This project from Music in the Round introduces KS3 and KS4 students from all backgrounds to composition through extensive resources and visits from professional musicians and composers. Students will be supported by emerging and professional composers to create their own music which will be performed by one of our internationally renowned ensembles at the end of the project in a culmination concert at a local venue.

Timeline:

Autumn 2025: introductory films from composer Andre J Smith and PDF resources shared

Thursday 2nd October: ½ day INSET session at Portsmouth Guildhall (KS3 9am-12noon, KS4 1pm - 4pm)

Follow up Zoom meeting to tailor the project to your students

Week’s beginning 1st Dec, 19th Jan & 9th March: In school workshops with the composers

Tuesday 18th November: Phaedra Ensemble Introductory concert Portsmouth Guildhall

Monday 8th & Tuesday 9th June: Final concert of your student’s compositions at Portsmouth Guildhall

This project costs £150 but is significantly underwritten by other funding sources, however if this is a barrier to participation please contact nia@siowmusic.org to discuss support.

Sign up via the button below.

Take part in 3 online CPD sessions with music hub curriculum specialists utilising the London Sinfonietta Sound About resources through the year to develop your practice.

This is the ideal project for primary teachers of KS2 and particular those looking for some support with creative composition.

Dates for each term tbc but this will include a session with London Sinfonietta at the conference on 8th January  2026. Contact nia@siowmusic.org for more information

We are delighted to be continuing to partner with London Sinfonietta as part of their composition challenge programme.  Their fantastic workshops leaders and composers will be visiting us again this year to deliver a small number of workshops in schools supporting the use of their fantastic online resources which you can find HERE

Next year they will be touring again and making use of the music created and submitted by your young musicians.  For KS3 pupils this is a great opportunity to work with some contemporary composers and for teachers to support your delivery of teaching composition too. 

Please also see the CPD offers for a year long programme of CPD sessions on creative composing utilising these resources.

Recorder Extravaganza with Palisander Monday 18th May 2026 Queensgate Primary School 6pm - 7pm KS1, KS2 in partnership with Fairest Isle Festival

Interested in setting up a new recorder ensemble in your school or teaching recorder to your whole class?  This project is the perfect opportunity for the hub to support you with this through CPD, resources, workshops and a performance event on the Isle of Wight!  The NPME states that all schools should have an instrumental ensemble so this project will allow you an avenue to set one up in your setting.

Participating schools will be given;  a brand new set of songs and resources for beginner recorder players written and created by Miriam; take part in an online CPD session (Tuesday 10th March 4pm - 5pm) introducing the resources with lots of hints and tips on how to teach your class or group to play the recorder; receive a free workshop from the hub to introduce the resources and then the opportunity to take part in a final performance.  The hub can also loan sets of recorders for free if you don’t have any in school currently. 

The project will culminate in a massed performance event for Isle of Wight Schools after school on Monday 18th May hosted by Queensgate Primary in East Cowes.  Your group will have the opportunity to play alongside the other school groups in the project and hear incredible performances from Miriam and her recorder supergroup Palisander!  Southampton schools are also very welcome to take part in all the other elements of this project barring the performance event (unless you want to travel to the Island).

Approximate timings: 4.15pm - 4.30pm School ensembles/groups arrive , 4.30pm - 5.30pm Rehearsal with Palisander, 6pm - 7pm Concert 

Join us again for our junior prom event on the bowling green at Carisbrooke Castle!  Bring your students along for an opportunity to perform on the green with fantastic visibility for parents, friends and families to come along and watch on the raised areas around the green and bring a picnic.  This year this event will be solely focused on singing and our theme in 2026 will focus on local stories, myths & legends as part of our Songs of Place project. 

A songbook including stories, myths and legends from the Island (tales of Isabella di Fortibus and The Pied Piper of Newtown for example) will be produced by the music hub and workshops will also be available to support learning this from March onwards.  As always we will run a site visit and meeting prior to the event to discuss logistics with teachers which will take place in early May from  4pm - 5pm at the castle as a twilight meeting.  In the case of inclement weather we will also have a reserve date of 12th June.  Please use the form below to sign up for this event

Approximate timings: 4pm - 4.30pm School ensembles/groups arrive , 4.30pm - 5pm Sound checks , 5.30pm - 7pm Concert