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. 

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

On Saturday 24 March 2018, young orchestral musicians from across the city will come together for an inspirational evening of music at Central Hall. Featuring performances from Acorn Strings, Elgar, Southampton Youth Strings (SYS), Southampton Youth Concert Sinfonia (SYCS) and Southampton Youth Orchestra (SYO) the evening will also feature a special guest performance from Airplay, the city's foundation youth wind band.

Tickets cost £10 for adults, £5 for concessions, £2 for children under 16, and a special family ticket (two adults and two children) costs £20. Advance price tickets can be reserved up until 3pm on Friday 23 March, by contacting the Southampton Music Hub office.

On Saturday 24th February, members of Acorn Strings and Elgar, the Hub's two beginner strings ensembles, spent the morning in a workshop with workshop leader Neil Valentine. 

The day started with a few warm-up games to help the children feel some of the rhythms they were about to play. They then learnt to play "Ah Ya Zeem", a traditional Arabic tune, before exploring different ways to change their performance of the music. The players also had the chance to visit the Southampton Youth Orchestra mid-rehearsal, to experience the sound of a full symphony orchestra and see how they rehearsed. Finally, they worked as an ensemble to turn the short tune into a five-minute work adding to the original piece with their own ideas for creating soundscapes using different techniques on their instruments. 

Chris Nichols, Director of Acorn Strings, says:
"It was really exciting to see the children work creatively without the confines of sheet music and an orchestral setting! It was also a good opportunity for the children to get to know each other better, outside of the weekly rehearsals. Several of the children played the music to each other as soon as they arrived at the next rehearsal!"

Two Southampton Music Hub Award Holder students, tuba player Morro Barry and bassoon player Lucy Gowans, are celebrating after national recognition for their musical talents. 

Morro Barry, tuba player

It was after taking part in a project with the Chineke! Orchestra in November that Morro, aged 13, was invited to audition for the Chineke! Junior Orchestra: an orchestra run by the Chineke! Foundation, which supports young Black and Minority Ethnic classical musicians across Europe. After a successful Skype interview with Chinke! founder, Chi Chi Okinawa, Morro has been invited to join the Chineke! Junior Orchestra this Spring.

Lucy Gowan, bassoon player

After auditioning from the National Children's Orchestra at the end of last year, Lucy, aged 11, has been offered places in both the under 12s national orchestra and the regional orchestra. Both orchestras are run by the highly acclaimed National Children's Orchestra, which provides a world class foundation in orchestra performance and musicianship to musically talented children in the UK aged 7-14.

Zoe Hunting, Ensembles Manager for Southampton Music Hub, says:
"I'm delighted that two Award Holder students from our city's youth orchestras and bands are also being recognised at a national level: the whole team offer their congratulations to the students on all the hard work that has led to their success. Southampton Music Hub is dedicated to supporting all young musicians to reach their fullest potential, and thanks to the support of music teachers and the Award Holder scheme, it is wonderful to see two young players reach such great heights of musical development."

Both Morro and Lucy will be appearing as soloists in the Southampton Concert Wind Band performance on Sunday 29 April at All Saint's Church in Botley."

Southampton Music Hub is now offering Musical Theatre singing workshops in partnership with Perform For Life, a performing arts education organisation based in the South / South West. In group workshops participants will sing popular Musical Theatre songs, learning singing technique, harmony singing and other elements of Musical Theatre, including movement and acting through song.

Katrina Simon, founder of Perform for Life, says:
"Perform For Life creates opportunities for children and young people in the city to take part in Musical Theatre tuition in a group setting, making it an affordable way for participants to learn new songs, pick up new skills and meet like-minded friends. Musical Theatre is a hugely popular genre and Perform For Life uses the storytelling nature of the genre to give children and young people performance skills they can use both on and off the stage." 

Workshops will be at Regents Park Community College, every other Tuesday after school. 

On Saturday 27 January 2018, over 400 children, young people and adults, from all across the city, came together at Central Hall to take part in free workshops and performances as part of Southampton Music Hub's Music Fayre.

The day opened with Acorn and Elgar string groups performing together for a growing audience of families, including the Mayor and Mayoress of Southampton, who then officially opened the Music Fayre. After the official opening, the Mayor and Mayoress joined Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, and over 150 players of all ages and abilities, picking up a "Bamboo Tamboo", to be part of the biggest open-access, Family Orchestra the city has ever heard. 

Throughout the day free music workshops and performances included choirs — Delicious Sounds, Family Singing, Sing Out and Sing Force — as well as community music groups and ensembles — Pulse8, Ukulele Groups, Folk Active and Family Rock Jam — and families were also greeted by performances from some of the city's most talented "Award Holder" musicians. Southampton Music Hub, Hayes Music, CoMA South and Friends of Southampton Youth Orchestra also hosted stalls on the day.

Matt Brombley, Interim Hub Manager for Southampton Music Hub says:
"It was an incredible pleasure to host the Music Fayre again this year: proudly sharing Southampton's diverse musical communities; and inspiring families to take part in making music together. With free Family Music workshops now travelling around the city throughout the Spring, families of all shapes and sizes can find out how making music helps make lives better!"

At the @MusicHubSouth Music Fayre launching the 2018 Southampton Family Orchestra! Celebrating BSO's 125th Anniversary year by creating a new song from scratch based around the numbers 125. #BSOParticipate pic.twitter.com/MxnPv0PfGX

— BSO (@BSOrchestra) January 27, 2018

On Saturday 27 January 2018, Central Hall plays host to a jam-packed programme of music workshops, performances and stalls at Southampton Music Hub's Music Fayre. Joined by hub partners as well as local music and arts organisations, families of all shapes and sizes can come and join in with music activities suitable for all ages and abilities.

This weekend, families of all shapes and sizes can be part of the free music workshops and performances at Southampton Music Hub's Music Fayre. From 11am-3pm on Saturday 27 January 2018, Southampton Music Hub will joined at Centrall Hall by hub partners and local music and arts organisations to proudly share Southampton's diverse musical communities.

Matt Brombley, Interim Hub Manager at Southampton Music Hub says:
“This year is the biggest year ever for families to make music together in Southampton. Launching at the Music Fayre, free Family Orchestra, Family Singing and Family Rock Jam workshops will mean that players and singers of all ages and abilities, can share the life-changing power of making music together. With the help of Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Fiona Funnell, and Groove Merchant, families of all shapes and sizes can find out how making music can help make lives better!”

A message from Matt, Nia and Zoe, Southampton Music Hub Managers:

The start of the new school year in 2017 has seen some incredible musical moments in Southampton:

• 1,500 new pupils took their first music steps in First Access
• 5,000 children learning music every week
• over 6,600 children taking part in an inspiring musical experience

As we share some of our highlights from the start of this year, we also look forward to 2018, working with schools, partners and families to bring life-changing music to every child in our city.

Southampton Music Hub has been longlisted, alongside five other music hubs, for the MEC Music Education Awards 2017, recognising the hub's imaginative, creative, ambitious and inspirational approach to music education. The shortlist will be announced in December, and the final awards will be given in February 2018.

Matt Brombley, Interim Hub Manager for Southampton Music Hub, says:
"The whole team are delighted to have been longlisted for this award, as recognition of the excellence we achieve together. It is an honour to help lead an incredible partnership of teachers, schools, families and music organisations from across the region, as we work towards our shared purpose of bringing life-changing music to every child in our city."

On Saturday 9 December 2017, Southampton Youth Concert Sinfonia (SYCS) will be joined by the Splash of Red ladies choir and singers from Southampton Music Service for a Christmas concert not to be missed. 

Anna Robinson, Director of SYCS, says:
"After a hugely successful tour concert with Splash of Red ladies choir, SYCS are delighted to, once again, be joined by the choir on a return visit this Christmas. The concert is going to feature a wide range of festive favourites including an exciting rendition of O come Emmanuel also featuring Southampton Music Service singing students."

On Saturday 4 November 2017, Southampton Youth Brass Band (SYBB) were joined by members of the world leading Cory Band for a day of expert workshops ahead of a joint concert together at Chandlers Ford Methodist Church in the evening. The day included sectional masterclasses, with each group of instruments working with expert players from Cory to develop their parts in the two pieces the bands would perform together in the concert later. The five Cory Band members also performed pieces of music and answered questions from members of SYBB about their incredible experiences touring the world as renowned musicians. The evening concert, attended by over 300 thrilled audience members, gained the attention of the Daily Echo with a glowing review of the evening.

A parent of an SYBB member says:
"My son had a fantastic day and was thoroughly inspired by the workshop and by the live performance, both watching it and participating in it. We were amazed by the standard that Paul attains with the band and the strong relationship he has with its members, parents and the brass community which enable days and evenings like that to be so successful. I don't think we could have fitted many more people into the church. Our son was positively buzzing afterwards and spent most of the afternoon practising which was lovely!”

Paul Hart, Director of SYBB says:
"The chance to play with the number one Brass Band in the world was something that I would never have thought would be possible. But last weekend, that’s exactly what happened. Dreams and life long memories were certainly made on that day, thanks to the amazing Cory Band. It was a chance to learn from some of the best players in the world on their chosen instruments and a day that will, I’m sure, be one they will never forget.”

On Saturday 11 November, Southampton Youth Concert Sinfonia (SYCS) will be part of a charity concert, performing alongside New Music Makers, a 50 piece choir from Hedge End, to raise funds for Countess Mountbatten Hospice Charity.

Anna Robinson, Conductor for SYCS says:
"This is not only going to be a fantastic evening of music making for a great cause but there will also be an art exhibition in the interval presenting the work of local artist Emily Quick."

Matt Brombley, Interim Hub Manager for Southampton Music Hub says:
"This concert is a great example of why we invest so much in our ensembles: giving our young people vital opportunities to contribute to, and make a difference in, their communities and our city."

Tickets cost £10 for adults, £8 for concessions and £5 for children and can be reserved at St Paul's Church Office or by emailing emquickmusic@gmail.com.

On Friday 6 October, year six pupils at Shirley Warren Primary School debuted the city's first ever iPad Concerto. Following a workshop in September with Southampton Music Hub, Són Orchestra and Ricky Tart, pupils spent their music lessons creating new musical ideas with iPads, instruments and their voices. In a final workshop ahead of their performance to 120 pupils and teachers at Shirley Warren Learning Campus, pupils worked with professional musicians to arrange their ideas in a final piece of music.

Asked what they thought about the project, year six told us:
"The best thing about taking part was hearing the different types of music, trying new sounds on the iPad and showing what we did to our school"
"It was hard because you could hear other people and they were playing different parts, but we worked as a team and got to hear how good it sounded all together. Playing with other people is much better than playing alone!"

Year six pupils taking part in a workshop ahead of the iPad Concerto debut performance

This weekend Southampton Youth Brass Band (SYBB) will learn and perform alongside world-leading Cory Band. A workshop on Saturday 4 November 2017 will see members of SYBB joined by members of the Cory Band, to learn from their expertise as National and European brass band champion players. In the evening, a concert at Chandlers Ford Methodist Church will see SYBB  perform alongside the Cory Band.

Paul Hart, Band Leader for Southampton Youth Brass Band says:
"To have the opportunity to work with the best brass band in the world is really incredible — an experience that the players of Southampton Youth Brass Band and myself will never forget!"

On Tuesday 7 November 2017 Southampton Music Hub and Stage Lead will host a musical theatre workshop at Regents Park Community College. Taking place from 4.30-6.30pm and costing just £4 per person, the workshop is a great opportunity for young people who love musical theatre and West End shows to build new singing, dancing and acting skills. 

Photo by the Daily Echo

It's been an incredible start to this year for Southampton Music Hub — with many achievements worth celebrating.

This half term alone:

• 1,500 new pupils took their first musical steps in First Access
• 460 young musicians have joined or returned one of our 20 ensembles
• 15 looked after children are having music therapy
• 3,400 have taken part in one of our inspiring music experiences with hub partners
• And over 600 people joined our city ensembles and singers in Guildhall Square to celebrate Southampton’s musical diversity

Matt Brombley, Interim Hub Manager at Southampton Music Hub says:
"We're overwhelmed by what an incredible start to the year we've seen. A huge thank you to everyone who supports the work that we do in schools and the community. This is only possible thanks to the incredible dedication of our teachers, schools, families and partners; all working together to bring life-changing music to every child in Southampton."

Supersonic Summer School 2017

On Saturday 16 December, Són Orchestra and Southampton Music Hub will host a day of festive music making at Cantell School. The day is open to young orchestral musicians (grade 2–6 standard) and parents/grandparents who also play an instrument — even if it has been gathering dust for a few years! 

Photo by Daily Echo

On Saturday, Southampton Music Hub's Groove Merchant and Ukulele groups were joined by Delicious Sounds Choir, Sing Out Choir, Highfield Singing Club, Soton Voce and hundreds of community singers, musicians and audience members to take part in a celebration of Southampton's musical and cultural diversity. The event, which took part in Guildhall Square as part of the Music in the City Festival, saw hundreds joining in with 'Singing in the City': a specially commissioned song which was performed by youth and community choirs from across the city.

Nia Collins, who led the choirs on the day, says:
"This was an incredible event which brought together musicians, singers and audiences from across Southampton to celebrate the rich musical diversity that makes our city such an incredible place to live in together."

You can view photographs of the event on the Daily Echo website, and a report on Music in the city will be featured on South Today this week.

Southampton Music Hub will be hosting music in Guildhall Square this Saturday afternoon as part of the Music in the City festival. Joined by musicians from the community, the programme for the afternoon will be:

• 1–1.30pm: Ukulele Groups
• 1.30–2pm: Groove Merchant
• 2.30–3pm: Singing in the City with Sing Out, Delicious Sounds, Soton Voces and community singers
• 3–3.30pm: Groove Merchant

Any young singers who took part in workshops for Singing in the City are warmly invited to join the performance at 2.30pm, and should meet in Guildhall square, with a parent or guardian to accompany them, from 2.15pm.