WMA AUTUMN TERM NEWSLETTER
#makingmusicmatter
The Wandsworth Music Academy is buzzing with energy as our Academies return in full swing! It’s been wonderful to see so many young musicians back and making music together. We’ve got plenty of exciting updates and key reminders to share as we head into an inspiring Autumn term.
WANDSWORTH MUSIC IMPACT 2025
9,000 Pupils
Wandsworth Music directly teaches more than 9,000 Wandsworth pupils every week!
35,000 Hours
Our tutors deliver more than 1,000 hours of music lessons every week, and in excess of 35,000 hours each year.
3,000 Instruments
We loan over 3,000 high-quality musical instruments every year.
35 ensembles
We embrace all genres of music and offer ensembles for young musicians of all ages and abilities.
£70,000
The amount of financial support provided for young musicians to attend the Music Academy in 2024/2025.
87% of Schools
We engage positively with Wandsworth Schools, providing CPD, teaching programmes, performance opportunities and more!
“This was so special on so many levels: opportunities, inclusion, quality…. You are so ambitious for our children, and they respond well because they are surrounded by great role models and amazing tutors”
Parent
“Our children in Wandsworth are deeply privileged to have such an amazing service available to them and I hope that the experience of taking part, and witnessing so many different genres in such an iconic building, will stay with them for life.”
Wandsworth Headteacher
“I want to say that I thought the concert was the best youth, music education concert that I have ever been to. Every aspect of the evening was perfect. A huge collective effort, a brilliant, varied programme, amazing teamwork across all the teaching staff, children and young people along with shining talented individual performers.“
David Sulkin OBE – Director of Artistic Development, National Opera Studio
Claiming Gift Aid: Small Step, Big Difference
Did you know you can help Wandsworth Music Academy raise extra funds — without spending a penny more? As a registered charity, we can claim Gift Aid on membership fees, giving us extra financial support for our programmes. All we need is a quick Gift Aid declaration from parents and carers who would like to help us keep the music playing!
WMA concerts & EVENTS 2025-26
We have an exciting array of performance opportunities this term – please look out for further information with specific details for your child(ren).
| Date and time | Event | Location | WMA Groups involved | Tickets |
| Sat 18 Oct 2025,12:30pm | WMA Piano Recital | Burntwood School | WMA piano students | Free (no ticket needed) |
| 24-26 Oct 2025 | Music & Mud Residential Course | Surrey Outdoor Learning & Development (SOLD). | WMA pupils | Fully Booked |
| Sat 15 Nov 2025,12:30pm | WMA Brass Recital | Burntwood School | WMA brass students | Free (no ticket needed) |
| Wed 19 Nov 2025, 6pm | WMA Wednesday Recitals | Burntwood Schoo | WMA Wednesday instrumental pupils | |
| Tues 2 Dec 2025, 7pm | The Mayor’s Charity Carol Concert 2025 | Burntwood Concert Hall | Junior Orchestra and Youth Choir. | https://www.trybooking.com/uk/events/landing/93946 |
| Wed 3 Dec 2025, 6pm | WMA Wednesday Ensemble concert | Burntwood Concert Hall | WMA Wednesday groups | Free (no ticket needed) |
| Sat 6 Dec 2025, 11am | WMA Saturday Christmas Concert | Burntwood Concert Hall | All WMA Sat ensembles – Further details to come after half term. | Free (no ticket needed) |
| Wed 10 Dec 2025, 7pm | Winter Sounds 1 | Fairfield Halls | Concert Orchestra | https://www.fairfield.co.uk/events/wandsworth-winter-sounds-1-2025 |
| Thurs 11 Dec 2025, 7pm | Winter Sounds 2 | Fairfield Halls | Philharmonic Orchestra and Performance Troupe. | https://www.fairfield.co.uk/events/wandsworth-winter-sounds-2-2025 |
| Sat 31 Jan 2026, 12:30pm | WMA Soloist Competition Final | Burntwood School | WMA Soloists | Free (no ticket needed) |
| Tue 24 Feb, 2026 | Band night | The Bedford Pub | WMA Pop Bands | TBC |
| Sat 7 Mar 2026, 12:30pm | WMA Wind Recital | Burntwood School | WMA wind players | Free (no ticket needed) |
| Tue 24 Mar 2026 | Brighter Sounds 1 | Fairfield Halls | Concert Orchestra | TBC |
| Wed 25 Mar 2026 | Brighter Sounds 2 | Fairfield Halls | Philharmonic Orchestra & Youth Choir | TBC |
| Sat 23 May 2026 tbc | Voces 8 masterclass | St Luke’s Church | Youth Choir | TBC |
| Sat 16 May & Sat 20 June 2026 | WMA String Recital | Burntwood School | WMA string players | Free (no ticket needed) |
| Sun 21 June 2026 tbc | Jazz at 606 | 606 club | Wandsworth Jazz Orchestra & Jazz Train | TBC |
| Tue 23 June 2026 | Band night | The Bedford Pub | WMA Pop Bands | TBC |
| Sat 11 July 2026 | WMA Summer Fayre | Burntwood School | All WMA | Details to follow |
| Sat 18 July 2026 | WPO Summer Serenade | All Saints Church, Tooting. | Philharmonic Orchestra | Details to follow |
| 20-25 July 2026 | WPO Tour to Germany | Germany | Philharmonic Orchestra | n/a |
WMA RECITAL SEASON 2025-26
Our WMA Recital Season 25–26 launches this term! 🎶 These special events give our young musicians the chance to showcase their learning — performing solo pieces with a pianist, sharing their progress, and growing in confidence in front of a supportive audience.
Pupils can sign up through their instrumental tutor, or parents can email lbrown@wandsworthmusic.co.uk to let us know their child would like to perform. Where possible, all pupils will be given the opportunity to perform, or will be asked to play next time should this be more appropriate. Any pupils not performing will be asked to watch their peers at the recital.
YOUR NEXT ENSEMBLE AWAITS…
We’re looking for enthusiastic young musicians to join our WMA ensembles this term! Develop your skills, perform with others, and experience the joy of making music together.
We have the following vacancies to join our Music Academy ensembles – Why not bring a friend!?
Singers – Wandsworth Youth Choir Year 7+ singing a wide range of repertoire from R&B, pop, musical theatre, opera and classical.
Trombones – Wandsworth Jazz Orchestra (G5/6+) & Wandsworth Philharmonic Orchestra (G5/6+)
Electric Guitars – Pop bands
Viola – Wandsworth Philharmonic Orchestra (G5/6+), Wandsworth Concert Orchestra (G3+)
French Horn – Wandsworth Philharmonic Orchestra (G5/6+), Wandsworth Concert Orchestra (G3+)
Bassoon – Wandsworth Philharmonic Orchestra (G5/6+), Wandsworth Concert Orchestra (G3+)
Oboes – Wandsworth Concert Orchestra (G3+)
ST LUKE’S MASTERCLASS
Thanks to the generosity of the St Luke’s Music Society, we are very fortunate to have some brilliant professional musicians and ensembles visiting us this year
1 November 2025 – Ben Goldscheider horn masterclass
21 Feburary 2026 – Jess Gillam saxophone masterclass (half term)
23 May 2026 – Voces 8 masterclass and concert (half term)
Pupils involved in the following sessions will be contacted directly by Lauren and Joe.
WANDSWORTH PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA TOUR TO GERMANY JULY 2026
Final Call – we have a limited number of places remaining. If you have not yet signed up for the WPO Tour to Germany please reserve your place by clicking the link below!
AUCTION – We need your help!
Friends of Wandsworth Music are organising a fundraising auction to raise much needed funds for scholarships and bursaries and need your help to secure amazing prizes. The auction will be hosted online for easy bidding, and we are keen to offer money-can’t-buy experiences, services and amazing prizes to put lots of smiles on faces!
How you can help / what you can offer:
Prizes:
– Do you work in retail and could offer gift vouchers, merchandise or personal shopping?
– Do you work somewhere that could offer a tour or experience? Or could you take a winner behind the scenes?
– Are you a regular at a local restaurant, beauty salon or shop? Ask them if they can provide a prize – it’s amazing how effective a face to face ask can be and it’s a great way for them to get new customers.
– Does your child take a class, course or attend a holiday camp? Ask if they might donate a gift voucher or free place.
– Do you have access to a holiday home you could offer for a weekend or longer?
– Do you have skills you could teach? Language conversation, Tutoring, music lessons etc?
All donations are greatly appreciated. If required, we can provide a letter on headed paper containing our charity number.
Sponsorship:
Our auction will be hosted on an online platform, and we are looking for sponsors to help reduce online fees. If you might be able to help sponsor the auction or a prize within it please let us know – any financial contribution would be welcome and if you are a business we can include your logo and web address or even post an online banner on the auction site.
If you have something you can offer or want to run an idea past us, please contact wandsworthmusicfriends@gmail.com
The Auction will go live at the end of November and will run until 12th December. Look out for further information and the opportunity to win some amazing prizes!
YOUTH COUNCIL
Are you in Year 8-13 and interested in joining the Wandsworth Music Youth Council?
Are you in years 5-7 and interested in having your say at Wandsworth Music? Introducing Wandsworth Music Youth Council Minis!!
Get in touch with Emily Hall to find out more email: ehall@wandsworthmusic.co.uk
scholarship & bursary funds
Wandsworth Music continually fundraise in order to provide scholarships and bursaries for children and young people in challenging circumstances, or in need of financial support. The following schemes are available to support young musicians.
LMF & WMA Scholarship Scheme
The London Music Fund and WMA Scholarships provide up to 4 years worth of funding for children to attend the Wandsworth Music Academy and are worth up to £4,000 in total.
Applications are open to primary school children in Key Stage 2, who demonstrate commitment, enjoyment and potential in their music making, but for whom the financial cost of ongoing music tuition is a barrier to continuation.
For more information on how to apply for an LMF or WMA scholarship please visit: www.wandsworthmusic.co.uk/scholarships
WMA Free School Meal Bursary Scheme
Bursaries of up to 50% are available to pupils in receipt of free school meals learning at WMA. Bursaries are available for the 1st study instrumental lesson & ensemble memberships/ theory only (it is not available for 2nd study instrumental lessons).
For further information please contact info@wandsworthmusic.co.uk
WMA Gifted and Talented Bursary Scheme
The WMA Gifted and Talented Bursary Scheme provides one-off bursaries to support pupils at WMA. Applications are open to secondary aged pupils, who have demonstrated significant musical potential and commitment, but for whom the financial cost of ongoing music tuition is a barrier. Pupils receiving a bursary must also participate in a WMA ensemble.
Our funds are limited and decisions take into account a combination of: financial need, commitment, musical potential, previous commitment and attendance at activities, and the ability to make a positive contribution to, and take full benefit from activities at WMA.
WMA Endangered Instrument Bursary Scheme – NEW!
The endangered instrument bursary scheme provides 2 years of funding to learn either the bassoon, oboe or tuba at WMA. Applications are open to pupils aged 11 plus, who can demonstrate significant musical potential and commitment on an instrument in the same musical instrument family as the oboe, bassoon or tuba. (For example the clarinet or saxophone to learn the bassoon or the trumpet or trombone to learn the tuba).
The bursary covers the cost of lessons for 2 years. Pupils in receipt of an endangered instrument bursary are expected to participate in a WMA ensemble on the instrument.
Our funds are limited and decisions take into account a combination of: financial need, commitment, musical potential, previous commitment and attendance at activities, and the ability to make a positive contribution to, and take full benefit from activities at WMA.
For further information please contact info@wandsworthmusic.co.uk
SPEEDADMIN – PUPIL ACCESS
Do you know that we can provide pupils with secure access to Speed Admin? Pupils can receive important communications, and have access to timetables and the Study Planner.
If you would like your child to have a SpeedAdmin account, and receive these communications (in addition to yourself) then please complete this form to give us permission to add your child(ren)s email address to the database.
ENSEMBLE MUSIC & THEORY BOOKLETS
Sheet music for All WMA ensembles and theory lessons can be accessed at home via this link:
www.tinyurl.com/wandsworthmusic
Choirs: Every child is expected to practise their vocal parts with dedicated learning videos at home and come to all choir sessions with their music/lyric sheets all found within the link above. Any questions please email jprescott@wandsworthmusic.co.uk
Ensemble music: Pupils are expected to practise their ensemble music at home, to ensure they are well prepared for sessions and concerts this term. Pupils should also take their parts to their instrumental teacher to go over in lessons. You can either print these off at home, or use a portable device such as an iPad to view them on a music stand *(Please note that valuables are not recommended to be brought to WMA).
GENERAL REMINDERS
Chewing gum and sweets! Please do not bring chewing gum or sweets to the WMA. This will ensure mess is kept to a minimum and children are not chewing gum during choir and instrumental sessions!
Eye on the time! If possible, please ask your child to wear a watch whilst at the WMA so that they are aware of the time and can get to each of their sessions promptly. We do have a large clock on display at the front desk and ask the children to make their way to their sessions ahead of time.
Bring a music stand and a pencil! We have a limited number of music stands, so if you have a folding music stand at home, please consider bringing it to WMA. A soft, 2B pencil and a rubber are essential tools for a musician, and will be used to mark up the music in lessons and rehearsals.
T-shirts and hoodies! Wandsworth Music have t-shirts and hoodies available to buy. Please CLICK HERE for more information.
WM Tote Bags Have you got your own Wandsworth Music Tote Bag? Bags can be purchased on Saturdays or Wednesdays from Aurelie and Emily, priced at £8!
Wandsworth Music
