On Sunday 6 June young performers from 13 different schools in Southampton came together for a special performance at the Big Platinum Festival in Mayflower Park. They opened the festival to an audience of thousands with a rousing rendition of the hub's own Jubilee song, 'It's Our Jubilee' written by Jo Downs. They then drummed along with Forever Queen to the ever popular 'We Will Rock You'.

Kath Page, Hub Manager, says:

“We are thrilled to be a part of the Jubilee celebrations. This is a brand new festival choir that has been put together specially for this event, but thousands of children have been involved in singing the jubilee song in the run up to the Platinum Jubilee as part of our own Jubilee Celebrations. Huge congratulations to Unity Radio for putting together such a great party!”

One of the young performers says:

“ I can't believe there are so many people here!! It's a bit scary, but I'm so excited to be singing and to have made new friends with people. I'm going to carry on singing after this!”

On Saturday 21 May, young musicians from the FolkActive Youth Ensemble (FAYE) wowed audiences in St. Lawrence's Church with two gigs as part of the Winchester MayFest. They performed the entire set from memory, which included some smaller group performances and step dancing, led by the wonderful Jo Harmer.

In between gigs the ensemble got to enjoy the sights and sounds of MayFest, where the streets of Winchester are alive with different types of morris dance, sword dancing, clog dancing and Appalachian dancing.

Ensemble director Chris Nichols says:

“FAYE performed superbly on Saturday. Their joy and enthusiasm in both sets was infectious, and they left both audiences smiling and wanting more. I can't wait to get stuck into our final two sessions in preparation for the showcase gig in July.”

On Sunday 22 May the newly formed Music Hub Festival Choir performed at MAST Mayflower Studios’ big birthday bash. The choir performed  'It's Our Jubilee' , the hubs newly commissioned song to celebrate the queen's jubilee. 

The choir was formed of community members and representatives from 14 schools across the city. 

Composer Jo Downs, who also sang in the choir says:

“It was wonderful to see my song coming to life. I loved the inclusion of signing in the performance and I was blown away by the standard of singing after two rehearsals.”

Akindu, one of the singers, says:

“It was really good fun to sing at the concert. I really liked the jubilee song.”

Want to make, share and promote your own music? Our new Music Studio team have put together a set of tools to help.

The team have picked four common goals:

1. Making a Music Video

2. Making Digital Music

3. Recording Music

4. Creating Album Art and Promotional Material

If we’re missing something from our list, or you have ideas for making it better, let us know!

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.”

On Saturday 2 April 2022, Southampton Music Hub welcomed Helen Sanderson to the city for a guitar workshop. Helen is an international performer, educator, arranger and composer as well as Head of Guitar Performance at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

Zoe Hunting, Music Service Manager, says:

“It was such a privilege to be able to welcome Helen to Southampton and an amazing opportunity for the young guitar players to work with her as well as hear her play. After taking the players through a range of warm up activities Helen carefully guided the players through 2 compositions before giving a final performance to family and friends.”

A young participant in the workshop adds:

"Helen's playing was so smooth and beautiful."

Award Success

Christiane Charlton, guitar teacher, says:

"The young guitarists of Twango and Los Twangolitos had a very exciting term with several opportunities to show off their skills: They played “The Mini Beasts Suite,” music especially written for them. The suite is made up of four dances, each dedicated to an endangered creature living in our gardens. The adjudicator, well known composer and guitarist Vincent Lindsey-Clark, liked the performance and gave the John Dowland Cup to Twango for this year.

Among the many wonderfully talented soloists performing on the day, one of Twango’s  guitarists, Andrei Golovatti, came first in his category!”

Andrei Golavatii with his reacher Christiane Charlton after winning his guitar class at the Southampton Festival of Music and Drama

Southampton Music Hub was delighted to partner with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra on the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 Culture Programme. 

In partnership with the  Football Association, the Women’s EURO 2022 Culture Programme, will engage fans in a range of musical opportunities and public events celebrating the history, ethos and future of women’s football.  Southampton is one of ten local authorities across England that will host a vibrant arts programme as part of the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 in England this summer – part of an exciting national cultural programme supported by £800,000 funding from Arts Council England, thanks to National Lottery players.

Eight workshops were held across Southampton with a local composer and RPO musicians to create a bespoke Southampton anthem celebrating our local area and women’s football heritage. Workshops took place with a wide range of residents, from a library rhyme time to intergenerational choirs and several schools pupils and their parents. Using musical activities and games, workshops drew out ideas, lyrics and musical themes that will culminate in a new song performed by and for local audiences in match day Fan Zones accompanied by RPO musicians.  In total over 500 people contributed their ideas and inspiration. Like the Women’s EURO 2022 Tournament Anthem, resources and recordings will be made available free source to all fans wishing to learn, perform or use these celebratory songs. 

Workshop participant Glenda said, ' We were thrilled that we were joined by a past member of Southampton's 1972 cup final winning team. The footballers won the respect of the whole room and the professional musicians’ skills inspired us all. You never know what surprises can come about from a collaboration between music and sport.’.

Lisa Rodio, Director of Community and Education with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra says:

“The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra are delighted to be working with Southampton Council and Southampton Music Hub on this exciting project, engaging so many Southampton residents with music and football. The new anthem for Southampton will be a celebration of the area made with and for local people, and we can’t wait for everyone to hear, learn and join us in performing it this summer when the UEFA Women’s EURO comes to town.”

More to come on this exciting project!

Thursday 31 March 2022 was a big evening for members of Boom and Airplay, performing at MAST Mayflower Studios. For many of these young performers it was their first concert in such a big venue.

“I was really excited to do my first concert with Airplay. I was a bit nervous but the nerves went away as soon as we performed our first piece.” - Poppy, a new member of Airplay

The ensembles joined forces for one number, the first time they had been able to play together and the concert finished with a rousing performance of Star Wars by Airplay.

Tom Gregory, director of Boom says:

“hey performed brilliantly, what a fantastic first performance. I'm really proud of them.”

On Monday 28 March, Studio Two in MAST Mayflower Studios was treated to a fabulous diverse concert, featuring performances from Bella and Soton Voce, Twango, Los Twangolitos, and Jazz Workshop. The performance included a special arrangement of a Ukrainian Folk Song as performers stood united with Ukraine.

For many of the performers, this was their first concert experience and they played to a sold out audience of supportive friends and family.

Nia Collins, Director for Soton Voce, says:

“What a delight the evening was with such a fantastically eclectic programme which both participants and audience enjoyed!

Alex, a young musician on the night, says:

“It made me really proud to perform on stage. It was really good fun performing in front of people and the crowd went wild. I really enjoy it and love playing with other people. I love having friends outside school.”

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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!”

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.

With the new Spring Term, Southampton Music Hub is offering all schools in the city the opportunity to be take part in a huge, diverse range of music workshops, performances and experiences.

Alongside exciting new offers from the Everybody Sing and Digital Native Artists (DNA) programmes, this term’s offer includes:

• Taking part in the hub’s MAST Theatre Residency

• A concert for Key Stage 1 with Southampton Youth Concert Sinfonia (SYCS)

• Proud to Be, History of Hip Hop

And loads more!

At the end of 2021, Southampton Music Hub’s Development Manager, Matt Brombley, looks back on the year past, to reflect on some of the most memorable moments and themes of the year.

“Back in July, we wrote about how, above all else, it was the resilience of the city’s young musicians, and the adults who support them, that shone through as the defining theme of the year so far. 

Now, in December, it is even more true than ever. 

Showing creativity and flexibility in the face of incredible challenges has had big rewards for us this year.  

Thanks to Paul Hamlyn Foundation, £65,000 is helping develop literacy in three city schools using rap and hip hop in an exciting new pilot project.

Thanks to funding from Youth Music, Southampton and IOW Music Hubs are working together with Dorset, Portsmouth as well as SoundStorm Music Hubs to help young people shape and lead new music-making opportunities.

The digital resources from Sign & Sing have continued to find new audiences, and support schools to keep singing in an inspiring and inclusive way, with over 4,000 views just in the last month!

Songwriting and music production continues to be a big hit with young people, and is helping them with their mental health, as well as helping to shape the future of music-making in the city.

Innovative programmes, working closely with schools and alternative provision settings, have seen more young musicians taking part in music, including a 28% increase in Looked After Children, a 44% increase in pupil premium children, and an 88% increase in young people with Special Educational Needs.

Finally, after a start to the year which once again saw live music shut down, we have seen live music bouncing back, and since September over 3000 children have taken part in live music-making in schools, and over 400 young people have taken part in 16 ensemble performances.”

Kath Page, Hub Manager, adds

“We’ve been through an incredibly challenging two years, but every part of our music hub has responded to these challenges with resilience, creativity and innovation, helping to make sure we make progress towards our goal: that every young person has access to the life-changing power of music, whatever their background or circumstances.”

On Wednesday 15 December the Southampton Music Services team took part in ‘trauma-informed practice” training with Rock Pool.

The session helped the team to understand what trauma is, how it can impact children and young people, and how they can adapt their music lessons in a trauma-informed way.

Matt Brombley, Development Manager, says:

“Today has been another important step on our journey to becoming a more inclusive music service, leading a more inclusive music hub. We have spent time thinking about how music lessons can be a place where young people develop inner strengths which help them become better musicians, but also, which can spill over into other areas of their lives.”

On Saturday 4 December 2021 a group of young producers, songwriters and musicians came together at MAST Music Studio to talk about the DNA Programme: where we’ve come from, and where we’re going. They created a new song — Right Track — and an accompanying zine which includes illustrated lyrics and a manifesto for the future.

They day was kindly funded by Music Mark and Arts Council England with additional support from Youth Music.

Two weeks ahead of the University of Southampton Voices’ (USV) Christmas concert, a school children’s choir had to reluctantly pull out due to school Covid restrictions. Harvey Brough (Professor at Southampton) approached the Southampton Music Hub to find some children to sing some key elements of their programme.

Needless to say, 18 young singers from a range of schools across the city rose to the challenge and attended two rehearsals before having the amazing experience of performing at the Turner Simms.

They were rehearsed by Nia Collins and produced a wonderful addition to the programme. They performed alongside professional soloists, Clara Sanabras and Christina Gill singing wonderful jazz arrangements of Christmas music arranged by Harvey Brough. All accompanied by a talented brass quintet.

It was a special occasion for the young singers to perform for the first time for many of them for two years. Also, it was no ordinary concert as it was a professional setting with gifted professionals too.

Finn McGill’s solo in Away in a Manger was memorable as was the two choir voices in the Carol of the Bells. The children opened at least three of the songs with their singing – no mean feat after just three rehearsals. They particularly enjoyed telling the tale “Down in yon forest” (the Renaissance English version of Corpus Christi carol arranged by Harvey). The children came away saying “when can we do this again?” Their confidence and joy infected the whole audience and was an excellent start to the festivities of Advent.

Nia Collins, says:

"I couldn't be more proud of what these children achieved in their performance on Friday night in such a short period of time, what incredible musicians they already are! It was such an amazing opportunity for them to perform at such a high level in a top concert venue with professional musicians and they rose to the occasion admirably"

On Saturday 2 October, children and their families got to take part in iPad music-making workshops with Southampton Music Hub as part of the Mayflower Studios’ ‘Festival of Loveliness’.

In the workshops, participants used Garageband to create electronic soundscapes inspired by movies and video games. Listen to some of the recordings below:

At the end of this school year, Southampton Music Hub is celebrating resilience. 

The past 16 months have been disruptive for everyone, and in the face of such challenging times, we have seen the city’s young musicians, and the adults who support them, show an incredible ability to adapt, to grow, to learn, and to reach out.

Music has motivated us to keep going, and it has also helped us to grow the personal qualities that are so valuable, not just because they make great musicians, but because they make us better people.

So at the end of this school year, we’re celebrating resilience.

Groove Foundation

Over the past year, Groove Foundation have been recording regular videos from their living rooms and bedrooms at home, to share on the music hub YouTube channel. 

Elliot, the lead singer, explains:

“It was a bit weird at first, because you don’t know what it will sound like until it all comes together. When I’m recording, it’s just me singing and I have no idea how it will sound. Knowing my performance was being recorded, I would work hard to get everything sounding just right. I would kick mum and dad out to the garden to make sure the sound recording was really clear, and keep retaking until I got it right.”

“Elliot really took the videos on as a personal mission” adds Groove Foundation band leader Aidan, who also edited together the band’s video performances.

The virtual performances had an unexpected benefit too, as Elliot explains:

“My friends often can’t come to our live performances, but they have been able to watch the videos all year. We get excited for the premier, and then it’s really fun to see it all sounding great together.”

Over the past year, Elliot has also been able to have music lessons to help develop her singing, thanks to funding from the Cultural Recovery Fund. Elliot tells us what a difference this has made:

“It’s been so cool to have singing lessons to help me improve. Being in Groove Foundation is what got me into singing properly, and now I’m getting better all the time.”

Last week, Groove Foundation returned to a real life stage, after over a year away, with an eight song set at The Point. Elliot tells us what it was like:

“It was really fun to be back. It’s the best feeling. The whole band is there, you can hear everyone again, and you turn around and can see everyone else enjoying themselves. I had to remember to look after my voice though. You can’t take a break like you can when you’re recording at home!”

And it’s not just on stage that being back with the band makes a huge difference. Elliot again:

“It’s so fun to see everyone, deciding the set list, making choices as a band, and helping each other out again. We’re there to support each other after the show too, to share the excitement, and chat about how things went.”

— Elliot, Singer

Matt Brombley, Development Manager for Southampton Music Hub adds:

“Elliot, and her bandmates in Groove Foundation are inspirational examples of the resilience so many young musicians have shown this year. We know how hard it has been, missing out on so many of the shared experiences that make music-making so enjoyable, but they have done an exceptional job keeping things going online, with their impressive video performances, and then returning to the stage this summer.”

It’s not just Groove Foundation that have been back on stage. This summer, music hub bands, orchestras and other groups have been rehearsing and performing together again. If you’d like to join a music group, then find out more on our ensembles page.

At the end of this school year, Southampton Music Hub is celebrating resilience. 

The past 16 months have been disruptive for everyone, and in the face of such challenging times, we have seen the city’s young musicians, and the adults who support them, show an incredible ability to adapt, to grow, to learn, and to reach out.

Music has motivated us to keep going, and it has also helped us to grow the personal qualities that are so valuable, not just because they make great musicians, but because they make us better people.

So at the end of this school year, we’re celebrating resilience.

John Hanchett conducting an inclusive orchestra at the Mayflower Theatre in 2019.

John Hanchett: one of many resilient music teachers

It has been a challenging year for everyone, but music teachers and leaders across the city have shown incredible resilience. 

Having moved music lessons online in the previous year, they moved them back into schools in September. They moved them back online in January, again, then back into school again in March. Every step along the way, teachers and music leaders have been determined to keep music-making going, wherever, and however they can.

One such teacher has been John HancHett. John teaches brass, cello, piano and leads some school orchestras, and has been at the heart of moving not just music lessons online, but virtual performances too.

In December, when we lived in tired restrictions, John arranged, virtually conducted, and edited together ‘A Million Dreams’ — bringing together over 50 young musicians of all ages and abilities, from across Southampton and the Isle of Wight.

John explains:

“It was important to me that everyone who wanted to take part was able to take part, so I created an arrangement with parts for all instruments and abilities. There was a lot to learn when bringing such a big virtual performance together for the first time, but I was delighted by how it came out. The joy came from featuring the vast array of instruments, played by young musicians who were carrying on playing through such a difficult time. I wanted them to have something to be really proud of at the end of a difficult year.”

In January, and throughout the Spring Lockdown, John, along with all Southampton Music Service Tutors, moved their music lessons online again, as they had done the previous year. 

“It was great to be able to get new learners face-to-face in September. And with so many new learners and those carrying on from last year, when lockdown two happened in January, we hit the ground running: teaching day one of lockdown. This was the pay off from all the groundwork laid last year: we never missed a week. This has been an awful year in so many ways, but it has also been a powerful year for teaching: it has been really motivating to learn new things and face new challenges in such difficult circumstances.”

And, when schools returned to full opening in Spring, lessons returned to face-to-face:

“Returning in the Spring was not always easy. There were restrictions around social distancing and school bubbles which have been huge logistical challenges. It was so wonderful to see those young musicians who could carry on online pick back up right away, and carry on making progress. But there were also challenges for those who hadn't been able to learn online, and had missed out on so much. I’m not alone here, I know many other teachers do this tooL we just give the extra time to make it work sometimes!”

And at the end of the year,  John brought together “Get Loud” a virtual performance which debuts on Friday night, with young musicians from Southampton Youth Brass Band and Kanes Hill School.

“Get Loud is only possible because of everything that we’ve learnt over the past year. It’s a performance that has the best of both worlds — online recordings, plus face-to-face music lessons, workshops and recordings, before coming back together in the virtual world. This is something far bigger and more ambitious than we’ve done before, and it brings together musicians in a way that would not have been possible just a year ago.”

At the end of this school year, Southampton Music Hub is celebrating resilience. 

The past 16 months have been disruptive for everyone, and in the face of such challenging times, we have seen the city’s young musicians, and the adults who support them, show an incredible ability to adapt, to grow, to learn, and to reach out.

Music has motivated us to keep going, and it has also helped us to grow the personal qualities that are so valuable, not just because they make great musicians, but because they make us better people.

So at the end of this school year, we’re celebrating resilience.

Songwriting and Production Mentoring

After Covid disrupted face-to-face music-making, and left young people missing out on so many normal opportunities, Southampton Music Hub responded with a brand new, online songwriting and music production offer, allowing young people to work with a new, more diverse team, of talented young producers to write songs, make beats and rap.

The young people — many of whom have been offered the opportunity to take part from their social worker, NHS team or other support network — have been developing their skills, expressing themselves in the tracks they write, and now, are helping to choose what the programme looks like going forward.

Chris a young producer and songwriter, explains why he wrote his new song, ‘Avalanche’.

“Avalanche is a song about going through struggles of life and difficult times. I wanted to write this song to reach out to other people going through a hard time, to let them know they’re not alone. I’m going to be going into the studio in September to record the full version, including working with a singer to add the chorus.”

— Chris, Young Songwriter

Hear a short clip from the demo for ‘Avalanche’:

“Forty thoughts a second, can’t hold my mind
Spitting these rhymes, ahead of the times
Iceberg with a dark side, on the flip side, I’m a nice guy
Like a cuppa tea, steam floats to the sky
Hanging off a balcony
Cold air made the heat die”

— Lyrics from Verse 1 of Avalanche by Chris

Matt Brombley, Development Manager for Southampton Music Hub, says:

“From the team supporting them, to the young people taking part, everyone involved has shown incredible resilience. We know that music is a powerful way to explore and express your emotions. This year, more than ever, that creative outlet has been a place we see young people rise to the challenge of learning new skills, facing up to their emotional experiences, and turning that into exciting new music.”