Posts in Music in the Community
National Children's Orchestras: Auditions Open! Apply by 31st July 2025.

Now is your chance to take part in Orchestral Weekends or Orchestral Weeks in 2026!

  • Do you play an orchestral instrument?

  • On 31st August 2025 will you be in the age range of 8-13?

You could audition to take part in Orchestral Weekends or Orchestral Weeks in 2026. Show us what you’ve got - we can’t wait to hear you!

How to apply for an audition:

Scroll down to the large buttons containing ‘Key Info: 2025-2026 Auditions’ & ‘Auditions Handbook’ towards the bottom of this news piece for further information on how to apply.

The ‘Key Info’ document contains some films you can watch to learn more about what to expect in the auditions.

Auditions will be open from Wednesday 14th May to the deadline at 9am on Thursday 31st July 2025. Find out more at www.nco.org.uk

At NCO, our purpose is to champion the life-changing power of music. This year almost 2000 children aged 8-14 connected with National Children’s Orchestras through:

  • auditioned Orchestral Weeks and Weekends,

  • non-auditioned Orchestral Days

  • activities with schools, music education hubs and other partner organisations

  • free tickets to concerts

 

We are interested to hear from all young musicians, whatever their background, schooling or circumstances. We are particularly keen to increase representation in our orchestras from groups currently under-represented in classical music and to increase the number of children from state schools.

 

All auditioned NCO activities include world class in-person orchestral coaching with incredible tutors, guest artists and conductors, as well as access to our online activities and resources. We welcome auditions for NCO 2026 from young musicians who:

  • are aged 8-13 years old (as of 31st August 2025)

  • play an orchestral instrument to the appropriate standard and

  • are British citizens or are living/studying in the UK

 

Did you know?

  • Children do not need to have taken any formal grade exams to be part of NCO, because offers of membership are based on their playing and musicality in their audition video.

  • It is free to audition, and auditions are submitted via a pre-recorded video.

  • If a family needs help with any stage of the auditions process, our friendly team are here to help and guide in whatever way we can.

 

Find out more about NCO and how to audition on our website: https://www.nco.org.uk/join-in/auditioning-for-nco or email auditions@nco.org.uk with any questions you may have. If you would like to know more about our expanding range of free, non-auditioned activities (partnerships with Music Hubs, Schools concerts and open access projects) please get in touch with me directly.

Play together. Be unstoppable.

Auditions Handbook

Full details on what it means to be part of NCO, the auditions process and how to apply!

Key Info: 2025-2026 Auditions

Key info on auditioning for NCO.

South Coast Music Partnership: Inclusion Strategy

South Coast Music Partnership (SCMP) is the Music Hub for: Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP); Isle of Wight; Portsmouth; Southampton.

SCMP are a consortium led by three organisations: Portsmouth Music Hub; Soundstorm Music Education Agency ; Southampton & Isle of Wight Music

Together we lead a strong network of diverse local partnerships to deliver the National Plan for Music Education and provide high-quality music education for all children and young people across our region.

Our work on inclusion is underpinned by an understanding that:

Inclusion is a journey not a destination!

Our understanding of, and our ability to bring about, musical inclusion is always developing. This strategy builds upon the Hub’s needs analysis, and links to our other strategies, plans and policies.

You can read our Inclusion Strategy in full, find links to further resources and training and get in touch about working together via our website.

2025 - 2030 Inclusion Strategy

Download our Inclusion Strategy in full.

2025 - 2030 Inclusion Strategy

Find out more via our website and access links to further resources and training around Inclusion.

Our partners Art Asia Trust present: Songs of the Mystics by Najmuddin Saifuddin & Group (Satuday 31 May 2025 at Turner Sims)

Art Asia Trust is proud to be presenting an extraordinary evening of Sufi Qawwali music featuring the internationally acclaimed Najmuddin Saifuddin & Group. This special performance, Songs of the Mystics, will take place at Turner Sims Concert Hall, Southampton on Saturday 31st May, 2025, at 7:30pm. 

We invite you to join us for this extraordinary evening. Your ticket purchase will directly support our mission to bring South Asian artistic experiences to our community. Tickets are just £18.50 (discounts available). 

Najmuddin Saifuddin & Group are renowned worldwide for their soul-stirring performances of Qawwali, the devotional music of Sufism that dates back over 700 years. As direct descendants of the original Qawwali court singers from the 13th century, the group brings unparalleled authenticity and spiritual depth to their performances.

The evening promises to be a transcendent journey through the mystical traditions of Sufism, featuring powerful vocals, hypnotic rhythms, and the timeless poetry of Sufi saints.

We are honoured to bring Najmuddin Saifuddin & Group to Southampton as part of our ongoing commitment to showcasing the finest traditional and contemporary South Asian performing arts. Qawwali music has a unique power to cross cultural and linguistic boundaries, speaking directly to the heart and soul. In today's divided world, these songs of love, devotion, and unity carry a message that resonates with audiences of all backgrounds. 

You will hear interviews with the group on Unity 101, Awaaz FM and BBC Radio coming up over the next few weeks. You can see a previous performance on YouTube here

The performance is presented by Art Asia & SAMA in partnership with SAYarts.

You can book via the button below.

Songs of the Mystics

by Najmuddin Saifuddin & Group.

Friday 31 May 2025 at Turner Sims, 7:30pm.

Tickets are just £18.50 (discounts available). 

Gigs in June!

Get tickets for the gigs and concerts we have coming up next month with our wonderful young musicians taking centre stage!

🌟 The Stage Door: Rising Stars Open Mic Night

Tuesday 3 June 2025, 6 - 9pm at The Stage Door, Southampton

A monthly open mic night for young musicians in the city, each night will features a house band of local musicians with a wide variety of styles, genres and instruments who host and support young people to participate.  Come and support our incredibly talented emerging local artists!

🎷 Studio Band at The Concorde!

Monday 23 June 2025, 7 - 8:30 pm at Eastleigh Concorde Club

Studio Band (fka Jazz Workshop) is a 10 piece Jazz Band playing a selection of modern & classic jazz tunes! They will be joined by special guests from Southampton University: Nomad

🎻 Southampton Youth Strings & Elgar Strings: Summer Concert

Monday 30 June 2025, 7 - 8:30 pm at Cantell School

Our youth strings groups Soutampton Youth Strings and Elgar will be performing in a joint concert at Cantell School, come and celebrate their hard work & listen to their music!

Free tickets to Bringing The Outside In performance at Mayflower Studios for 11-25 year olds!

TheatreForLife's Bringing The Outside In is having its first performances on Tuesday 15th July at MAST Mayflower Studios.

Thanks to the YouCAN scheme, we're able to offer free tickets to 11-25 year-olds from certain backgrounds and protected groups:

You will be eligible for free tickets if one of the below applies to you:

  • you are receiving pupil premium

  • you are receiving free school meals

  • you are a young carer

  • you receive a disability grant

  • you have SEND (special educational and development needs)

  • you are home educated

  • you are supported by CAHMS

  • you are in receipt of a school, college or university bursary

  • you have a long-term health need

  • you are not in employment, education or training

Any questions, please contact: michellesmith@theatreforlife.co.uk


If you are not eligible for free tickets but would still love to attend, you can purchase tickets here: Bringing the Outside In | Mayflower

The show is a wonderful blend of multimedia (music, puppetry, visual storytelling):

Amber is alone. She’s not turned up for the first day of her final year of sixth form. She’s terrified of the climate crisis, and everyone knows it. Enter Yerna – a three thousand year old “giant” she accidentally summons, who turns her stuffy flat into a forest oasis. But can their intentions be trusted? What can an ancient story teach a girl that she doesn’t already know?  Bringing The Outside In is a soul-stirring exploration of fear, hope, and the importance of community in a changing world.

Sign up for free tickets via the button below!

FREE TICKETS - BRINGING THE OUTSIDE IN

Use the button below and fill out the form to sign up for free tickets!

The Big BSO Voices Singalong! 3rd August 2025 at Southampton Guildhall

Join members of BSO [Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra] Voices in a day of singing fun, finishing with an informal concert joined by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. The day features songs from some of the greatest Broadway and West End hits of all time.

Who can take part: You don’t need to be in a choir or even read music as we can provide teach tracks for people who register in advance.

When is it: Sunday 3rd August

Where is it: O2 Guildhall Southampton

Ticket Costing:

Full BSO Voices term - 8 rehearsals (starting 4 June) £75 or £90 (with donation)

On the day fee - £15 (£10 under 18s)

Concert ticket for friends and family - £8 (£6 under 18s)

Schedule:

9.45am - registration

10.15am - 12.30pm - morning session

1.15 - 2.30pm - afternoon session

3.00 - 5.00pm - full rehearsal with BSO

5.30pm - concert (about 50mins of music in total)

How to book:

Book online via the button below, at bsolive.com, or call 01202 669925.

BSO VOICES

BSO Voices is a vibrant community choir, celebrating music through the joy of singing.

BIG BSO VOICEs SINGALONG

Sunday 3rd August at O2 Guildhall Southampton

SoundWaves Network SW: Nurturing Children & Staff (Early Years CPD - 20 May 2025)

Join this online sharing event and learn directly from early years staff and music practitioners on their experience of working collaboratively together over a period of ten weeks.

During this session you will gain insights into how music is recognised, valued and can be embedded in the everyday.

Staff from two early years settings, Hardmoor Early Years Centre and Mansel Park Nursery in Southampton share how they developed their Early Years music provision with the support of two early years music practitioners, Vicky Trevithick and Hayley McDonnell, as they took part in Take Art’s SoundWaves Network SW programme.

This event is for:

  • EY practitioners / EYFS teachers

  • Music teachers / Music practitioners / Music subject leads

  • Childminders

  • Students

  • Anyone else with an interest in Early Childhood Music Education

We hope you can join us at this live event – it is interactive and you will get more from it by joining us in real time.  In case you just can’t make the time this event will be recorded. All those who book will receive a copy of the recording (for a limited time after the event) and a handout of the presentations.

How to attend:

This event will take place on Tuesday 20 May 2025 at 9.30 – 10.45 am, online via Zoom.

Ticket costs just £5 and are free for students. 

Ticket Options:

Option 1 - I am attending the zoom event on 20 May 2025.

Option 2 - I cannot attend the zoom event but would like to watch the recording & receive the handout

Closing date 5.00 pm Wednesday 14 May 2025.  No late bookings will be accepted.  Joining instructions will be sent out at least 24 hours before the event.

We very much hope that you are able to attend and see how these two projects have unfolded.

This online training event is part of SoundWaves Network SW Youth Music funded programme, hosted by Take Art in partnership with Southampton & IOW Music and SoCo Music.

Creative & Community Music Leader Training – 24/25 May (Bristol)

Booking is now open for this free creative weekend for aspiring community musicians of the year.

Young creatives and the BSO Young Associates will come together for a series of creative training workshops to develop their creative music practice and develop their community music leading skills.

This will be a chance to play, sing and create with like-minded individuals, through a practical music making session led by Jon James and Osnat Schmool. You will gain key tools and tips to be able to apply in your music making groups, such as icebreakers and warm up games, and it will equip you with how to use music as a tool to build connections within your community.

This free to access training weekend will take place on Saturday 24 May (11.00am – 4.15pm) at M Shed Bristol and Sunday 25 May (10am – 1pm) at Windmill Hill Community Centre, Bristol. Full information about the weekend can be found here: Creative & Community Music Leader Training - Bristol - Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra


What is a community music leader?

A music leader is someone who leads creative music projects with people of all ages, from all walks of life, often for social, health or wellbeing goals or to enrich creativity and learning.


Who is it for?

This opportunity is aimed at musicians and creatives who are emerging in the field. This may be for people studying between the ages of 18-30, and it is also for music teachers or freelance supporting musicians who frequently work in community music sessions and are looking for further CPD or are retraining.


How to take part:

To apply please fill out the form and book your space by the deadline: Thursday 1 May 12pm.

There is a maximum of 25 spaces. Spaces are given on a first come first served basis.

You will then be notified if you have received a space. If you can’t attend this weekend, but are interested in further training days, please send us your email address to go on the mailing list.


Free to Participate:

This weekend is free to participate and travel costs will be reimbursed up to a cap. We can discuss overnight accommodation for those who aren’t able to travel there and back in a day.

bso Creative & Community Music leader training

Saturday 24 May (11.00am – 4.15pm) at M Shed Bristol and Sunday 25 May (10am – 1pm) at Windmill Hill Community Centre, Bristol

Southampton and Isle of Wight Music Youth Ensembles!

The ensembles of Southampton and Isle of Wight Music have once again been busy performing over the last half term. 

As always, the standard of playing is incredibly high.  It has been brilliant as well to see the directors finding new events for our groups to perform in and developing links with local community groups for joint performances.   For example Groove Syndicate and Groove Merchant taking part in the Bursfest in aid of HeartBeat back in February and the Southampton Youth Brass Band performed alongside Ocean Brass in March.

"The quality of performances given by Southampton's young musicians is always stunning.  Everyone at SIOW Music is incredibly proud of their achievements. Please do take a look at the SIOW Music events page - https://www.siowmusic.org/events - for what is coming up and come and join us for some brilliant music making by these amazing young people in the coming months."

- Zoe Hunting - SIOW Music Ensemble Manager

Art Asia: Tribute to Lata Mangeshkar Concert by Karan Rana and Pooja Angra

Our partners Art Asia present: Tribute to Lata Mangeshkar, a concert by Karan Rana and Pooja Angra.

Brother and Sister duo Pooja and Karan will be paying tribute to the Nightingale of India – Swar Kokila Lata Mangeshkar. They will be performing timeless melodies spanning various genres from Lata Mangeshkar’s repertoire. Lata Mangeshkar’s legendary voice was the soundtrack for many generations of cinemagoers. Her contribution to the Indian music industry in a career spanning eight decades gained her honorific titles such as the “Queen of Melody” and “Voice of the Millennium”. The show promises to be a nostalgic trip for the fans of Lata Mangeshkar.

The concert will also feature high octane Sufi music tracks which are close to Pooja and Karan’s heart. Pooja and Karan will be joined by an outstanding team of musicians from London.

When is it: Friday 28 March 2025 at 7.00pm
Where is it: Mayflower Studios, 142-144 Above Bar Street, Southampton, SO14 7DU

Take Art: Early Years CPD Training Events

Our Soundwaves Network SW Partners Take Art are offering CPD training sessions for Early Years music education, including online and in-person events.

 Below is a list of their upcoming training events! These are all available to book now:

Nurturing Creativity in Early Years Conference with Devon Music Hub. Fri 21 March £55 in-person Exeter

Nurturing your Early Years Music Provision with Jane Parker.  Thurs 27 March Free, in-person in partnership with Yeovil College

Fact-checking in Music Education with Dr Susan Young.  Wed 30 April. £5/£10 Online

Movement Play for Early Years with Hannah Lefeuvre.  Thurs 1 May.  Free, in-person in partnership with Yeovil College

Music, communication, language and literacy with Kate Comberti.  Mon 19 May. £5/£10 Online

Early Years Music: Nurturing children and staff with Vicky Trevithick, Hayley McDonnell and staff from nurseries in Southampton.  Tues 20 May £5 Online

The Power of Music: Supporting Children’s Wellbeing with Rosie Walton and Jane Parker.  Wed 11 June £5/£10 Online

Fostering your Early Years Music with Rachel Crane, Shelley Wood and staff from reception classes in Bournemouth & Poole.  Thursday 26 June. £5 Online

Fairest Isle Festival: Come & Play! Orchestral Workshop

An introduction to Baroque style for players of modern instruments with Fairest Isle Festival on Sunday 4th May 2025.

Attend a day of brilliant instrumental music by Henry Purcell. Led by the festivals artistic director Robert Hollingworth and baroque violinist Naomi Burrell.

Learn to play Purcell’s spritely dances, heart-rending ritornellos and a funky chaconne with people who have spent their lives in this repertoire - and feel the cloth of historical style wipe this sparkling music clean!

Who can attend: String players, including oboes and bassoons.

This is also open to young string plays under the age of 18 years of Grade 6 and above when attending with a parent chaperone.

When: Sunday 4th May 2025 at 10am - 4.15pm

Where: Ryde School, Queen's Road, Ryde, Isle of Wight, PO33 3BE

Tickets: Adults: £23, Under 18s £15. Find full details and book via the button below!

SIOW Music: Secondary Schools' Music Showcase Concert

On Monday 10 February SIOW Music invited talented musicians in our city to perform in a Secondary Schools’ Showcase Concert at MAST Mayflower Studios!

Southampton and Isle of Wight Music was delighted to be able to provide a platform for all of the fantastically talented young musicians in our City in our Secondary Showcase event. This evening performance gave secondary schools and college students an opportunity to perform, bringing a mixture of; individual performers, ensembles, bands and vocalists covering a wide variety of genres and styles.

Nia Collins, Southampton and Isle of Wight Music Strategic Programme Manager:

"What an amazing array of talent on display in so many different and diverse genres and styles of music! We are so lucky to have young musicians like this in the city and to be able to share that in Studio 1 at MAST Mayflower Studios and give them a literal platform to do so was an honour. It’s clear to see the incredible support the musicians were given by their music teachers, schools and also parents in facilitating them to take part in the event too”

A huge thanks to all the young musicians who took part and all of the SIOW Music staff and parents, friends and families who supported this event, and MAST Mayflower Studios for being the venue.

Below you can find all of the photographs from the event!

Apply to join Bournemouth National Open Youth Orchestra Ensemble!

National Open Youth Orchestra: Applications Open for September 2025! Deadline to apply: 31 March 2025

Applications are now open for the National Open Youth Orchestra Ensembles. If you are aged 11-25 years old, this opportunity might be for you!

Find out more and apply via the buttons below.

What is a National Open Youth Orchestra Ensemble?

There are 5 regional NOYO Ensembles, Bournemouth NOYO Ensemble is run in partnership with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.

It provides an inclusive and accessible rehearsal environment for brilliant disabled and non-disabled musicians aged 11-25 years.

What’s Involved?

  • Develop your ensemble skills, without the barriers that can make progress difficult for young disabled musicians.

  • A chance to play, sing and create with like-minded individuals, through a practical music making sessions.

  • Once a year, NOYO Ensemble musicians have the option to apply to audition for the National Open Youth Orchestra for the following year.

Who can join?

  • We welcome applications from young disabled, neurodivergent and non-disabled musicians.

  • We play acoustic, digital and accessible instruments and there is no requirement to read music or have taken graded exams.

  • We also welcome disabled people with musical potential who might not yet play an instrument but control eyegaze technology or head trackers in a way that could transfer to playing the Clarion accessible instrument

NOYO Ensembles: Apply by 31 march 2025

Find the full information pack and how to apply via the button below.

NOYO Ensemble: open rehearsals

Attend an open rehearsal to help you decide if you would like to apply.

Southampton Youth Concert Sinfonia: A Musical Adventure! Sunday 23 March

On Sunday 23rd March, Southampton Youth Concert Sinfonia warmly invite you to join at them Thornden Hall on an expedition through a varied and engaging programme!

Featuring music from:

The Prince of Egypt

Robert W Smith’s Into the Storm

The Jungle Book

Southampton Youth Concert Sinfonia features around 80 of Southampton’s finest young musicians aged 11-18.

Tickets are available now, click the button to find out more.

SYCS: A MUSICAL ADVENTURE

Sunday 23 March - Doors open: 2.30pm

Southampton Youth Wind Band Concert: Saturday 1 March

Southampton Music Services present their annual Wind Band Pyramid concert on Saturday 1 March!

Featuring:

Southampton Youth Wind Band (John Hanchett)

Pulse8 (Charlotte Mann)

Airplay (Anna Robinson)

and Studio Band.

This will be an evening celebrating the fabulous young talented wind, brass and percussion musicians within Southampton. The bands will again be joined by Studio Band, who will bring their jazz flavour to the evenings concert!

Tickets are available now, click the button to find out more.

WINDBAND PYRAMID CONCERT

Saturday 1 March - 7pm at Thornden Hall

Isle of Wight Future Creatives Career Week

This year SIOW Music collaborated with Creative Island and IWCEP to support and deliver as part of a Creative Careers week.  Cross island 31 different cultural organisations and cross sector creatives delivered workshops across all ages/phases in 80% of schools on the island. 

The music hub delivered workshop sessions reaching 180 children and young musicians from year 3 – year 11 using our youth led An Audience With Resources to highlight roles within the industry.  The workshops required children and young people to design their own IOW Festival including branding, logos, ticket sales and identifying audiences and technical requirements learning about roles along the way. 

Alongside the music hub sessions IOW Music College Platform One toured schools with live performances from their FE and HE musicians, talking directly to children and young people and answering questions about jobs in the music industry (led by our IOWLAB chair Andy Booth).

In the run up to this the music hub also supported the development of a new IWCEP resource creating profiles for Island born and bred creatives living and working there.

Below you can see some of the creative ideas for IOW Festival made by young people!

Isle of Wight Cultural Education Partnership put together some great videos on their Instagram, sharing snippets of each day, including activities we led on Day Three.

You can view this by clicking ‘View this post on Instagram’ below.

“The music workshop was fantastic! It was so interactive and pitched at exactly the right level for the class. They thoroughly enjoyed designing their own music festival, which was a great way to get them thinking about all the different careers in the music industry. The class (and adults) LOVED it!” (Newchurch Primary Year 6 teacher feedback).

IOWCEP: Creative Careers Profiles

This bank of profiles was created to be used in your classroom as a resource to help pupils appreciate that living on the Isle of Wight doesn’t have to limit the possibilities open to them or their potential to achieve.

Music Festival Posters created by Young People.

Music Festival Posters created by Young People.

What's On In March: Gigs, Concerts & Performances

Find full details and how to book for each event through the link to the listing on our events page.

🎺 Windband Pyramid Concert: Windband Pyramid Concert: featuring Studio Band — Southampton Music Hub

Saturday 1 March, 7.00pm

Thornden Hall, Winchester Rd, Chandler's Ford, SO53 2DW.

Southampton & IOW Music Services present their annual concert.

Featuring: Southampton Youth Wind Band, Pulse8, Airplay and Studio Band.

🌟 Rising Stars Open Mic Night: Rising Stars Open Mic Night @ The Stage Door — Southampton Music Hub

Tuesday 4 March, 6 - 9.00pm at The Stage Door, 78 West Marlands Road, SO14 7FW.

In partnership with The Stage Door and J Fashole-Luke.

Featuring Local Young Musicians.

🎼 SYCS: A Musical Adventure: Southampton Youth Concert Sinfonia: A Musical Adventure! — Southampton Music Hub

Sunday 23 March. Doors open at 2.30pm, Concert starts at 3.00pm.

Thornden Hall, Winchester Rd, Chandler's Ford, S053 2DW.

@sotonyouthconcertsinfonia will perform music from:

The Prince of Egypt, Robert W Smith's Into the Storm and The Jungle Book!

🥁 Airplay, Elgar & Boom! perform at Cantell School: Airplay, Elgar & Boom! at Cantell — Southampton Music Hub

Thursday 27 March, 6.30 - 8.00pm.

Violet Rd, Southampton, S016 3GJ.

There will be a retiring collection.

🎷 Southampton Youth Brass Band: Southampton Youth Brass Band: Summer Concert! — Southampton Music Hub

Saturday 29 March, 7.00pm

Chandler's Ford Methodist Church, Winchester Road, Chandler's Ford, SO53 2GJ.

🎻 Pulse8 & Southampton Youth Strings: Pulse8 & Southampton Youth Strings joint concert at Cantell! — Southampton Music Hub

Monday 31 March, 7 - 8.45pm

Cantell School, Violet Rd, Southampton, SO16 3GJ.

BSO: Creative & Community Music Leader Training Weekend

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra are offering a FREE training weekend for aspiring community musicians at Portsmouth Guildhall on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 March 2025.

Young creatives and the BSO Young Associates will come together for a series of creative training workshops to develop their creative music practice and develop their community music leading skills.

This will be a chance to play, sing and create with like-minded individuals, through a practical music making session led by BSO Associates Hugh Nankivell and Neil Valentine. You will gain key tools and tips to be able to apply in your music making groups, such as icebreakers and warm up games, and it will equip you with how to use music as a tool to build connections within your community.

Cost: Free to participate. Travel costs will be reimbursed and a hotel for Saturday night for those who aren’t local can be reimbursed on discussion. BSO will be able to recommend hotels.

Who is it for: This opportunity is aimed at musicians and creatives who are emerging in the field. This could be between the ages of 18-30 but we acknowledge this could also be for anyone looking to retrain or wanting further CPD e.g. music teachers or freelance supporting musicians who frequently work in community music sessions or workshops.

When is it: Saturday 22 March (11.00am - 4:30pm) and Sunday 23 March (10am - 1pm).

Where is it: Both days will be at Portsmouth Guildhall.

How to book: There is a maximum of 25 spaces and the deadline to book by is Friday 7 March 12pm. Book via the BOOK NOW button.

If you can’t attend this weekend, but are interested in further training days, please send BSO your email address to go on the mailing list.

Put this next date in your diary: Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 May in Bristol.

BSO: Creavtive and Community Music Leader Training

FREE creative weekend for aspiring community musicians at Portsmouth Guildhall, Saturday 22 & Sunday 23 March.

Deadline to book: 7 March 12pm. Spaces limited.

South Coast Music Partnership Conference 2025

On 23 January 2025, at the iconic Portsmouth Guildhall, we had an inspiring day of exploration and collaboration at South Coast Music Partnership’s Music Education Conference.

This year's theme, Innovation: Driving Music Forward, invited educators and music practitioners to engage in meaningful discussion and, explore new innovative ideas and transformative practices that are shaping the future of music education.

“It was truly inspiring to see so many educators, practitioners, and music enthusiasts gathered to explore fresh ideas and transformative practices shaping the future of music education. From thought-provoking discussions to hands-on workshops, the day was packed with innovation, collaboration, and a shared passion for making music accessible and impactful for all.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us—your contributions and energy made for a fantastic conference. Together, we’re driving music forward and ensuring its place at the heart of education!”

- Portsmouth Music Hub

Below you can watch a video which gives you an insight into the day!