co-created by Southampton Music Hub and Art Asia and is a great example of the way Southampton Music Hub works in partnership with others to help support diverse and authentic expressions of music and music education. From our Paul Hamlyn Foundation funded Rap and Literacy project, to the Proud to Be events, to young people at the heart of the city’s cultural celebrations, this year has been all about partnership, and that will only continue to grow in the future,

Young People Take The Lead

Our freestyle workshop, with freestyle rapper Tenchoo, at the Mela, is a great example of how this year young people have increasingly been taking the lead in shaping the music offer that is available to them. Our DNA programme includes support for young people to find their voice with songwriting and production, and then use that voice to help pick the programme of masterclasses, groups and workshops to help them flourish. Young people are having an increasing voice in shaping the future of music-making and learning in the city.

A Vibrant Local Ecosystem of Music Education

As Southampton Music Hub closes one year, and looks ahead to the next, its clear to see that music education in the city is about to take another huge step forward following the announcement of the new National Plan for Music Education. Part Southampton' Music Hub’s response will be to grow and develop our support of the vibrant local ecosystem of music education which we saw on display at the Mela festival on Saturday. There is real excitement across the city — from schools, education settings, hub partners and beyond — to see music education in the city become more diverse, more inclusive and more accessible to all.

News highlights of the year:

Featured

18 Nov 2022

More funding for youth-led music projects on the South West coast

18 Nov 2022

4 Oct 2022

Turner Sims host schools concerts with Sveneborg Kardyb and RKDIA

4 Oct 2022

3 Oct 2022

Launching today: a new online resource hub created for young people by young people

3 Oct 2022

18 Jul 2022

Southampton Music Hub celebrates the end of the year at Southampton Mela

18 Jul 2022

4 Jul 2022

Big Emotions — big success! Music and wellbeing performance at MAST

4 Jul 2022

27 Jun 2022

Inclusive music-making with Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

27 Jun 2022

6 Jun 2022

Young performers help celebrate Platinum Jubilee

6 Jun 2022

16 May 2022

Southampton Music Hub Welcomes the City of Culture Judges

16 May 2022

12 May 2022

Free tools to help you make and promote your music

12 May 2022

7 Apr 2022

Southampton Music Hub, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 Culture Programme

7 Apr 2022

4 Apr 2022

Concert Review: Proud to Be

4 Apr 2022

Music in Schools, Music in the Community, EnsemblesMatt Brombley18 July 2022Art Asia, Southampton Wind Band (SWB), DNA

Concert Review: Southampton Youth Brass Band and Southampton Youth Wind

Southampton Youth Brass Band (SYBB) and Southampton Youth Wind Band (SYWB) joined forces at Bitterne Park School for their first concert together in over three years. The programme started with a rendition of the Ukrainian national anthem and the audience were entertained with band repertoire from Glenn Miller to film music from Gladiator, and a poignant moment was Prayer for Ukraine performed by SYWB.

“It's my first term in the wind band and it's been a great experience. I love the music we are doing, and I'm very excited to perform in front of a live audience".” - Josh

John Hanchett, Director of SYWB says:

“It's great to bring two of our top tier ensembles together and see them enjoying live performances again. I'm very proud and excited to share the bands progress and what will they accomplish in the future.”

Ensembles, Music in the CommunityMatt Brombley8 April 2022Southampton Wind Band (SWB), Southampton Youth Brass Band (SYBB)

Playing music without music: Southampton's Young Musicians get creative with London Sinfonietta

On Saturday 12 February 2022, 37 young musicians from Southampton Youth Strings (SYS) and Southampton Youth Wind Band (SYWB) took part in a workshop day led by London Sinfonietta. Participants worked on a creative piece and another contemporary piece and it was a fantastic opportunity to work with some of the country's leading performers on a repertoire written by living composers.

John Hanchett, director of SYWB, says:

“its been a great day allowing the participants to explore a new style of music that gives them freedom away from the constraints of the written music.”

Patrick from London Sinfonietta says:

“All the performers made huge progress on two pieces, one about rhythm and one about sustaining a beautiful sound. They got used to extreme ideas quickly and embraced the challenge. They gave a musical performance to an enthusiastic audience.”

Sophie, a member of SYWB, says:

“Who knew you could play music without music!'

Ellen, a young musician from the day, added:

“It is different from anything I've ever done before. It was really nice to play something in a different genre, and it wasn't possible to get it wrong!”

Ensembles, Music in the CommunityMatt Brombley16 February 2022Southampton Youth Strings (SYS), Southampton Wind Band (SWB)

Young Musicians from Southampton to learn and perform alongside the London Sinfonietta

On Saturday 12 February Southampton Music Hub will welcome composer, conductor and presenter Patrick Bailey and players from the London Sinfonietta to work with players from Southampton Youth Strings and Southampton Youth Wind Band.

During the day Southampton's young musicians will work on on two contemporary pieces: developing modern technical skills, being involved in the creative process of developing a new piece of music, as well as taking part in sectionals with players from London Sinfonietta.

The day will end with a free public performance, 3.30 - 4.00 at Woodlands Community College, Minstead Avenue, Southampton, SO18 5FW.

Music in the Community, Music in Schools, EnsemblesMatt Brombley10 February 2022Southampton Youth Strings (SYS), Southampton Wind Band (SWB)

Dave King and Elaine Bohun: thank you for 37 years of service!

Dave King and Elaine Bohun stepped down from running Southampton Wind Band (SWB) in the summer of 2020. With a performance at Thornden Hall on Sunday 13 December 2021, and after a staggering 37 years at the helm, the music hub said a final farewell to them.

Current SWB members were joined by alumni making a band of 60 strong. Together they performed pieces that were personal favourites of Dave and Elaine or had a special significance to the couple.

The performance ended with a well deserved standing ovation as a tribute and thank you to all the support and encouragement Dave and Elaine have given to the young players of Southampton over so many years.

EnsemblesMatt Brombley14 December 2021Southampton Wind Band (SWB)

"In conversation with" Pulse8

This week we talk to staff and players from Pulse8, including director, Kevin Withell, and assistant, Amber Waterman.

What is the role of Pulse8 in Southampton Music Hub's wind band pyramid?

KW: Pulse8 is the middle wind band, taking students from the beginner groups at about Grade 3 standard, giving them their first experience in a wind band. We play a range of music: all sorts of styles and level of difficulty, ultimately making sure that they're prepared, experienced and confident for the step up into Southampton Wind Band.

What do you enjoy most about the music in you play in Pulse8?

Player A: I enjoy that we play all sorts of different styles of music, including film music. Our conductor Kevin makes the rehearsals really fun and knows how to help us make the best sound we can together.

What has impressed you most about Pulse8 players whilst rehearsals have been online?

AW: We've been most impressed by the level of commitment and enthusiasm shown throughout our online sessions. We've also had the privilege of working with some young musicians from the Isle of Wight, who have been joining us online while their ensembles have been unable to operate. They've become part of the band, and our students have made them feel very welcome.

What have you missed most about not being able to meet in person for Pulse8 rehearsals?

Player B: Everything! My friends, the music, performing!

Have there been any particular challenges to running the group online?

KW: It was difficult to begin with, as none of us really knew what to expect or how to make it work. Over the course of these few months, thanks to a lot of patience and honest feedback from the students, we've settled on a system which allows the students to learn and understand the music, to practise their parts, to understand and follow a conductor, to understand other musical lines in the piece and, most importantly, to enjoy themselves and maintain the friendly social atmosphere of the band.

What has been challenging about taking part in online rehearsals?

Player A: It is challenging not being able to hear the other musicians playing their parts and I don't know other people yet because rehearsals have been online since I joined Pulse8.

Have you been able to include any activities that you wouldn't normally be able to do in a face to face rehearsal?

KW and AW: As the students haven't been able to have real social contact, we've been breaking up the rehearsals with short, fun quizzes. This has developed a friendly competition in the band, and has given the students the opportunity to work together and have interesting conversations that wouldn't normally come up in day-to-day rehearsal. We've also managed to make several of the quizzes music-related, so have been able to subtly and stealthily develop aural and theory skills.

What new skills have you learnt whilst Pulse8 rehearsals being online?

Player B: How to play along to a backing track, even when it’s lagging because of our bad wifi signal!

Player A: I have learnt how to record individual music parts for virtual concerts. We also have fun kahoot quizzes at the beginning and in the break of each rehearsal about composers, instruments and music theory. I won a Disney quiz but I find the musical ones hard!

EnsemblesMatt Brombley22 March 2021Pulse8, Southampton Wind Band (SWB)

Southampton: A Musical Odyssey (in pictures)

On Thursday 5 and Friday 6 March 2020, Mayflower Theatre hosted 1,000 young performers, brought together by Southampton Music Hub, to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the sailing of the Mayflower. The Mayflower’s pioneering voyage 400 years ago created connections that changed the world. In response, these two show stopping performances saw young people at the heart of the start of a year of cultural programming for the city.

Thursday 5 March — Photo Gallery

Friday 6 March 2020 — Photo Gallery

Ensembles, Music in Schools, Music in the CommunityMatt Brombley12 March 2020Mayflower 400, Symphony 400, Big Sing, Southampton Youth Orchestra (SYO), Southampton Youth Concert Sinfonia (SYCS), Southampton Wind Band (SWB), Pulse8, Southampton Youth Brass Band (SYBB), Brassroots, Fusion Brass

Southampton Music Hub celebrates the end of a year of inspirational music for the city

350 Young Musicians Perform Symphony 125 at Southampton Guildhall

On Tuesday 2 July 2019, Southampton Music Hub celebrated a momentous end to an unforgettable year of music for the city with an exciting day of music-making and performances at Southampton’s O2 Guildhall.

Following an unforgettable performance at the Royal Albert Hall in November 2018 — an event which saw over 200 of the city’s young musicians perform alongside members of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO) as part of a 600 strong ensemble at the Music for Youth Proms — Southampton Music Hub have spent the past six months sharing the music and inspirational experiences of this once-in-a-lifetime event with schools and communities across the whole city.

Young ukulele players taking part in a massed playing event alongside 400 others.

In the afternoon, over 400 young musicians and singers — many of whom had only been learning their instrument of only a year — came together for a massed playing event, performing a special version of ‘Symphony 125’; the piece of music performed at the Royal Albert Hall.

In the evening, over 350 young musicians from across 45 city schools — over two thirds of the city’s schools — and thirteen music hub groups and bands performed an exciting programme of music to a packed out audience, including their own epic arrangement of ‘Symphony 125’, conducted by BSO CEO Dougie Scarfe and led by the song’s composer James Redwood.

Throughout July there will also be over 25 school concerts, involving nearly 1,500 young musicians. In total, over 2,000 young musicians will be involved in celebration events to mark the culmination of over 250 hours of workshops and lessons inspired by the Royal Albert Hall event.

Kath Page, Hub Manager for Southampton Music Hub, says:
“Our celebrations this week have been an incredible way to mark the end of an inspirational year of music for the city. Huge moments like the ones we’ve enjoyed this year — from the Royal Albert Hall to Southampton Guildhall — are a great way to inspire our young musicians with huge new ambitions. And, thanks to the incredible work of our schools, music leaders, instrumental teachers and workshop leaders, Southampton Music hub is helping make those dreams a reality by helping every child in the city make life-changing music every week.”

On Twitter, Councillor Darren Paffey said:
“Such a privilege to be there to hear Southampton’s young musicians perform with such passion, sensitivity and commitment. The Guildhall was absolutely bursting with talent tonight! Well done to everyone involved”

Image Gallery:

Ensembles, Music in Schools, Music in the CommunityMatt Brombley10 July 2019Airplay, Acorn Strings, First Access, Elgar, Southampton Youth Strings (SYS), Southampton Youth Orchestra (SYO), Southampton Youth Concert Sinfonia (SYCS), Southampton Wind Band (SWB), Brassroots, Fusion Brass

Talented Young Musician from Southampton secures place in National Children's Orchestra

Talented young musician, Lucy Gowans, has been offered a place in the under 13, National Children’s Orchestra for 2019.

Lucy plays the bassoon in three Southampton Music Hub ensembles — Southampton Wind Band (SWB), Southampton Youth Concert Sinfonia (SYCS) and Southampton Youth Orchestra (SYO) — as well as the violin in Southampton Youth Strings (SYS). Lucy is also a music award holder.

Zoe Hunting, Service Manager for Southampton Music Services, says:
“We are always delighted to hear of young musicians from Southampton achieving at a national level. Lucy is a dedicated young musician who gives so generously of her time and talents to Southampton’s ensembles and she is an inspiration to the city’s younger players. We wish her all the very best in this exciting venture.”

EnsemblesMatt Brombley18 December 2018Southampton Youth Concert Sinfonia (SYCS), Southampton Wind Band (SWB), Southampton Youth Orchestra (SYO), Southampton Youth Strings (SYS), Instrumental and Vocal Tuition

Southampton's wind and brass bands perform joint concert

On Saturday 10 November two of the Southampton Music Hub’s flagship ensembles — Southampton Wind Band (SWB) and Southampton Youth Brass Band (SYBB) — presented a joint concert of a wide variety of music from all genres at Chandlers Ford Methodist Church.

Zoe Hunting, Service Manager for Southampton Music Services, say:
“Congratulations to both groups on their stunning performances and a magical evening of music. This was the first of what we hope will be a regular feature in the hubs concert programme of joint performances where students and their parents or carers can appreciate the music making of fellow young musicians from across the hub’s wide variety of orchestras, bands and other music groups.”

Ensembles, Music in the CommunityMatt Brombley4 December 2018Southampton Wind Band (SWB), Southampton Youth Brass Band (SYBB)

Young Brass and Wind Musicians delight crowds at free, open-air, Bank Holiday performances

On Sunday 6 May 2018, in the bank holiday sun, young musicians in Southampton Wind Band and Southampton Youth Brass Band delighted the crowds that gathered outside the old city walls, on the steps, balconies and restaurants that make up the esplanade at Westquay. Performing a wide range of music, including songs from musicals and traditional brass and wind band pieces, the music filled the air, entertaining shoppers, diners, and the families who sat and watched.

Matt Brombley, Interim Hub Manager at Southampton Music Hub, says:
"It was a huge pleasure to watch the hub's young musicians performing at the weekend. They sounded spectacular. The bank holiday weekend is a special time for families, and so for our young musicians (and their families) to give up their time to share the joy of music with other families in the city is very particularly special."

Was down here having lunch today and this lot were AMAZING! Particularly enjoyed the Les Mis portion of the show. Sunshine, pizza and a brass band nothing more I could want out of a Sunday. https://t.co/CamP1lTxiE
— Lisa (@LisaNaomi) May 6, 2018

Music in the Community, EnsemblesMatt Brombley9 May 2018Southampton Wind Band (SWB), Southampton Youth Brass Band (SYBB)

Young musicians to host free, open air concerts at Westquay this bank holiday weekend

Young Brass players at Music in the City

Southampton Wind Band and Southampton Youth Brass Band are hosting two open air concerts at Westquay Esplanade this bank holiday weekend. Performing in front of the old city walls, and as part of Westquays "Sunday Brunch" series, these free concerts, taking place on Sunday at 1pm and 2pm, are the perfect way to enjoy (what hopefully will be) the sunny long weekend ahead.

Find out more

Other performers in the Sunday Brunch series include LoveSoul Choir — one of Southampton Music Hub's partners — performing on Sunday 27 May.

Music in the Community, Family Music, EnsemblesMatt Brombley2 May 2018Southampton Wind Band (SWB), Southampton Youth Brass Band (SYBB)

City Ensembles start rehearsals for a busy year ahead

Southampton Music Hub's city youth ensembles start rehearsals again this week, in preparation for an exciting year ahead. With over 400 returning members joined by more than 60 new members this year, the programme of rehearsals and concerts in the community will inspire Southampton's talented young musicians to work together, performing a challenging musical programme for their city.

Zoe Hunting, Ensembles Manager for Southampton Music Hub says:
"We're delighted to welcome new and returning members to our 20 city ensembles. Performing music together helps our children and young people to develop essential musical skills, build long lasting friendships, and give back to their community. We're particularly excited that this year that we have three new ensembles starting, giving young musicians new ways to find a way into performing music with others."

A new school year means an exciting year of life-changing music

As the new school year starts, Southampton Music Hub is working in schools and across the community to deliver its ambitious programme of life-changing music for the year ahead. Through first access, instrumental and vocal tuition and city ensembles, every child has the opportunity to perform and progress. Through the Stadium Tour, every child will have access to inspiring and inclusive music experiences, with world class musicians touring around the city's schools. Everybody Sing will help everyone to enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits of singing . The Family Music Programme — including Family Singing and a new Family Rock Jam, along with the return of the Family Orchestra — will help all families share the life-changing power of making music together.