Island Music Makers: Songwriters Den returns this Autumn! The club will now be running at the Pavilion in Newport.

As of October, Songwriters Den will be running the club at the Pavilion in the Victoria Recreation Ground, Newport.

The Songwriters Den offers the opportunity and support to unleash your creativity and write your own songs!

In these sessions you can:

• Learn different lyric writing techniques

• Find out how to create melodies

• Create chord progressions

• Try out new instruments

• Perform songs at events and festivals

• Meet like-minded people and share ideas!

Who is it for?

8-16 year olds!

What does it cost?

It is £15 per month, or £10 per month if you are in receipt of any support services.

How can I sign up?

Contact Island Music Makers via email at: islandmusicmakers@gmail.com to book your place or find out mroe!

View fullsize

Southampton & Isle of Wight Music (SIOW Music) is proud to be playing a role in this week’s British Science Festival 2026, hosted in Southampton by the University of Southampton and the British Science Association.

The festival brings together world-leading research, creativity and public engagement, and this year SIOW Music is helping to place young people’s creativity and musical talent at the heart of the programme, amplifying youth voice, strengthening cultural participation, and demonstrating how music can illuminate scientific ideas in accessible, imaginative and memorable ways.

As part of the Festival’s arts-science commissions, SIOW Music is supporting Marine Remixed, an innovative electronic-music project inspired by cutting-edge marine research. Young musicians from Southampton and the Isle of Wight are remixing ocean recordings, scientific sound data and elements from The Ocean Remembers - a major new composition by sound artist Jason Singh and composer Yazz Ahmed.

These remixes will be showcased live during the Festival, highlighting how young producers can translate scientific ideas into powerful musical storytelling. SIOW Music is working alongside Turner Sims’ Assistant Producers - a cohort of emerging young creatives - to co-curate and promote the Marine Remixed performance night. Participants receive mentoring in electronic performance, programming and production, gaining hands-on experience in the professional music industry while contributing to one of the UK’s most significant public science events.

In addition to public performances, SIOW Music is supporting a series of school-based workshops where marine researchers and musician-facilitator Fran Lobo collaborate with secondary pupils to create new songs inspired by ocean science.

These workshops will culminate in original student compositions and a new learning resource for schools across Southampton and the Isle of Wight.

“Being part of the British Science Festival allows our young musicians to connect with real scientific research and express it through music. It’s a powerful reminder that creativity and science are not separate worlds - they enrich each other.”

Southampton Youth Wind Band (SYWB), one of the South Coast’s leading youth ensembles, has been selected to perform at the 2026 Music for Youth Proms at London’s iconic Royal Albert Hall.

The invitation represents one of the highest honours available to young musicians in the UK and recognises the exceptional talent, dedication and musical achievement of the ensemble and its members.

Facilitated by Southampton and Isle of Wight Music, the Southampton Youth Wind Band brings together more than 50 talented young woodwind, brass and percussion players from across Southampton and the surrounding region. Under the direction of John Hanchett, supported by Sam Proctor, the ensemble has developed a growing national reputation for outstanding musicianship, ambitious programming and electrifying performances. Known for its vibrant concerts and remarkably polished sound, the band regularly performs challenging repertoire spanning cinematic scores, wind band masterworks and original compositions created by the young musicians themselves. Reviewers and mentors consistently praise the ensemble for its musical maturity, technical excellence and expressive performances.

The band’s selection for the Music for Youth Proms follows a highly competitive national process. The Proms are the culmination of Music for Youth’s year-round festival programme, which engages tens of thousands of young people from across the UK. Only a small number of ensembles are invited to perform at the prestigious event each year.

Taking place over two days, the Music for Youth Proms showcase the diversity, creativity and energy of more than 3,000 young performers from every corner of the country. For those selected, the opportunity to perform on the world-famous Royal Albert Hall stage is widely regarded as a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Kath Page, Director of Southampton and Isle of Wight Music, said:

We are incredibly proud of the Southampton Youth Wind Band and this wonderful achievement. Being selected to perform at the Music for Youth Proms is national recognition of the hard work, commitment and talent of these young musicians, as well as the dedication of their tutors, conductors and families. Performing at the Royal Albert Hall is something many musicians dream about, and we are delighted that these young people will have the opportunity to represent Southampton and the wider region on such a prestigious stage.

The invitation not only celebrates the excellence of the ensemble but also highlights the strength of music education across Southampton and the Isle of Wight. It serves as recognition of the many hours of rehearsal, practice and collaboration invested by the young musicians and the wider music community that supports them.

As the ensemble prepares for this landmark performance, members are looking forward to sharing the stage with some of the most outstanding young performers from across the UK and showcasing the musical talent emerging from the South Coast.

CAN YOU HEAR US? Officially opens this week. Friday 11th September, from 7:30pm at the Victoria Rec Ground in Newport.

Community-led activity has already been happening across the Island, and now we’re bringing everyone together for the official CAN YOU HEAR US? Opening Ceremony, which also marks the opening of the Ventnor Exchange Arena

One big night to celebrate both, with everyone invited.

Sol’s Hot Town Stompers will bring soul, jazz and the feel of a New Orleans street party into the Arena. Around them, there’ll be cabaret, close-up magic, The New Carnival Company puppetry and live theatre with StoneCrabs Theatre, Somewhen Survival Society and other very special guests from the CAN YOU HEAR US? programme appearing throughout the space.

Here’s the link to book your space: https://creativeisland.org/event/can-you-hear-us-opening-ceremony/

The music hub’s strand of this Island-wide celebration Songs of Place will be taking place on Sunday 11th bringing together youth music ensemble and primary age singers to perform songs they have written about the Island in the last year.

As the academic year comes to end all the Southampton and IOW Music ensembles have been busy giving their last concerts of the year. 

Many thanks to all the directors, assistant directors and volunteers who have given so much throughout the year to guide the players and develop their musical skills. The end of year performances have been truly magnificent, with performances at St Cross Fayre, a fundraising concert at St Alban's Church, the Dobson Theatre at King Edward VI School and Symphony Hall, Birmingham.

"Everyone at SIOW Music is so proud of all the achievements of our ensembles who have given some incredible performances over the last weeks.  The quality of playing has been outstanding.  Huge thanks to everyone involved and helped make so many special memories"

- Zoe Hunting

Below are a selection of photos from our Performance season!

To mark 50 years of RATstands, they are giving back to the communities that inspire them, by providing £10,000 of product support to schools, charities, and non-profit organisations through the RATstands Community Programme.

What is provided?

£10,000 of product support

We are providing £10,000 worth of RATstands product support to organisations using music, education, and the performing arts to make a positive impact in their communities.

Support is available across our range of products, including music stands, performance lights, microphone stands, musician chairs, staging, choral risers, and other RATstands equipment. Whether you’re looking for staging for a drama school, music stands for a non-profit organisation, choral risers for a school or choir, or equipment for a community performance space, we’d love to hear how our products could support your work.

The £10,000 fund will be shared between successful applicants, with awards tailored to the needs and potential impact of each project. There is no minimum or maximum request size, and we welcome applications from organisations of all sizes. Whether you’re seeking support for a small community initiative or a large-scale educational programme, we encourage you to apply.

All support is provided in the form of RATstands products and cannot be exchanged for cash.

To find out more about this opportunity and apply, visit their website via the button below!

Kath Page, SIOW Music Manager and SCMP Consortium Lead, had a fantastic weekend of music making in Southampton in July!

Starting with the Southampton Youth Wind Band performing at the national festival of music for youth and finishing with Southampton Youth Orchestra performing their final concert before going on tour this month.

Below you can watch a few snippets of 1812 overture as performed by Soutampton Youth Orchestra!

The 2nd Festival of Music in the West Wight will take place on Nov 28th, 2026, at Christchurch Totland.

All proceeds will be directed to the West Wight Dementia Friendly choir.

The purpose of this festival is to encourage musicians of any age and level of skill to be given a chance to perform in a relaxed and friendly environment. It is hoped that the day will start at 10am and end at 6pm. The church will be open for anyone to pop in and support the performers throughout the day.

The church has recently acquired a Yamaha grand piano and there will be a smaller digital piano available for the younger pianists who might find the Yamaha a bit daunting!

Richard Wilkins will be available on the day to accompany any solos if required.

Please find below the entry form to be returned to: pamwedgwood@yahoo.co.uk

It is important to stress that this festival is non-competitive and should be entered for the joy of playing and experiencing the wonderful world of music.

Every entry will receive a certificate and small memento.

If we can also attract a few choirs to come along it would be great to have a big sing to finish!

If you need any more info, please email: pamwedgwood@yahoo.co.uk

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

After the success of our first Podcast making session and youth consultation, Philippa is running another session at Playland in Portsmouth!

This will take place at Playland at 193 Commercial Rd, PO1 4BD on Wednesday 17th June from 6pm - 8pm.

Participants will have the opportunity to record a podcast on the theme of music, which will then be edited and uploaded to our YouTube channel. The session is open to anyone 18 or under who's willing to chat about music. Interested young people can sign up to attend here - please do this by 15th June.

Podcast Making

17th June 2026 at 6-8pm

at Playland, 193 Commercial Road,

Portsmouth, PO1 4BD

SIGN UP NOW

Young musicians gathered for this year’s Isle of Wight Recorder Extravaganza, part of the wider Fairest Isle Festival celebration of 16th and 17th century music taking place across venues around the Island in May.

Hosted at Queensgate Primary School, the concert showcased the remarkable progress of children from schools across the South Coast who have been learning the recorder through a collaborative education initiative led by Southampton & Isle of Wight Music, Fairest Isle Festival and the early music ensemble Palisander.

Speaking at the event, Nia Collins of Southampton & Isle of Wight Music said 

“We are delighted to partner with the festival and Palisander for a second year, helping to develop a strand of musical learning centred around the recorder.

The recorder is so accessible and such a great gateway into instrumental and ensemble playing.  This afternoon audiences heard just how adaptable and varied the instrument can be — from soundscapes to recorders of all shapes and sizes and sounds. In the best possible way, I’m quite certain you won’t hear anything like this again for a very long time!”

The project was supported through funding from the Worshipful Company of Turners alongside support from the music hub, Fairest Isle Festival, the Walter Bergmann Fund and Palisander’s funders. Together, the organisations commissioned a new songbook and teaching resource featuring music inspired by locations across the Isle of Wight, written by composer Miriam Monaghan.

The initiative also included teacher training sessions reaching 15 schools across the South Coast and an estimated 2,000 children, followed by additional workshops delivered in schools by music hub practitioners and visiting musicians.

Organisers hope the resources created through the programme will continue to benefit schools for years to come.  The songs will also be featured as part of the music hub’s Songs of Place strand in Creative Island’s Island-wide initiative Can You Hear Us?  Celebrating Island culture and featuring in our Spotify playlist of songs written and performed by young Island musicians in Autumn 2026.

Special thanks were given to Queensgate Primary School and Mrs Riches for hosting and coordinating the event.

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Palisander (@palisander.recorders)

We're excited to announce the next set of dates for our consultation sessions. The sessions are open to anyone under the age of 18 who's open to discussing music with Philippa, our Signposting & Youth Governance Worker.

The next sessions will be:

Wednesday 3rd June - Puppet-making 18:30 - 20:00

Wednesday 24th June - Podcast 17:30 - 19:00 

Both will take place at our recording studio in Mayflower Studios (142 - 144 Above Bar St, Southampton SO14 7DU).

Puppet Making

During this session, we'll teach you to build a sock puppet and ask that you build a music figure that's relevant to you - perhaps a musician, a singer-songwriter, a character from a musical or someone else?

3rd June 2026, 6.30 - 8.00pm

Find out More

Podcast session

Have you ever wanted to try your hand at hosting a podcast? Or just being a guest? However you feel, we want to invite you to create your own podcast episode!

24th June 2026, 5.30 - 7.00pm

Find out More

To register your interest, and sign-up to attend, please fill in this form. 

Unfortunately, if you've already completed a form about the dates, this does not count as a signup. You will have to complete this new form so we know you're coming.

Feel free to sign-up to a session again; repeat attendees are very welcome! 

Finally, we're very excited to share the first episode of the Power Music podcast, which we recorded during our last session. You can find it below: 

View fullsize

Herleen Kaur Khalsa, one of our wonderful Rising Stars performers is putting on a charity event in Southampton titled ‘East Meets West’.

In Herleen’s words:

This event will feature a mix of original songs, Sitar, and Indian Fusion to raise money for a charity that is very close to my heart.

Friends of PICU is a charity supporting the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at Southampton’s Children’s Hospital. They provide patient and family facilities and staff training that isn’t typically funded by the NHS. This charity supported my family at a critical time—my little sister was born with a heart condition and required immediate surgery. Through their help, she was able to stay under specialist care in hospital for a month. This event is my way of giving back.

When is it: Saturday 11th July 2026 - doors open at 6.30pm, with the performance taking place from 7-8pm.

Where is it: The Hilt (Hiltingbury Community Centre) Hiltingbury Road, Chandler's Ford, SO53 5NP

Tickets: Pay what you want - these can be purchased via Eventbrite via the button below.

Congratulations to our Southampton Youth Wind Band who have been invited to perform at the prestigious Music for Youth National Festival at Symphony Hall in Birmingham on Saturday 11 July. 

This is a very well deserved national recognition for the band who are simply sounding awesome.

We want to say a huge congratulations to all band members and Director, John Hanchett and Assistant Director, Sam Proctor. 

The Music for Youth National Festival 2026 brings thousands of talented young musicians to Birmingham for three unforgettable days of live performances, inspiring workshops and creative experiences. From powerful orchestras and uplifting choirs to jazz bands, ensembles and bold new music makers, the festival showcases the incredible diversity and talent of young people from across the UK.

Hosted in iconic venues including Symphony Hall and the CBSO Centre, the festival offers something to delight every music lover.

Book your tickets and be part of an uplifting celebration filled with passion, creativity and the joy of making music together. The full festival programme will be revealed in May.

To discover more and find out how to get involved in workshops or the fringe stage, visit the MFY website: www.mfy.org.uk

Embark on a musical journey back in time at the Fairest Isle Festival on the captivating Isle of Wight. Bathe in the opulence of a Venetian soundworld with voices and early instruments from the world’s top performers - on an island itself steeped in rich history. Below you can find out more about the workshops and events happening as part of this festival!

Recorder Extravaganza with Palisander (Monday 18th May 2026 4.30pm - 5.30pm)

Queensgate Primary School (KS1, KS2) in partnership with Fairest Isle Festival

SIOW Music have been providing CPD, resources, workshops and a performance event on the Isle of Wight! This massed performance event for Isle of Wight Schools will take place after school on Monday 18th May hosted by Queensgate Primary in East Cowes.  Young performers will have the opportunity to play alongside other school groups in a final performance of the Recorder Extravaganza project and hear incredible performances from Miriam and her recorder supergroup Palisander! 

WORKSHOP: LABORATORY OF LULLABIES (SATURDAY 16TH MAY 2026 10AM–11AM)

BAROQUE AND FOLK FUN - A FAMILY EVENT FOR ALL AGES - LED BY NAOMI BURRELL

Where: ASPIRE RYDE, DOVER STREET

As part of Fairest Isle Festival , come and join us for this unique experience that invites families to connect through the timeless tradition of lullabies. Whether you’re a parent with young children, a grandparent sharing cherished memories, an adult bringing an elderly relative, or friends looking for new ways to enjoy live music, we hope you find it soothing to enjoy together in the welcoming space of Aspire Ryde.

The ‘Laboratory of Lullabies’ features lullabies and ‘night-time’ music from baroque and folk traditions - to entertain adults and children alike. Led by Naomi Burrell who plays the baroque violin and sings, and joined by Sergio Bucheli, a fabulous lute player, they will bring Naomi’s recently

COME & PLAY: BAROQUE HITS WORKSHOP (SATURDAY 16TH MAY 2026 1:30PM–4:30PM)

AN INTRODUCTION TO BAROQUE STYLE FOR PLAYERS OF MODERN INSTRUMENTS LED BY NAOMI BURRELL AND KINGA UJSZASZI (VIOLINS)

Where: ST JOHN’S CHURCH, NEWPORT

Following last year’s successful event with Naomi Burrell, here’s another session for players of modern string and double reed instruments (at modern pitch) to dip their toe into playing baroque style (or styles - there are a lot of them!). With two expert professional players, enjoy finding a strong sense of dance and vivid colours in music by Corelli, Vivaldi and perhaps Purcell. Naomi Burrell and Kinga Ujszaszi are two of the busiest early violinists on the circuit. Involved in other events this weekend, you will enjoy the infectious energy they bring to this music.

The Amber Trust have developed a wonderful new resource, Positive Touch Guide, to support teachers working with blind and partially sighted students to feel confident in using touch safely and appropriately.   

The Amber Trust is dedicated to giving blind and partially sighted children the best possible musical opportunities. Amber’s work is grounded in evidence-informed approaches to musical development for children with vision impairments, including those with additional differences and disabilities, and those with complex needs.

Children who are blind or who have very little sight experience the world primarily through auditory and tactile information. In music education, this means that touch can become an especially powerful and meaningful channel for demonstrating and scaffolding instrumental technique, supporting singing (for example, through awareness of breath and posture), and, for some children, communicating reassurance and emotional connection.

What we define as Positive Touch is the intentional, supportive and appropriate use of physical contact to facilitate learning, foster communication and, where appropriate, provide reassurance. Used sensitively and ethically, Positive Touch can be a crucial element in teaching blind and some partially sighted children.

The Amber Trust promotes positive, appropriate and reassuring touch between practitioners and blind children, or those with very little sight, during music teaching and music-service sessions. For some children – particularly those who are very young or who have additional disabilities – touch may be an essential part of communication and of building understanding of the world around them.

This guide is for teachers, practitioners and families. It outlines Amber’s approach to Positive Touch, tips and techniques, and information about safeguarding.

This guide is available to download as a pdf, and in word (suitable for screen readers) and large print versions.

You’ll find it on The Amber Trust’s website in various formats here:  https://ambertrust.org/positive-touch-guide/

Positive Touch Guide

A new resource by The Amber Trust to support teachers working with blind and partially sighted students to feel confident in using touch safely and appropriately.

Access Here

For our 10 Minute Sing & Sing this week, we have an original song by Jo Downs: A Cockerel-headed Man.

This song has been specially written and commissioned for our partners Brading Roman Villa as part of a wider project on the Isle of Wight called ‘Can You Hear Us?’ and the ‘Songs of Place’ we are creating for this.

A Cockerel-headed Man! is about one of the famous pictures that make up the mosaic floor at Brading Roman Villa - Gallus the Cockerel-headed Man! This song has been written in the style of Victorian Music Hall as a nod to the time that the Villa was discovered.

You can listen to the track on our Songbank, or Sign and Sing along using our 10 Minute Sign & Sing learning and performance videos.

Everybody sing songbank

Access: A Cockerel-headed Man! Full track, Backing track & Score, as part of our Myths & Legends songs for our Vocal Prom.

Listen here

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Southampton and IOW Music (@siowmusic)

After two days of intensive rehearsals the Southampton Youth Orchestra gave incredible performances for their "Musical Portraits" concert on 11 April at Thornden Hall. 

The concert featured two soloists from SYO, violinist Katie Ho in Saint-Saens Danse Macabre and the Ghin Choi in the 2nd movement of Rachmaninoff's 2nd Piano Concerto.  Both soloists were simply stunning. It was hard to remember they are both still only in Y13. Huge congratulations to both soloists. SYO were equally fabulous in Coleridge-Taylor's Overture to The Song of Hiawatha and Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition. 

"Another evening to remember from the Southampton Youth Orchestra.  Under the direction of Kevin Withell and Charlie Mann the orchestra continue to go from strength to strength.  Everyone at Southampton and IOW Music are incredibly proud of all their achievements"

- Zoe Hunting, Ensemble Manager, SIOW Music

The Vibe are launching a new series of free workshops at Turner Sims for 18-25 year olds who are interested in working in the creative industries.

This series of four workshops in April and May, taught by industry professionals including guests from Southbank Centre, Tim Hand Productions and Tomorrow’s Warriors, will introduce careers and skills in live music venues, including;

• Programming (21 April, 6pm) - more info here

• Technical production (23 April, 6pm) - more info here

• Marketing (11 May, 6pm) - more information here

• Event management (12 May, 6pm) - more information here

Booking: Workshops are booked individually so young people can mix and match the ones that interest them, or do all four!

Accessibility: Participants don’t need any prior experience and we can work with individuals to support any access needs. 

Further Opportunities: Young people who take part in at least one workshop you will have the opportunity to apply for a paid role supporting events at Turner Sims at the end of the workshop series. 

View fullsize

The end of the Spring Term 2026 has seen another series of stunning performances from SIOW Ensembles.  The young musicians gave stunning performances in a variety of venues performing well known classics through to music from stage and screen.

“The standard of playing and professionalism displayed by the young musicians is always outstanding.  It is always an absolute pleasure to attend the performances given by our ensembles” - Zoe Hunting - SIOW Music

We have one more performance to go, with the Southampton Youth Orchestra performing on Saturday 11 April, 7.30 at the Thornden Hall. Two young musicians from the orchestra will appear as soloists in the concert.  An evening not to be missed!

Tickets can be purchased via the button below.

Monty’s Community Hub in Sholing are delivering a Wellbeing Music Workshop for young people aged 11–18 on Saturday 21st March 2026, 1pm–4pm.

The session is part of Sara’s (Girls Make Music Facilitator) new creative wellbeing practice How To Hear Yourself, which uses music, sound and creative exploration to help young people build confidence, express themselves, and connect with their emotions in a supportive environment.

During the workshop participants will have the opportunity to:

• Explore sounds and samples through listening activities

• Experiment with instruments, voice and recording

• Create their own tracks or soundscapes using accessible music software

• Collaborate with others and try out creative ideas in a relaxed setting

No previous musical experience is required. The workshop is designed to be very accessible with a low barrier to entry, and focuses on creativity, curiosity and self-expression rather than technical ability. Participants are welcome to bring any instruments if they wish.

 Location: Monty’s Community Hub, Sholing
 Date: Saturday 21st March 2026
 Time: 1pm – 4pm (lunch included – pizza)
 Ages: 11–18

Places are limited and will be offered on a first come, first served basis.

The link to sign up is here: https://forms.gle/XkvSiMD7F3oiUyt1A