SECONDARY & SPECIAL Schools Newsletter – Summer 2025
#makingmusicmatter
BRIGHTER SOUNDS 2025 – ROYAL ALBERT HALL
On 31 March, 1,600 children and young people from 39 Wandsworth Schools and the Wandsworth Music Academy performed in front of a near sell out audience at the world famous Royal Albert Hall. The concert showcased the brilliance of young musicians from across Wandsworth – Congratulations to everyone involved!
BOROUGH PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNTIES 2025-2026
Mayor of Wandsworth Charity Carol Concert – 1 or 2 December 2025 (date tbc), Burntwood School
Schools are invited to put forward individual Christmas/seasonal items for this concert, for example a school choir, band or orchestra.
Winter Sounds – 10 & 11 December 2025, Fairfield Halls
We are inviting applications from Secondary and Special schools to showcase their own work, for example a school choir, jazz band, steel pans group or orchestra. When submitting items, please consider advanced groups and proposals which will make best use of the large stage.
Mayor of Wandsworth Charity Gala Concert – 10 February 2026, Civic Suite
Schools are invited to put forward individual items for this concert. Due to the size of the stage, smaller scale items (e.g. choirs, chamber ensembles etc) would be more appropriate.
Brighter Sounds – 24 & 25 March 2026, Fairfield Halls
Brighter Sounds is our most prestigious concert of the season and will feature the Wandsworth Primary Choir, Massed Secondary Choir, Wandsworth Inclusive Ensemble, and more!
Massed Secondary choir: We are inviting secondary schools to apply to be part of the secondary singing collaboration. Due to staging capacity at Fairfield Halls, we are limited to a total of 250 singers. In the event of over subscription it may necessary to limit numbers from schools, subject to achieving a good overall balance of voices.
Individual school items: We are inviting applications from Secondary Schools to showcase their own work, for example a school choir, jazz band, steel pans group or orchestra. When submitting items, please consider advanced groups and proposals which will make best use of the large stage.
Future Diary Dates:
WAF schools summer showcase: 18 June 2026 (date tbc)
Winter Sounds 2026: Fairfield Halls, 9 & 10 December 2026
Brighter Sounds 2027: Royal Albert Hall, 22 or 23 March 2027 (date tbc)
WANDSWORTH MUSIC PROGRAMMES & SUPPORT 2025-26
Working in partnership with you, we can help to unlock the musical potential of your pupils; helping to develop their musical knowledge and understanding, increasing confidence and self-esteem, and supporting improved mental health and wellbeing.
If you would like to discuss any part of your music provision then please do not hesitate to get in touch with us by email: info@wandsworthmusic.co.uk
Full information about our programmes and support packages for schools can be found at https://wandsworthmusic.co.uk/schools/sla/
Peripatetic Lessons in schools
Wandsworth Music provides individual, or small group lessons on any instrument. Lessons take place at the school, during the school day, and are mostly paid for by the parents. We take care of all the administration; including communications with parents, billing, and instrument hire.
If you would like to offer these lessons in your school please contact lbrown@wandsworthmusic.co.uk for more information.
SLA PROGRAMMES BOOKING 25-26
If you have not yet completed the programme booking form for 2025-26 please click below.
WANDSWORTH MUSIC ACADEMY – PROGRESSION PATHWAYS
All young people should have the opportunity to develop and progress their musical interests and talent as far as they would like, including into specialist opportunities, higher education or future employment.
Wandsworth Music Academy
The Wandsworth Music Academy offers numerous diverse bands, orchestras, choirs and ensembles, providing all children with the opportunity to progress on their musical journey.
We are currently offering places at the Senior Academy for September and have the following vacancies for our senior ensembles. We have an exciting year of concerts coming up including a tour to Italy, concerts at Fairfield Halls, Wimbledon Tennis, The Bedford, London Jazz Festival and more!
Please share these opportunities with your pupils!
Wandsworth Philharmonic Orchestra
Trombone & Tuba (Grade 6+)
Viola & Double Bass (Grade 5+)
Bassoon, Clarinet (Grade 6+)
Wandsworth Jazz Orchestra
Trombone (Grade 5/6+)
Guitar (Grade 5/6+)
Wandsworth Youth Choir
Accepting applications from keen and committed singers aged 11+
Steel Pan Jam
Accepting applications from keen and committed musicians aged 11+ (no previous experience necessary!)
Wandsworth Concert Orchestra
Strings (Grade 3+)
Bassoon, French Horn, Trombone (Grade 3+)
Wandsworth Jazz Orchestra 2
Trombones (Grade 3+)
Guitar (Grade 3+)
Wandsworth Pop Bands
Vacancies for electric guitar at all levels
Music Production & Song Writing
Learn how to use loops to create your own composition; create drum beats and hooks; record your own voice or instrument and add effects; mix your track and much more!
WANDSWORTH MUSIC ENSEMBLE COMPETITION 2025
**Applications are now open to take part in the NEW Wandsworth Music Ensemble Competition 2025!!**
The Wandsworth Music Ensemble Competition is open to all small ensembles formed of musicians attending the Wandsworth Music Academy, schools in Wandsworth, or living in the borough of Wandsworth.
This competition is opening to the following ensembles:
- Chamber music ensembles
- Jazz ensembles
- Vocal ensembles
- Traditional/World Music ensembles
*All ensembles should have a maximum of 10 players and should be a minimum standard of Grade 5 on their instrument, or the equivalent level of ensemble standard for traditional, world music ensembles.
A maximum of 10 Ensembles will be chosen following initial video submissions, to perform an 8 minute programme in the Ensemble Competition Concert, to an audience of family, friends and esteemed colleagues. The Competition Final Concert will take place on Thursday 10 July and will be judged by a guest judge (to be announced in due course!).
There will be one ensemble winner and one runner up prize. The winners of the competition will be awarded the Ensemble Competition Trophy, a £100 prize voucher sponsored by Rotary Music Battersea and the opportunity to perform in a prestigious external concert with Wandsworth Music and it’s partners. The runner up prize winners will win a £50 prize voucher for their ensemble.
BEYOND! – WANDSWORTH INCLUSIVE ENSEMBLE
BEYOND! is an inclusive, creative music ensemble for young people with Special Educational Needs/ Disabilities (SEND). The young musicians use a combination of traditional instruments, percussion, voices and music technology to create new music and develop their musical skills
BEYOND rehearses twice a term at various schools in the borough, and perform at venues including The Royal Albert Hall and Fairfield Halls
FREE TO JOIN!
For more information email ehall@wandsworthmusic.co.uk
INSTRUMENT GRANT FUND
There is still time to claim but be quick!
As you will know an instrument grant has been made available by the DfE for Music Hubs in England. In Wandsworth we have decided to spend a large proportion of the grant on supporting our schools and so we are making £1,000 (inclusive of VAT) available to each secondary school in Wandsworth.
If you would like to make use of this £1,000 grant and have not yet contacted us, then please send your requests to dwhite@wandsworthmusic.co.uk by Friday 23 May.
SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Wandsworth Music works in partnership with several Trusts and Foundations to provide scholarships and bursaries for children and young people in challenging circumstances, or in need of financial support.
Scholarships provide up to 4 years’ worth of funding (total value in excess of £3,500) for children to attend the Wandsworth Music Academy.
For more information on how to apply please visit – www.wandsworthmusic.co.uk/scholarships
SCHOOL MUSIC DEVELOPMENT PLANS….DON’T KNOW WHERE TO START..?
The DfE expect all schools to publish a summary of their school music development plan (SMDP) on their school website.
Don’t know where to start…? We can help you!
Wandsworth Music has created a simple online self-assessment tool, that upon completion will generate a template SMDP that schools can use.
For further supporting information please visit our website: www.wandsworthmusic.co.uk/schools/audit/
