On Monday 5 November, an iPad Orchestra from Great Oaks (a school for young people with a range of complex learning difficulties) will join 200 young musicians from across the city, and 400 more from across the region, forming one of the most diverse Massed Ensemble groups ever to take to the Royal Albert Hall stage as part of the Music for Youth Proms.

They join a line up which includes some of the city’s most talented young orchestral players, members of Southampton’s Family Orchestra, and singers and musicians from schools across the city. Their performance on Monday night is part of a stellar line up from across the country, as part of the Music for Youth Proms 2018, performing a brand new piece of music by award winning composer James Redwood in celebration of BSO’s 125th anniversary.

Matt Brombley, Projects and Partnerships Manager for Southampton Music Hub, says:
“We’re delighted that Great Oaks school are joining us for this momentous performance. Led by Kelly Jo Peters, the hub’s SEND Music Advisor, Great Oaks music department has been pioneering the use of music technology for children with complex learning difficulties. To have them join us on stage at the Royal Albert Hall is a demonstration of the commitment of all involved — from music hubs, to Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, to schools — that there is no limit to what can be achieved by our young musicians, whatever their instrument, whatever their background, and whatever challenges they face in life.”

Shoppers at Southampton’s Waitrose supermarket have the opportunity to support Southampton Music Trust with their green tokens this month.

From the Waitrose Community Matters page:

By placing a token in the Community Matters box at your local branch you’re helping your community. Since its launch in 2008, the scheme has donated over £30 million to good causes in store and online

At the end of your shop in branch, you’ll receive a token to place in a box of the good cause you’d most like to support. The more tokens a cause gets, the bigger the donation they receive. Each month every Waitrose & Partners branch donates £1,000 (£500 in Convenience shops) between 3 local good causes that you choose.

Southampton Music Trust (Registered Charity No. 1176179) was set up in December 2017 to support the aims of Southampton Music Hub to improve access to music education and to provide life-changing musical experiences for the communities of Southampton and its surrounding areas.

Image courtesy of ABC Concerts

Following on from the fantastic Easter Bunny Hop in spring, a jazz-filled Christmas special comes to Turner Sims. Jingle Bell Jazz is ready to delight families on Sunday 16 December at 11am and 3pm.

ABC Concerts will get their audience into the festive spirit with everybody’s favourite Christmas melodies played by the Jingle Bell Jazz Band. Audiences can don their Santa hats and reindeer antlers and dance, wriggle, clap, cheer and sing their way through this interactive and fun concert for all the family.

Presented by ABC Concerts in association with Turner Sims this show is suitable for ages 2-5, but all are ages welcome.

At 4pm on Monday 8 October schools across Southampton will start requesting their places at the Summer Celebration Events taking place at Southampton Guildhall in July 2019. The celebration events mark the end of a year of Adventures in Time, which, start this November at the Royal Albert Hall:

In November 2018, 600 young musicians from across Southampton, Bournemouth and the Isle of Wight will join Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra in a momentous performance at the legendary Royal Albert Hall in London. They will play a brand new piece of music by award winning composer James Redwood in celebration of BSO’s 125th anniversary.

Inspired by the Royal Albert Hall performance, Southampton Music Hub will share the incredible new music from this magical event with schools across the whole city.

On Tuesday 2 July 2019, two exciting massed playing events will celebrate a momentous end to an unforgettable year of music for the city. Taking place at Southampton Guildhall, each event will proudly share the exciting new music that has been created through the city’s Adventures in Time.

KS1–2 MASSED PLAYING CELEBRATION (1.30–2.15PM)

• An interactive, massed playing, music celebration for pupils in KS1–2. Pupils will get ready for this exciting event with free resources and workshops in school. Because every young musician taking part in In2Music and SoundBites will also learn the music, this makes an ideal end to their first year of learning an instrument: inspiring them to believe they can achieve huge musical dreams.

CELEBRATION PROMS (7.30–8.45PM)

• An evening celebration with Southampton’s young musicians and family music groups coming together with KS3–5 pupils to share music from, and inspired by, the Royal Albert Hall performance.

Ways for families to get tickets, and be part of these celebrations will be announced soon.

Following September’s successful return, Indian Classical Music Club, in partnership with Art Asia, continues on Friday 5 October 2018, with an evening of Indian Classical Music from 7-9pm at Cantell School.

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. Indian Classical Music Club helps everyone, whatever their background, to understand and enjoy Indian classical music.

The event is jointly hosted by Cantell and Bassett Green Primary School, and is presented by professional international musicians, including: 

• Talks and presentations on Indian Classical Music and Fusion Music

• Short performances with improvisations using Raga and Talas structures

Featuring Chandra Chakraborty (Vocal) Tofail Ahmed and Sanju Sahai (Tabla)

• Chandra Chakraborty is an Indian vocalist with a melodious voice. She performs regularly in USA, UK, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. She is the artistic director of one of the top three organisations in UK: Saudha, Society Of Poetry and Indian Music.

• Tofail Ahmed is a highly accomplished musician with several years of training and experience. He is a teacher, workshop leader and a remarkable performer of different forms of Indian Classical Music.

• A phenomenal and outstanding Tabla player, Sanju Sahai is well known for mesmerising and captivating his audience with his power, virtuosity and complete spontaneity.

Tickets cost £7 for adults, £5 for under 16s, and £15 for a family ticket (including 2 two adults, and two under 16s)

On the afternoon of Saturday 29 September, as part of Music in the City, families of all shapes and sizes came together in Guildhall Square, picking up a Bamboo Tamboo — many for the very first time — to play Caribbean music together.

Led by Tom Gregory, percussion teacher for Southampton Music Services, the free, open-access workshops spread music right across the square, with new families joining in, and onlookers clapping along.

Matt Brombley, Projects and Partnerships Manager for Southampton Music Hub, says:
”There is something incredible about the power of music to bring people together. It doesn’t matter your age, your background or your musical experience — anyone can enjoy making music.”

Joining a stellar line up of fantastic musicians at the Music for Youth Proms 2018 this November, Music for Youth have announced Southampton Music Hub as part of this year’s Massed Ensemble performance projects.

On Monday 5 November, over 200 young musicians from Southampton’s ensembles, schools, and Family Orchestra will join with 200 young musicians from IOW Music Hub, and a further 200 from SoundStorm Music Education Agency in Poole and Bournemouth, to perform alongside members of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO) in a momentous performance at the Royal Albert Hall.

Together all 600 musicians will perform a new piece of music by composer James Redwood, in celebration of BSO’s 125th anniversary. This is one of the largest, and most varied, Massed Ensembles to ever perform at the proms.

Tickets to experience the proms at the Royal Albert Hall are available now through the Royal Albert Hall Box Office online or by calling 020 7589 8212.

This Saturday, Carribbean music comes to Guildhall Square, as Southampton Music hub host two hours of free bamboo tamboo workshops, as part of Music in the City

On Saturday 29 September, from 2–4pm, Southampton Music Hub will be hosting two hours of free family music-making workshops in Guildhall Square as part of the Music in the City festival. Making use of an exciting Caribbean instrument — bamboo tamboo — the free percussion workshops will be open to all ages and abilities: there is no need to bring an instrument, simply come along and join in with the free, fun activities taking place across the afternoon. 

Matt Brombley, Family Music Programme Manager for Southampton Music Hub, says:
"Making music together is a great way for families to enjoy time together, learn new skills together, and have great fun doing it. Music in the City is a wonderful community event, and Southampton Music Hub are proud to be one of the diverse range of community musicians, venues, volunteers and businesses who take part, especially on this momentous, 10th anniversary celebration."

Indian Classical Music Club, in partnership with Art Asia, returns this weekend, with an evening of Indian Classical and Fusion Music from 7-9pm on Friday 14 September at St Annes Catholic School.

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. Indian Classical Music Club helps everyone, whatever their background, to understand and enjoy Indian classical music.

The event is presented by professional international musicians, including: 

• Talks and presentations on Indian Classical Music and Fusion Music

• Short performances with improvisations using Raga and Talas structures

FEATURING SANJU SAHAI (TABLA), GIULIANO MODARELLI (GUITAR) AND POOJA ANGRA (VOCAL)

• A phenomenal and outstanding Tabla player, Sanju Sahai is well known for mesmerising and captivating his audience with his power, virtuosity and complete spontaneity

• Giuliano Modarelli (Italy) is one of the most interesting musicians who plays Indian ragas on classical guitar applying the techniques of the Indian instrument, the sarod. He has collaborated with maestros of Indian classical music and created fusion music

• Pooja Angra is an Indian vocalist with a melodious and mellifluous voice. She has PhD in Indian Classical music

Tickets cost £7 for adults, £5 for under 16s, and £15 for a family ticket (including 2 two adults, and two under 16s)

On Saturday 29 September, from 2–4pm, Southampton Music Hub will be hosting two hours of free family music-making workshops in Guildhall Square as part of the Music in the City festival. The free workshops will be open to all ages and abilities: there is no need to bring an instrument, simply come along and join in with one of the free, fun activities taking place across the afternoon. 

Matt Brombley, Family Music Programme Manager for Southampton Music Hub, says:
"Making music together is a great way for families to enjoy time together, learn new skills together, and have great fun doing it. Music in the City is a wonderful community event, and Southampton Music Hub are proud to be one of the diverse range of community musicians, venues, volunteers and businesses who take part, especially on this momentous, 10th anniversary celebration."

Young Musicians taking part in Southampton Music Hub's celebrations at last year's Music in the City Festival. Photo by the Daily Echo.

Music in the City is celebrating its 10th anniversary, with hundreds of performances across over 20 different venues. The full programme for the festival is below:

As pupils, teachers and families across the city enjoy the final week of the academic year, Southampton Music Hub is celebrating a record-breaking year of life-changing music: a year that includes over 22,000 people taking part in 250,000 inspirational hours of music in workshops, events and performances from the Stadium Tour, Everybody Sing and City Ensembles.

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Matt Brombley, Projects and Partnerships Manager for Southampton Music Hub, says:
"It's been another incredible year for music in Southampton. The hub's achievements are only possible thanks to all the schools, staff, partners and families across the city that share the belief that making music makes lives better, and work together to share that life-changing power of music with every child."

On Sunday 1 July, over 150 people, from families of all shapes and sizes, came together at Turner Sims Southampton for a spectacular celebration of Family Music. 

Following six months of free music-making workshops across the city, over 30 performers — including members of Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and rock band Groove Merchant — came together in a morning workshop to put the finishing touches to their performances. An incredible joint finale performance was brought together by workshop leader Neil Valentine, joined by Fiona Funnell, from Family Singing, and Aidan Hampson, from Family Rock Jam.

Starting at midday, the Family Music performers delighted an audience of over 120, which included attendees of all ages, and special guest, Councillor Peter Baillie, the Sheriff of Southampton.

The diverse musical programme included a new composition from Family Orchestra, inspired by the sounds of the waterfront; a capella songs from across the world, with Family Singing being joined on stage by a giant bear for their final song; a rousing performance by Groove Merchant which included a version of Shut Up and Dance With Me; and the debut performance of the collective finale song, only first put together that morning — a phenomenal new Family Anthem, drawing on music inspirations from Coldplay to Sister Sledge!

Our Family Music groups coming together for the first time - @ValentineNeil from @BSOrchestra leading a workshop where they’re putting a brand new piece of music together to perform at @TurnerSims at midday! pic.twitter.com/cplYMhO1Fe

— Southampton MusicHub (@MusicHubSouth) July 1, 2018

What a fantastic joyous event! Bravo everyone!

— Neil Valentine (@ValentineNeil) July 1, 2018

Thanks for putting on. What a great way to spend some Saturday mornings and finishing with this concert. Our family had fun contributing clarinet, voice, occasional xylophone and trains (littlest might be active next time!). Please do this again.

— Graeme Day (@graeme_day) July 1, 2018

On Sunday 1 July 2018, from 12noon–1pm, Southampton Music Hub and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra will present Southampton’s first Family Proms: a spectacular celebration of music performed by, and for, families of all shapes and sizes from across the city.

Following six-months of free music-making workshops across the city, musicians and singers of all ages and abilities will come together at Southampton’s prestigious Turner Sims.

Family Proms includes the chance to hear bass instruments as you’ve never heard them before, with performances from In at the Deep End: a quintet of musicians from Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra consisting of four of the lowest orchestral bass instruments — tuba, trombone, bassoon and double bass — plus percussion.

In at the Deep End will be joined by performers from Southampton’s Family Orchestra, Family Singing and Family Rock Jam groups, alongside Fiona Funnell and rock band Groove Merchant.

Matt Brombley, Interim Hub Manager for Southampton Music Hub says:
“The past six-months of free Family Music workshops have been a huge success! We’ve seen over 500 people taking part, and it’s been incredible to hear stories of how we have inspired singers and musicians of all ages and abilities. We’re delighted to host a spectacular celebration of the achievements of Southampton’s family musicians, with the first Family Proms, and we hope that even more families from across the city will join us to see, and hear, the life-changing power of music!”

Ben Jennings, Participation Coordinator for Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra says:
“For 125 years, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra have inspired generations of music makers. We’re delighted that In at the Deep End will perform alongside the Family Orchestra, Family Singing and Family Rock Jam groups at this exciting, free, family concert, giving families the chance to hear bass instruments as you've never heard them before!”

It doesn't matter if you've been to one, many, or none before, Family Singing is back with the final free workshop before Family Proms. Come along on Saturday 23 June, from 10am-12noon at the Ashby sure Start Centre and find out how singing can help the whole family feel happier and healthier!

It doesn't matter if you've been to one, many, or none before, Family Rock Jam is back with the final free workshop before Family Proms.

Saturday 16 June 2018
10am-12noon
at Academy of Music and Sound

Joined by Groove Merchant — a house band made from some of city's most talented young rock musicians — Family Rock Jam is free, and fun and open to anyone! You can bring your own guitar, or use one of the free guitars provided.

It doesn't matter if you've been to one, many, or none before, Family Orchestra is back with a free workshop this Saturday morning, 10am, at Moorlands Community Centre.

Joined by members of Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra,  Family Orchestra is open to players of any standard, any age, and any instrument — everyone is welcome! You can bring your own instruments, or use one of the free percussion instruments provided.

Southampton Music Hub and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra presents Family Proms — a spectacular celebration of music performed by, and for, families of all shapes and sizes from across the city.

Family Proms includes the chance to hear bass instruments as you’ve never heard them before, with performances from In at the Deep End: a quintet of musicians from Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra consisting of four of the lowest orchestral bass instruments — tuba, trombone, bassoon and double bass — plus percussion.

In at the Deep End will be joined by performers of all ages and abilities from the free Family Orchestra, Family Singing and Family Rock Jam workshops currently taking place across the city, alongside Fiona Funnell and Groove Merchant.

Family Singing continues its journey across the city, arriving at Moorlands Community Centre this Saturday morning — a venue that brings back fond memories of Southampton's first Family Orchestra workshop nearly 18 months ago!

Singing together can help the whole family to feel happier and healthier — all ages, abilities and experience levels are welcome!

Family Rock Jam returns on Saturday, with a chance to learn the massive rock anthem, 'I Love Rock and Roll' by Joan Jett.  Playing alongside house band Groove Merchant, it doesn't matter if you're picking up a guitar for the first time, or are an experienced player — anyone can join in!

Suitable for families of all shapes and sizes — bring your own guitar, or use one of the free guitars provided!

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.