Our Academies are now back in full swing, and we are thrilled to see so many children enjoying their music making with us at the Wandsworth Music Academy! We are pleased to share with you some exciting news and important reminders for the Autumn term and the coming months.


As a registered charity we are able to claim gift aid on WMA membership fees. Gift Aid provides vital additional funds for charities, and it costs you nothing extra to allow us to claim it. In order to access this additional source of funding we need a gift aid declaration from each parent who is prepared to support us in this way.


We have an exciting array of performance opportunities this term – please look out for further information from John & Lydia with specific details for your child(ren).

DateEventWMA Groups involved
Sat 19 October 2024WMA Piano Recital @ BurntwoodSaturday Piano pupils
25-27 October 2024Music & Mud Residential CourseFully booked.
Sun 17 November 2024London Jazz Festival @ Southbank CentreWandsworth Jazz Orchestra
Sat 23 November 2024WMA Wind Recital @ BurntwoodSaturday Wind pupils
Wed 27 November 2024WMA Wed Solo Recitals @ BurntwoodWMA Wednesday pupils
Tues 3 December 2024Mayor of Wandsworth Charity Carol Concert @ BurntwoodWandsworth Junior Orchestra
Wandsworth Youth Choir
Wed 4 December 2024WMA Wed Ensemble Concert @ BurntwoodWMA Wednesday ensembles
Sat 7 December 2024WMA Christmas Concert @ BurntwoodAll Sat Junior Academy Pupils
Senior Sat Academy pupils TBC
Tues 10 December 2024Winter Sounds 1 @ Fairfield HallsWandsworth Concert Orchestra
Wed 11 December 2024Winter Sounds 2 @ Fairfield HallsWandsworth Philharmonic Orchestra
Wandsworth Performance Troupe (Junior & Senior)
Tues 30 January 2025Pop Bands @ The BedfordWMA Senior Pop Bands
Sat 8 February 2025WMA Brass Recital @ BurntwoodSaturday Brass Pupils
Mon 17 March 2025Chamber Music Recitals @ All Saints, Tooting TBCWMA Chamber ensembles
Sat 22 March 2025WMA Orchestral Concert @ BurntwoodTraining Orchestra
Junior Orchestra
Concert Orchestra
Mon 31 March 2025Brighter Sounds @ The Royal Albert HallPhilharmonic Orchestra
Wandsworth Youth Choir
Wandsworth Performance Troupe (Seniors only)
Jazz 2a & 2b

The WMA Recital Series for 2024-25 will be launching again this term (dates outlined above). These recitals provide pupils with the opportunity to showcase their learning, perform with a pianist, and build confidence in playing solo repertoire to a friendly audience. 

Pupils can put themselves forward via their instrumental tutor, or parents can email lmalitskie@wandsworthmusic.co.uk directly to notify us that 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.


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 term!

Pupils involved in the following sessions will be contacted directly by Lydia.

Our friends at St Luke’s Music Society have offered WMA pupils free tickets for their 24-25 concert season.

19th October: Alban Gerhardt and Steven Osborne

9th November: A4 Brass Quartet

11th January: Paul Lewis Schubert Piano recital

25th January: James Newby (Baritone) with Joseph Middleton Schubert Schone Mullerin

22nd February: Iestyn Davies with Fretwork

8th March: Sean Shibe (Guitar) with Aidan O’Rourke (Scottish fiddler)

26th April: Viatores Quartet with Louisa Staples

17th May: The Swingles

For more information on the above concerts please visit Concert series in South London | SLMS


We have the following vacancies to join our Music Academy ensembles on the following instruments:

Trombone & Guitar (Grade 4 plus) – Jazz Orchestra 2

Alto Sax (Grade 7 plus) – Jazz Orchestra

Viola (Grade 6 plus) – Philharmonic Orchestra

Bassoon (Grade 5/6 plus) – Philharmonic Orchestra

Strings, saxophone, bassoon, French horn & tuba (Grade 3/4 plus) – Concert Orchestra

Vocalists – Various Pop Bands, Wandsworth Youth Choir & Wandsworth Chamber Choir


The Wandsworth Philharmonic Orchestra will be travelling to Tuscany, Italy to perform 4 concerts between 20 – 27 July 2025.

If you have not yet signed up to the Philharmonic Orchestra 2025 Tour to Italy please reserve your place by clicking the link below!

If you have any questions about the tour or would like the information sent again, please contact Dan or John.


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.


Sheet music for WMA ensembles and theory lessons can be accessed at home via this link:

www.tinyurl.com/wandsworthmusic

Ensemble/Orchestra music: Pupils are expected to practise their ensemble/orchestra music at home, to ensure they are prepared and well-practiced 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 the WMA).

Theory Booklets: If you have not already done so, please visit the Theory Lessons folder to print your child’s booklet. Please note, our Theory Booklets are for use for the year and will need to be put into a folder or binder so that your child can use them each week.


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. These stylish items feature our logo and are the perfect dress code for our concerts. Please CLICK HERE for more information.


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


We are delighted to announce that the Wandsworth Music Youth Council raised more than £5,000 last year to support our young musicians at the Music Academy. The money was used to fund bursaries for students going on the orchestra tour to Spain in July, and the Music and Mud residential which is taking place in October Half Term.

Please keep your eyes peeled for upcoming Youth Council Fundraising events for the year ahead.

Are you interested in joining the Youth Council …???? Get in touch with Emily Hall to find out more email: ehall@wandsworthmusic.co.uk


Our friends at the Philharmonia Orchestra are offering a 50% discount on tickets (excluding top-price seats) for the following concerts:

Thursday 26 September

Sunday 29 September

Sunday 27 October (there is also a free workshop at 11am before the concert!)

Thursday 31 October

Sunday 10 November

Sunday 1 December

Details of all the concerts can be found at the link below – you can access the discount by entering the code EDUCATION50

https://philharmonia.co.uk/whats-on/?date=all&location=london&type=all&event-group=all


We are thrilled to share news that one of our long standing and very talented music tutors, Scott Bramley has written and is musical director for his first musical ‘Little Fiend.’

Scott is a piano teacher and vocal leader and has previously taught piano at WMA on Saturdays. The concert version of the musical will be performed at the Phoenix Arts Club on Monday the 4th of November.

Visit the website for more information www.LittleFiendMusical.com

Tickets can be purchased here – https://phoenixartsclub.com/events/little-fiend/ 


www.wandsworthmusic.co.uk

Follow us!