Young brass musicians from Southampton, alongside Southampton Music Hub teacher, Jon Hanchett and other musicians from the Low Brass Day

On Saturday 5th May, 13 students, along with Southampton Music Hub teacher, John Hanchett traveled to the Royal Marines School Of Music in Portsmouth for their Low Brass Day. The day, which was organised by the Royal Marine Band Service and the British Trombone Society brought four of the countries finest low brass players together with local musicians. Around 100 Tuba, Euphonium, Baritone, Bass and Tenor Trombones started the morning by forming a huge ensemble creating a loud and majestic sound. 

Each of the four international soloists led masterclasses, focusing on different aspects of brass playing. Bass Trombonist, Simon Minshall led a session exploring the bass trombonist role within Wagner’s Ring cycle, wowing people with his Contrabass Trombone playing. Robbie Harvey shared his jazz background, giving tips of how to explore improvisation. Robbie also performed several pieces backed by a  jazz combo from the Royal Marines.

Following a break for lunch, when students took the opportunity to look around School of Music and visit the trade stands — enjoying having a go at playing Soprano trombones and sousaphones among other instruments, Tuba virtuoso, Les Neish gave an interesting session focusing on advanced breathing techniques, and included them in daily practice.

Finally world renowned Euphonium star, David Childs delivered a session on performance skills, taking about presentation. To conclude the day, all those taking part formed the large low brass ensemble again playing a piece composed for this event which featured the four fabulous soloists.

John Hanchett says:
“It was an inspirational event, an utterly fantastic opportunity to hear playing of the highest caliber. I’m sure all the students will be taking tips from today into their own practice and performance. The young musicians had a fantastic day, and were also a credit to their parents and schools with how they engaged with this Low Brass Day."

Family Orchestra continues its journey around the city, arriving at Woolston Community Centre on Saturday morning, where members of Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra will lead another exciting, creative music-making session for player of all ages and abilities. 

Young Brass players at Music in the City

Southampton Wind Band and Southampton Youth Brass Band are hosting two open air concerts at Westquay Esplanade this bank holiday weekend. Performing in front of the old city walls, and as part of Westquays "Sunday Brunch" series, these free concerts, taking place on Sunday at 1pm and 2pm, are the perfect way to enjoy (what hopefully will be) the sunny long weekend ahead. 

Other performers in the Sunday Brunch series include LoveSoul Choir — one of Southampton Music Hub's partners — performing on Sunday 27 May.

On Thursday 28 June, thanks to support from the Southampton Schools Music Association (SSMA), Southampton Music Hub is bringing nearly 800 young singers together at Central Hall for a super-sized African music celebration. Led by by professional workshop leader Rosie Bergonzi, this singing celebration will be the culmination of months of free workshops and rehearsals at schools across the city.

The project is supported by a brand new resource pack — including vocal and percussion arrangements of nine traditional African songs — which is freely available as part of the resources available from the Southampton Music Hub website.

Nia Collins, Interim Manager at Southampton Music Hub, says
“Southampton Music Hub is delighted to be working with the SSMA on this project. Both the hub and SSMA have a fantastic track record for excellence in vocal work with schools in Southampton and we are excited to work together to showcase this in a celebration event for the Big African Sing. The hub team have worked hard to develop a brilliant and flexible set of new resources which are suitable for all ages and abilities; for use both in and out of the classroom.”

Family Singing comes to Woolston Community Centre this Saturday with another free community singing workshop to help the whole family feel happier and healthier — free and fun, Family Singing is open to families of all shapes and sizes!

Bring a friend!

Do you know a family who would enjoy singing together?
Do you have an auntie/uncle/grand parent or friend who would love to join you?

Why not send them this email and invite them to join us this weekend?

On Sunday 29 April, Morro Barry and Lucy Gowans, two talented young musicians from Southampton Music Hub ensembles, will perform with Southampton Concert Wind Band in their “Stars of Tomorrow” concert at All Saints Church in Botley.
 
Southampton Concert Wind Band provide the opportunity for wind, brass and percussion players to make great music, and their director, Calum Gray, is an important part of the local amateur musical community. The band's repertoire incorporates a variety of musical styles including original, classical, shows, popular, traditional and jazz.
 
Southampton Concert Wind Band are keen to support and develop the talent of young musicians and invited the Southampton Music Hub to nominate two students to perform a solo with the band. Morro will be performing the first movement of the Gregson Tuba Concerto and Lucy the second movement of the Mozart Bassoon Concerto. Morro (14) and Lucy (12) are both in receipt of Music Awards from the hub and perform with several ensembles in Southampton and with groups at a national level.
 
Zoe Hunting, Ensemble Manager for Southampton Music Hub, says:
"This is a wonderful opportunity for two of Southampton’s most talented students to perform as soloists with the Southampton Concert Wind Band. We are very grateful for the opportunity the band have given to Morro and Lucy and wish them both all the very best for the evening”.

Tickets to the Concert are £8 for adults and £6 for concessions and can be booked by contacting 01489 782445.

Another brand new, free song has been added to the Everybody Sing Song Bank this month.

‘St George’s Day Blues’, written by Jo Downs, celebrates St George’s Day and will let children of all ages have fun learning about the story of St George through a catchy call and response blues song. Alongside the song, there is another podcast episode with ideas for dragon themed vocal warm ups.

Family Rock Jam returns to the Academy of Music and Sound this Saturday, with another free rock guitar workshop from 10am–12noon. Joined by the house band, Grove Merchant, Family Rock Jam is a great way for families of all shapes and sizes to learn to play guitar, performing alongside some of the city's most talented young rock musicians.

On Saturday 24 March 2018, Southampton Music Hub and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra were joined by families of all shapes and sizes for a Family Orchestra workshop at The Ashby Sure Start Centre. The orchestra created new musical ideas to go with their pieces of music inspired by the songs "We Are Family" and "Viva La Vida". 

After a week away because of the snow, Family Orchestra is back this weekend, with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra bringing an exciting and creative music-making workshop to the Ashby Centre on Saturday morning. 

Suitable for families of all shapes and sizes — any standard, any age, any instrument welcome!

On Saturday 24 March 2018, young orchestral musicians from across the city will come together for an inspirational evening of music at Central Hall. Featuring performances from Acorn Strings, Elgar, Southampton Youth Strings (SYS), Southampton Youth Concert Sinfonia (SYCS) and Southampton Youth Orchestra (SYO) the evening will also feature a special guest performance from Airplay, the city's foundation youth wind band.

Tickets cost £10 for adults, £5 for concessions, £2 for children under 16, and a special family ticket (two adults and two children) costs £20. Advance price tickets can be reserved up until 3pm on Friday 23 March, by contacting the Southampton Music Hub office.

Family Rock Jam returns to Academy of Music and Sound this Saturday for another free and fun, open-access rock guitar jam session! House band Groove Merchant will be back again to play along with families of all shapes and sizes, and guitar players of all ages and abilities!

Bring your own guitar or use one of the free ones provided!

On Monday 5 March, Jo Downs — one of Southampton Music Hub's brilliant teachers — and her family appeared on Juilian Clegg's show on BBC Radio Solent to perform live on their ukuleles.

Billed as "the south's real Von Trapp family", Jo, husband Tim, and their children Alice and Emily, won the opportunity to perform after a competition at The Kings Theatre, looking for the most musical family they could find.  

Matt Brombley, Interim Manager at Southampton Music Hub, says:
"We have an incredible team of musical teachers and families here at Southampton Music Hub, and Jo is an amazing example of someone who shares their love of music with everyone they meet — not just at home, but in schools and across the community too. Whether it's teaching brass, writing catchy (and sometimes a little silly) songs for the Everybody Sing Song Bank, or performing with her family on the radio, Jo has an infectious love of music, so it's no surprise to see that the whole family also join in."

Listen to the Show:

Turner Sims have two family concerts happening this Spring:

On Sunday 25 March 2018, Welsh National Opera (WNO) bring their hugely successful Family Concert to Southampton with a programme of popular favourites from the world of opera, film and TV performed by the full orchestra and singers — a perfect way to introduce all the family to opera and classical music. The concert has an animal theme this year, so families can join in and go wild for WNO. Tickets cost £15 for adults and £7.50 for under 16s.

On Saturday 14 April 2018, the ABC Bunny Band will get families into the Easter spirit with a concert of exciting folk music full of dancing, singing, jiggling and lots of fun! Audiences of all ages can clap along to some of the best tunes from the British Isles and beyond — joining in with the massed Morris Dance, and being taken to new places with live music and interactive storytelling. Tickets cost £8 for adults and £4 for under 16s, so the whole family can put on their bunny ears and get ready for an eggs-traordinary, action-packed concert!

This weekend sees the launch of Family Rock Jam — a chance for players of all ages and abilities to join in a free, fun, and open-access rock guitar jam session  with house band Groove Merchant. The first Family Rock Jam session is on Saturday 24 February 2018, from 10am-12noon at Academy of Music and Sound.

Musicians can bring their own guitar if they have one, or can use one of the free acoustic guitars provided.

The free song in this month's Everybody Sing Song Bank is a celebration of the magical worlds that can be explored through reading. With shoutouts to some of the world's great children's authors, and lyrics that encourage getting lost in a good book, everyone can join in with this exciting new song written by Jo Downs.

Two Southampton Music Hub Award Holder students, tuba player Morro Barry and bassoon player Lucy Gowans, are celebrating after national recognition for their musical talents. 

Morro Barry, tuba player

It was after taking part in a project with the Chineke! Orchestra in November that Morro, aged 13, was invited to audition for the Chineke! Junior Orchestra: an orchestra run by the Chineke! Foundation, which supports young Black and Minority Ethnic classical musicians across Europe. After a successful Skype interview with Chinke! founder, Chi Chi Okinawa, Morro has been invited to join the Chineke! Junior Orchestra this Spring.

Lucy Gowan, bassoon player

After auditioning from the National Children's Orchestra at the end of last year, Lucy, aged 11, has been offered places in both the under 12s national orchestra and the regional orchestra. Both orchestras are run by the highly acclaimed National Children's Orchestra, which provides a world class foundation in orchestra performance and musicianship to musically talented children in the UK aged 7-14.

Zoe Hunting, Ensembles Manager for Southampton Music Hub, says:
"I'm delighted that two Award Holder students from our city's youth orchestras and bands are also being recognised at a national level: the whole team offer their congratulations to the students on all the hard work that has led to their success. Southampton Music Hub is dedicated to supporting all young musicians to reach their fullest potential, and thanks to the support of music teachers and the Award Holder scheme, it is wonderful to see two young players reach such great heights of musical development."

Both Morro and Lucy will be appearing as soloists in the Southampton Concert Wind Band performance on Sunday 29 April at All Saint's Church in Botley."

On Friday 2 March 2018, ss part of the Indian Classical Music Club, Art Asia and Southampton Music Hub present an evening of Indian classical and fusion music. Taking place from 7-9pm at St Anne's Catholic School, the evening will include presentations that provide a deeper understanding of the history, instruments and structures of Indian classical and fusion music, whilst inspiring performances from world renowned musicians will excite audiences with a contemporary view of the ragas (scales) and talas (rhythms) that make up these vibrant musical styles.

This month, presentations and performances will come from Sanju Sahai (Tabla), Giuliano Modarelli (Guitar) and Pooja Angra (Vocal) — three world-class performers across Indian classical and fusion music styles.

Matt Brombley, Interim Hub Manager for Southampton Music Hub, says:
"From its origins in South Asia, Indian classical music has a rich and deep history that stretches back hundreds of years and reaches across the world. Through the annual Mela festival, and countless community events, Art Asia have vast experience of making Indian Classical Music accessible and enjoyable to anybody, whatever their background."

Tickets cost £7 for adults and £5 for under 16's. To book, please contact Art Asia on 023 8022 6212 or 07484097641

On Saturday 10 February 2018, Southampton Music hub and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra were joined by over 35 player, or all ages and abilities, for a Family Orchestra workshop at St Deny's Church Hall. 

Made up of brand new players — including one young boy picking up his brand new trumpet for the first time — and experience players — including returning members from last year's workshops — the orchestra created a brand new piece of music together, inspired by the songs "We Are Family" and "Viva La Vida".

Following on from last week's Family Singing workshop, where more than 25 singers of all ages and abilities enjoyed singing together, this week, the Family Orchestra returns with a free music making workshop at St Deny's Church Hall.

Join members of Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra in a free Family Orchestra that is open to any one — any standard, any age, any instrument welcome. 

Musicians can bring their own instrument if they have one, or can use one of the free percussion instruments provided.