Posts in Music in the Community
RCM Sparks: GALSI Brass and Percussion Course (opportunity for young female & non-binary musicians)

RCM Sparks are delighted to be working in partnership with GALSI (Gender and the Large Shiny Instruments) to deliver a brass and percussion course for young female and non-binary musicians this October half term.

During the course participants will be split into junior and senior ensembles for workshops, masterclasses, and performances led by the incredible GALSI team.

 

Open to: Ages 8 – 25

Standard: Grade 1 – Conservatoire level (Participants will be grouped according to grade)

Dates: 29 & 30 October 2024

Location: Royal College of Music, Prince Consort Road, SW7 2BS

Cost: £80.00 with free tickets available for those who are eligible*.

How to book: Book via the RCM website or register for a free pace here.

 

*Please visit the RCM Sparks page to check whether you are eligible for a free place.

 

If you have any questions about the course or learning and participation opportunities, please don’t hesitate to contact sparks@rcm.ac.uk for more information.

Music in the CommunityHannah BuckinghamOpportunity
Ensemble Review 2024
Ensemble Review 2024

Looking back at our Ensembles’ achievements this year!

It has been an incredible year for our 13 ensembles with so many highlights. To name a few:

Southampton Youth Concert Sinfonia starting their community project – Make Some Noise.

Southampton Youth Brass band getting out and about performing at fairs and bandstands across the local area.

Southampton Youth Wind Band and their incredible achievement being invited to perform at the Music for Youth National Festival.

Southampton Youth Orchestra about to take part in the Fulltone festival.

Studio Band giving such an incredible performance at the Concorde Club back in June.

However, our top tier groups couldn’t give such amazing performances without the foundation work that is done in our initial and mid tier groups.

Huge congratulations to all our ensemble players on all their achievements this year. We are looking forward to what next year will bring.

“There is so much musical talent in the young people of Southampton. Their performances

have been of such an incredible standard this year. We are so proud of all their

achievements”

- Zoe Hunting (Manager, Designated Safeguarding Lead at Southampton Music Services)

Ensembles, Music in the CommunityHannah BuckinghamSouthampton
Coastal Collective Presents: Summer Retreat - Sunday 7 July
Coastal Collective Presents: Summer Retreat - Sunday 7 July

Join improvising group Coastal Collective for an evening of improvised music in a beautiful heritage venue

Coastal Collective are delighted to share with you their upcoming performance of “Summer Retreat” which will be performance at St John The Evangelist in Northington, next Sunday 7th July at 5.30 pm.

This family-friendly performance showcases the work of Coastal Collectives latest EP and will immerse you in a world of music in this heritage venue. We welcome anyone who loves music and wants to hear how improvisation can take all sorts of twists and turns.

Featuring:

@neilvalentinemusic - composer/director
@mattbrombley - electronics
@studiobrewdio - guitars
@jamesashdown - drums
@anna_durance - cor anglais
@jamesgtrumpet - trumpet
@chrisnicholsuk - violin
Alison Hughes - clarinets

@coastalcollectivemusicuk

Music in the CommunityHannah BuckinghamCoastal Collective
Opportunity For Young Classical Musicians: BLiM's Classically Black
Opportunity For Young Classical Musicians: BLiM's Classically Black

BLiM is currently looking for emerging classical musicians who would like to perform at our upcoming Classically Black event at the prestigious Kings Place in London on October 19th!

Black Lives In Music is thrilled to announce an unmissable performance opportunity for emerging classical musicians from underrepresented backgrounds. As part of our groundbreaking event, Classically Black, we are calling all young and emerging talents to showcase their skills and passion in a vibrant, inspiring setting.

This is your chance to perform in front of a diverse audience, including industry professionals from Warner Music Group, at the prestigious Kings Place in London on October 19, 2024.

Who Can Apply?

We are looking for classical musicians and composers who are early in their careers and eager to make a mark in the music industry. If you are from a black or global majority background, have a fresh voice, and possess a unique musical style that deserves a spotlight, we want to hear from you! We are open to applications from individuals or ensembles of up to five members.

Application Opening: 31 May, 2024  

Application Deadline: 17 July, 2024

For more details on how to apply and get tickets to the event, click the button below.

Music in the CommunityHannah BuckinghamOpportunities, Black Lives in Music
Share the Joy of Live Music | Turner Sims Summer Festival & Family Day. 28-30 June
Share the Joy of Live Music | Turner Sims Summer Festival & Family Day. 28-30 June

Turner Sims Summer Festival - 28-30 June 2024

Turner Sims Summer Festival is back! Extraordinary artists from both near and far are ready to fill our beloved venue and the gardens beyond with incredible live music. 

Join us for a 3-day Summer Festival, Friday 28 - Sunday 30 June at Highfield Campus. Bring a picnic to enjoy before the performances, or take advantage of some amazing food stalls out in the gardens.

 

Summer Family Day – co-designed with pupils from Bassett Green Primary School - Sunday 30 June 2024

Join us at Turner Sims Southampton on Sunday 30 June for a day of magical musical activities and events for children and grown-ups of all ages.

Get the whole family involved with workshops, music, dance, craft – and of course the chance to make LOTS of noise. Bring your picnic lunch to enjoy in the gardens, get your face painted – a perfect day out!

Music in the CommunityHannah BuckinghamTurner Sims
An Audience With... Sam Lee
An Audience With... Sam Lee

Next up in our series of An Audience With… is FolkActive Youth Ensemble’s interview with Mercury Prize nominated singer, performer and writer Sam Lee.

An Audience With… is an interactive youth led experience for schools, allowing children and young people to take the lead on planning and creating content and an opportunity to interact and interview music industry professionals and performers. This project has been made in partnership with Turner Sims.

It is a fantastic vehicle for bringing the music industry into the classroom, inspiring pupils to work within our industry and developing aspirations for the future. This project has been specifically created to support teachers and young people to understand more about the many roles and pathways into the music industry.

Sam Lee is a Mercury Prize nominated Singer, Performer and Writer. As a song collector and conservationist, his music has its roots in traditional folk song but his inventive and original sound breaks the boundaries between folk and contemporary music. He is a founding member of Music Declares Emergency, a group that stand together to declare a climate and ecological emergency.

Ensembles, Music in Schools, Music in the CommunityHannah BuckinghamAn Audience With, Training and Resources
An Audience With... Camilla George & Carducci Quartet

Across 2024 we are releasing An Audience With… a series of youth-led video interviews with music industry professionals. The first two interviews with musicians and performers Camilla George and Carducci Quartet are both live on our YouTube channel. More will be released throughout the year.

An Audience With… is an interactive youth led experience for schools, allowing children and young people to take the lead on planning and creating content and an opportunity to interact and interview music industry professionals and performers. This project has been made in partnership with Turner Sims.

It is a fantastic vehicle for bringing the music industry into the classroom, inspiring pupils to work within our industry and developing aspirations for the future. This project has been specifically created to support teachers and young people to understand more about the many roles and pathways into the music industry.

Camilla George is a visionary saxophonist, composer, bandleader and innovator. She answers questions about working in the music industry from Southampton Music Hub's next generation of jazz musicians. Camilla's strong cultural roots and love of fusing African and Western Music has informed her own unique style. Her music is a hypnotising blend of Afrofuturism, hip hop and jazz. 

Carducci Quartet is an award-winning string quartet, internationally acclaimed as one of the most accomplished and versatile ensembles of today. Young musicians from Elgar Strings get their questions answered by professional musicians from the world renowned Carducci String Quartet.

Music in Schools, Music in the Community, EnsemblesHannah BuckinghamAn Audience With, Training and Resources
Schools Christmas Concert at O2 Guildhall Southampton
Music in Schools, Music in the CommunityHannah BuckinghamPhoto Gallery
Young people perform and share their perspectives at Music Mark Conference

On Tuesday 28 November 2023, four young people from Southampton took to the main stage in the ballroom at the Ageas Bowl to share music and a presentation at the national Music Mark Conference for music educators.

Lorenza opened the conference with a performance of an original song she wrote and produced, and was followed by rapper Tommy T.

To explore the theme of “Who’s music education is it anyway?” Lorenza was joined by Carla and Sukhi in a panel discussion with Matt Brombley (Development and Inclusion Manager for Southampton and IOW Music Hub) and Sarah Mcwyatt (NYMAZ). The presentation also included a special video appearance from Ben (a young music journalist from NYMAZ) who answered questions from Carla.

The panel got to explore a range of themes, including:

  • the importance of giving young people more choice

  • making music education more relevant, reflective and representative

  • empowering young people with a wide range of skills and experiences

The session was part of our Youth Voice Network project, kindly funded by Youth Music.

Later on in the day, Nia Collins (Southampton and IOW Music Hub) and rap artist Rob Bradley also go to share the impact of the Rap and Literacy project, kindly funded by Paul Hamlyn Foundation. Alongside a panel of other innovative rap and hip hop initiatives such as Spit Game, Future Music Makers and Kenny Baraka a discussion about the importance of relevency and authenticity in the music curriculum and as a progression pathway for young people is so important.

Music in the Community, Music in SchoolsMatt BrombleyYouth Voice, Music Mark, Photo Gallery
Solent Shanty Sing

The Solent Shanty Sing project continued last week with performances taking place at Weston Shore on Wednesday 14th June and two performances on Friday 16th June

Singing groups from Weston Park Junior School and St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School joined us at Weston Shore on Wednesday 14th with lots of parents and family as we sang the Southampton Sea shanties and songs that were composed with ideas from the children out to the sea.

On Friday 16th at West Quay we set up in front of the walls and ran two workshop performances in the sometimes punishing heat!  The afternoon session saw Mount Pleasant Junior School, Freemantle Primary, Highfield Infants and St John’s Primary take part with a large audience sitting in the steps enjoying the performances of shanties from the songbook.

After school we hosting another performance which featured three primary schools from the Hamwic Trust – Wordsworth, Hollybrook and Shirley Infant and Primary schools.  The music leads in these schools have been using the whole songbook as a resource for their singing assemblies throughout the year so they had selected some songs from the other regions involved in the commission (Isle of Wight, Hampshire and Portsmouth).  

All the groups were all entertained prior to the event by the fantastic Southampton Salty Sea Dogs lead by Pauline McWilliams.

Miranda Boakes-Clark Teacher and Music Lead Shirley & Hollybrook Infants
“The children absolutely LOVED doing it. I think it was really special being down at the city walls and something they’ll always remember ...it’s so lovely to collaborate and make special things happen for our children.”

Friday 23rd June saw the final event of the Solent Shanty Sing Project which has run throughout this academic year in celebration of Year of the Coast 2023 and in partnership between Southampton, Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Portsmouth Music Hubs. This event was particularly special as it was the first time that children from all of the participating music hub areas had come together to sing!

The event took place at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard which was the ideal setting, with it’s rich maritime history and incredible wealth of heritage sites and attractions to visit. 200 children from each hub area (800 in total) were treated to an entire day of visiting the attractions such as HMS Warrior, the Mary Rose Museum and Portsmouth Hub’s specially created treasure trail, before being treated to an incredible display from the Royal Marines Marching Band and a massed sing of the Shanty Songbook.

Musicians from Folk Active, Southampton Salty Sea Dogs, Hampshire Music Hub and the English Folk Dance and Song Society were also present throughout the day providing live music for the children to listen to and enjoy as well as providing live music for them to sing with during their performance.

The children sang all the pieces from the songbook the 4 music hubs jointly commissioned for this project from composer and sound artist Emily Peasgood plus two extra arranged by Chris Ricketts. Each hub area choir had two songs to sing on their own which were shanties originally collected in their regions or newly composed songs based on ideas from workshops the children took part in the Autumn term. All 800 voices joined together for the three joint songs during the programme to a large audience in the square outside the Mary Rose Museum to an audience of parents, families, VIPs and spectators.

Mel Thomas (Teacher St Patrick’s Primary School Southampton)

“….the best event our school choir has had the opportunity to take part in! Thank you for inviting us to be part of such a wonderful event. It has given the children great memories that will stay with them and it has really encouraged their love for singing, music and performing in a choir. The impact the day has had on them was great.”

On Pupil from St Patrick’s said:

“I just don’t know how I’m going to describe to my parents everything I’ve seen and done today!”

Music in the Community, Music in SchoolsMatt BrombleyHub Partners, Stadium Tour, Photo Gallery
Four Free Music Opportunities through the Digital Native Artists Programme
Four Free Music Opportunities through the Digital Native Artists Programme

Southampton Music Hub has four exciting — free — music opportunities to share with you as part of our Digital Native Artists (DNA) Programme!

  1. Girls Make Music: Production Collective — a new, ten week, opportunity for girls aged 11–16 to explore music production, songwriting and live events

  2. Music Production Collective — monthly music production group sessions providing space for collaboration between beatmakers, producers and songwriters aged 11-16

  3. FLOW — Saturday rap group sessions for 11-16 year olds

  4. Share and Shout About New Music — a chance for 13-25 year olds interested in music, social media, music journalism, blogging and live events to be part of a new team who will share new music and music opportunities with other young people

Music in the Community, EnsemblesMatt BrombleyMusic Technology, new music, Girls Make Music, Production, FLOW
Calling Young People interested in sharing and shouting about music
Calling Young People interested in sharing and shouting about music

Young people, aged 13-25: Southampton Music Hub needs you!

We’re launching a new way to SHARE AND SHOUT ABOUT MUSIC!

Created by young people, for young people, we want to share new music, music events, and support opportunities for young musicians in the area.

If you’re interested in… social media… music promotion… music journalism… blogging… live Events… then this opportunity could be for you!

Join us at our kickstarter day to form a brand new team, start a brand new project, and design the future:

Saturday 13 May 2023 • 10am-3pm

Music Studio @ MAST Mayflower Studios. SO14 7DU

Free lunch included!

Trouble with transport, or getting to the sessions? We can help. Just let us know when you sign up.

Any questions? Get in touch

Music in Schools, Music in the CommunityMatt Brombleynew music
Girls Make Music: a new production collective for girls
Girls Make Music: a new production collective for girls

Girls Make Music is a new club for girls and young women to explore music production, recording, songwriting and organising live events: a safe space to share ideas and interests whilst building skills, confidence, and collaborating with other young creatives!

This opportunity will be running for ten weeks and those taking part will be able to help design the opportunities that come next.

Sessions are free and all abilities are welcome. Girls can try out a session or come along regularly!

Age group: 11-16 years.

Wednesdays at 4.30 - 6.00pm

Mast Mayflower Studios

For all young people aged 11-16 interested in music production, there is also a monthly music production collective, open to all.

Music in the Community, Music in SchoolsMatt BrombleyGirls Make Music, Music Technology
SYCS Spring Spectacular: a sensational send off!

From jazz to Led Zeppelin, Holst to the stage and screen, and everything in-between this concert had it all! Saturday 11th March saw the SYCS Spring Spectacular take place at Thornden Hall. 

Clarinetist Katherine said 'We all relaxed into it and I really think we sound better when we work as a team like that. Mars was the most challenging, having to hit very high notes over a sustained period.

These sentiments were echoed by their conductor Kevin Withell. He said “Mars was absolutely fantastic to conduct but needed significant stamina from the orchestra to sustain all of the dramatic moments.”

This concert was Kevin's last as conductor of SYCS and the evening was a fitting send off with all involved in the orchestra eager to show their appreciation for all his hard work over the past eight and a half years. As Kevin himself said 'it's been a privilege to work with such a great team, and by that I mean a team of 80 young people and staff'.

Ensembles, Music in the CommunityMatt BrombleySouthampton Youth Concert Sinfonia (SYCS)
Southampton Music Hub gives Secondary School pupils a chance to showcase their talent at MAST Mayflower Studios

Southampton Secondary Schools were invited by Southampton Music Hub to programme a whole evening of performances by their pupils in Studio 1 at MAST Mayflower Studios.  Over 100 pupils from 6 schools across the city and city wide ensembles put together a memorable evening of music with a huge range of repertoire and instrumental line ups.  From Rock Bands, Jazz Groups, Clarinet ensembles and soloists with their own original material it really was clear how incredibly talented the city’s young musicians are.

Hosted by Musician, poet and performer Ricky Tart hosted the event which was enthusiastically attended by the Lord Mayor and local councillors along with parents, friends and family with fantastic support from music hub partners MAST Mayflower Studios.  

“It is such a great experience for the students to perform in the venue and also to see what other students of their age are working on.” Gemma Dyne, Head of Music Cantell School

“Thank you so much for organising such a lovely event, it was such good fun for us and the students!” Jorge May, Head of Music St George’s Catholic College

Nia Collins, Southampton Music Hub Programmes and Events Manager, says:

“It has been a privilege to have been able to provide a literal platform for these young people to have the experience of playing and performing on a professional stage such as this one.  I was blown away by the standard of playing and performance across the evening and the audience and the students were so polite, positive and supportive of each other throughout which was so lovely to see.”

Music in Schools, Music in the CommunityMatt BrombleyPhoto Gallery
2022 Highlights
2022 Highlights

As 2022 comes to an end, we’re highlighting some of the most memorable moments from the year:

Earlier in the year

Music in Schools, Music in the Community, EnsemblesMatt Brombley