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."

Southampton Music Hub and Southampton Inclusion Partnership (SIP) are working together to pilot a new SEND Music Advisor role in the city. The role will help improve access to music for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Kelly Jo Peters, who is the music teacher at Great Oaks School, a Specialist Lead Educator in SEND Music for SIP and a national SEND Music consultant, will be taking on the role, supporting the city’s special schools and inclusion units to help every young musician reach their fullest potential, regardless of the challenges they may face.

Matt Brombley, Interim Hub Manager for Southampton Music Hub says:
“We’re delighted to work with Southampton Inclusion Partnership and Kelly Jo Peters as part of our ongoing commitment to improve access to music for children with additional needs: recognising the unique challenges they face and valuing the unique contribution they can make. Kelly Jo’s expertise and experience mean she is uniquely placed to help deliver our ambitious plans for 2018–20 and beyond.”

Kelly Jo Peters, SEND Music Advisor for Southampton Music Hub, says:
"Music is my passion and sharing that passion to help others develop their musicality is my lifelong goal. In this new role as SEND Music Advisor, I will help children with additional needs access increasing music learning opportunities and experiences. This role enables me to work with the city's special schools and inclusion units, as well as arts organisations, in order to support the Southampton Music Hub and SIP in delivering a dynamic and engaging music programme for SEND."

Janina Spencer Assistant Head from the Southampton Inclusion Partnership says: 
"Working in partnership with the Southampton Music Hub will further SIP's purpose in developing inclusive opportunities for pupils across Southampton. Kelly Jo (SIP SLE) is extremely experienced in the field of music with SEN and mainstream so her expertise will be invaluable. It will be exciting to watch music develop for all"

Kelly Jo Peters and the Great Oaks iPad band performing at Portsmouth Guildhall

This month's free song from the Everybody Sing Song Bank is a medley of nursery rhymes — perfect for singing with young children in school.

With so many familiar tunes, the song is also an ideal confidence booster for new teachers and music leaders who may be feeling unsure about leading singing activities. Alongside tips on how to sing the song, the podcast episode this week also introduces a brand new warm up and simple, silly starter that can be used in school and at home to build new singing skills.

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.”

Last term over 2,000 pupils took part in inspiring folk pop music experiences with Lucid, the Isle of Wights's "number one band". With eight performances in schools across the city, Lucid guided pupils through an interactive history of pop music, with performance letting them to see, hear and find out about how popular music has changed over the past 60 years.

We enjoyed a fantastic visit from @Lucid_Band this afternoon. 🎶 pic.twitter.com/nLr5v9e7lu

— TownhillJuniorSchool (@TownhillJunior) October 17, 2017

Sheku Kanneh-Mason and the Chineke! Orchestra. Image by Mark Allen

Chineke! — Europe's first professional majority Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) orchestra, founded by the double bassist Chi-chi Nwanoku OBE — is working with Southampton Music Hub and Turner Sims to give school pupils in Southampton an extraordinary musical experience.

Pupils from Southampton schools will participate in a series of workshops in the lead up to Chineke!’s public performance at Turner Sims, on Thursday 23 November 2017.

To coincide with Black History Month in October, pupils from three Southampton schools will learn a newly commissioned arrangement of Symphony No 2, L’Amant Anonyme by Joseph Boulogne (Le Chevalier de Saint Georges), an extraordinary man who was not only an accomplished 18th century black composer and virtuoso violinist but also a celebrated fencer, athlete, soldier and political activist in Paris and across Europe.

This November, members of Chineke! Orchestra will join pupils in their schools and work together to learn the piece by Boulogne, as well as composing a new piece of music inspired by his life. The project culminates in a large-scale performance for schools on Thursday 23 November, with over 150 young musicians playing alongside Chineke! musicians at Central Hall, Southampton. The performance comes ahead of Chineke!’s concert at Turner Sims the same evening.

The scheme aims to give the students inspiration and confidence during their formative years, with the hope of increasing the numbers of black and minority ethnic students studying music in higher education.

Nia Collins, Interim Hub Manager for Southampton Music Hub says:
"We’re delighted to give pupils from Southampton the experience of not only listening to, but performing alongside, some of the best BME musicians in the world. Southampton is an incredibly diverse place, and in recognition of the contribution BME musicians make to our city, we are delighted to subsidise music lessons for young BME musicians taking part in the project, to support them as they continue making music. Video from the day will go out to schools, alongside pieces of music, meaning that every child in the city will be able to play along with, and celebrate, the contribution of BME composers and musicians to classical music."

Kevin Appleby, Concert Hall Manager at Turner Sims says:
"I’m thrilled that as part of Chineke!’s first visit to Turner Sims, we can bring some of the orchestra’s highly regarded learning and participation work to Southampton schools, providing children with inspiring encounters with world-class musicians. The project builds on the work we have done over a number of years, together with Southampton Music Hub and the national music charity Orchestras Live, in profiling orchestral music across the city. We’re grateful to Arts Council England for their support of Chineke!’s work which has enabled this innovative project to happen."

Ishani O’Connor, Learning and Participation Manager, Chineke! Foundation says:
"It is wonderful for Chineke! to be involved in such an ambitious collaboration with the Music Hub and Turner Sims, and to reach so many children in Southampton. Chineke! Learning and Participation has been working hard this year to support music education across the UK and to encourage young BME musicians to keep playing and practising their instruments. We want to give BME musicians opportunities to meet and listen to Chineke! classical musicians from backgrounds similar to their own, to show them that with hard work and determination, they too can belong on the best stages in the world. These mentorships directly fulfil Chineke!’s aim to champion change and celebrate diversity in classical music."

To book tickets for Chineke!’s performance at Turner Sims on Thursday 23 November at 8pm call the Turner Sims Box Office on 023 8059 5151 or visit https://www.turnersims.co.uk/events/chineke/

Find out more about Chineke!: www.chineke.org, @Chineke4Change (on Twitter) and /chinekefoundation (on Facebook)

Find out more about Chineke!’s Learning and Participation work: https://musicworkshopcompany.wordpress.com

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

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."

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.

Released today, the next free song in the Everybody Sing Song Bank is the perfect way to launch into Space Week, which starts on Wednesday 4 October 2017. 

As part of Southampton Music Hub's ongoing support for singing in schools, the song is accompanied by a short, but jam packed singing podcast for teachers, with each episode bursting full of great ideas to get the whole school singing together, having fun and feeling happier and healthier through music. There is even a bonus podcast episode this week, with percussion ideas to play along with the song.

This October, Southampton Music Hub launches a brand new city choir, open to year 7+ students from across the city who enjoy singing and want to sing together with others in a wide range of musical styles. With rehearsals starting on Monday 2 October 2017, from 3.15–4.15pm, at Sholing Technology College, students interested in taking part can come along, and have a go — no previous experience is needed.

Hannah Meredith, Choir Leader, says:
"'If you love singing and are looking for a fun, uplifting, joyful group to be part of, you are more than welcome. We'll be getting started at 3.15pm at Sholing Technology College on Monday 2 October, and we can't wait to see you."

This weeks sees the start of a new initiative providing music therapy for Southampton’s looked after children, delivered by the life-changing music charity Nordoff Robbins The pilot project is the result of a new partnership between Nordoff Robbins, Southampton Music Hub, the Virtual School Network and Sholing Technology College. Music therapist Anna Tyrrell will work with pupils who are, or have been, looked after by Southampton City Council, using music to break down barriers in their lives, and help them to find their voice.

Matt Brombley, Interim Manager at Southampton Music Hub says:
“It’s an incredible privilege to work with Nordoff Robbins to help children and young people in the city use music to help overcome the challenging circumstances they face in their lives. Thanks to the commitment of Ann Dyton at the Virtual School, and the support of Sholing Technology College and their feeder schools, we’re able to share this incredible opportunity with pupils from across the east of the city. With over 3,000 pupils making music with Southampton Music Hub every week, we know the huge difference music can make in the lives of children, young people and their families. For the city’s looked after children, music therapy with Nordoff Robbins will help them to experience the life-changing power of making music too.”

Fraser Simpson who oversees Nordoff Robbins South West services says:
 “The spirit of innovation is at the heart of Nordoff Robbins, and we embrace strong partnerships to help us achieve our mission – bringing the life-changing power music therapy to as many people as possible, including individuals, families and communities, using our renowned approach. We are thrilled to be teaming up with Southampton Music Hub and the Virtual School in an originative and exciting partnership, to enable young people in need of support to engage in the creative power of music-making, inspiring them to innovate and succeed."

Southampton Music Hub are opening up auditions for a new, foundation level, city rock band. Groove Foundation will be Southampton's 19th youth ensemble, joining Groove Merchant as part of a growing network of support for the city's young rock and pop musicians. 

Auditions take place at Cantell School on Wednesday 18 October 2017, from 4.30–6pm. The band need three singers, two guitarists, a bass guitarist, a keyboard player and a drummer. Potential members need to be in school year seven and above, and whilst no previous band experience is needed, music reading is required.

Zoe Hunting, Ensemble Manager for Southampton Music Hub says:
"We're delighted to see the music hub's support for talented, young, rock and pop musicians now include a foundation rock band. By offering new and developing players the opportunity to practice and perform together, we hope to see the quality and standing of rock music grow in the city."

Solent music leaders enjoying a percussion session at a previous Solent Cultural Conference 

Invitations went out this week for the annual Solent Cultural Conference — a central part of Southampton Music Hub's ongoing support for teachers and music leaders, as they work together with the music hub to bring life-changing music to every child in schools and across the city. This year’s conference will see an inspiring range of sessions — from hands on music making workshops through to creative and practical classroom ideas — all delivered by highly esteemed local and national music leaders.

Hosted by Southampton, Portsmouth and Isle of Wight Music Hubs, the conference will take place on Thursday 2 November 2017 at Portsmouth Guildhall. 

Matt Brombley, Interim Manager at Southampton Music Hub says:
"We recognise and value the incredible work that music teachers do in our schools and communities every day. Each year the Solent Cultural Conference challenges us to try new ideas, find new ways of working, and be inspired by incredible music leaders from across the world. Investing in music staff — seeing them develop as musicians, teachers and leaders — is an essential part of bringing life-changing music to every child in our city. It is our hope that, once again, this year we will inspire and equip our music leaders with new ideas and skills that they will go back and share, to enhance music making for the city's children and young people."

On Saturday 20 September 2017, from 2–4pm, Southampton Music Hub will host a percussion 'have-a-go' workshop at Richard Taunton Sixth Form College, giving current young percussion players, and those interested in percussion, a chance to get hands-on with a wide range of percussion instruments and styles. The afternoon workshop will explore the world of rhythm and percussion through orchestral instruments and body percussion, as well creating and making music together. Families are warmly invited to join the group at 3.45pm to hear a short performance of the afternoon's work. 

Kevin Withell, Director of Southampton Youth Percussion says:
"As leader of Southampton Music Hub's percussion ensembles, I'm delighted to offer this hands-on workshop free to children in the city interested in percussion. The world of percussion is huge and exciting, with so many opportunities to make music with others. Places are limited, but young musicians interested in taking part can get in touch with the music hub office to book a place today."

First Access musician performing at Sounds from the Stadium in 2016

This week sees the start of First Access projects all across the city. Delivered through three exciting class-based programmes — Prepare2Play, In2Music and SoundBites — Southampton Music Hub's First Access projects are giving the city's children an inspiring start to a lifelong journey with music. This year alone, nearly 1,500 pupils, in 50 classes across more than 20 schools throughout the city, will take part in whole class music lessons on a wide range of instruments.

Matt Brombley, Interim Hub Manager for Southampton Music Hub says:
"First Access is an amazing opportunity for children in Southampton to get their hands on a real musical instrument, and be inspired to start their own lifelong journey with music. Southampton Music Hub has a brilliant team of teachers who deliver exciting and inspiring lessons each week, leading to our First Access programmes being nationally recognised for their excellence. We all love music. But we also know the huge difference that learning music can make in the lives of our children: helping to develop intelligence, emotional literacy and social skills. For the 1,500 children starting their musical journey this year, we wish them every success for the incredible adventure that lays ahead of them."

In celebration of Roald Dahl Day, Southampton Music Hub has released the first song from the Everybody Sing Song Bank: ‘Roald Dahl Day Song’.

As one of the new free song added to the Everybody Sing Song Bank each month, ‘Roald Dahl Day Song’ is accompanied by a short, but jam packed packed singing podcast for teachers, with each episode bursting full of great ideas to get the whole school singing together, having fun and feeling happier and healthier through music.