Posts in Music in Schools
Redeployed music services staff provide Easter music for vulnerable and key worker children

Over the Easter Holidays, staff from Southampton Music Services were redeployed within Southampton City Council, becoming part of the team which delivered child care for vulnerable and key worker children during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Judi, Debbie, Lewis, Simon, Kevin and Kath were joined by other city council staff as well as teams from Youth Options, to provide sport, music, arts, games and other activities.

The sessions did more than inspire the kids — two members of the youth options staff have taken up the ukulele as a result!

Matt Brombley, Development Manager for Southampton Music Hub, says:
”We’re so proud of the members of our team who gave up their Easter Holiday to be redeployed within the council and to take on such important work. Music has incredible power to help us make sense of the world around us — that is never more important than now, particularly for vulnerable children in the city. Added to that, we know the huge sacrifices that key workers in the city are making during this time, and for our staff to step up and help support them to be out in our hospitals and communities doing vital work, we’re overwhelmed with pride!”

Southampton City Council leader Christopher Hammond said:
"It's been brilliant to see how schools, childcare providers and other community organisations have gone the extra mile.”

Music in Schools, Music in the CommunityMatt Brombley
City's young musicians challenged to perform "virtually" for friends and family through Challenge-19
City's young musicians challenged to perform "virtually" for friends and family through Challenge-19
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Southampton Music Hub is launching Challenge-19: a challenge to the city’s young musicians to perform for friends and family, sharing their musical talents through digital video and over the phone.

For those who meet the challenge of performing 19 times, they can send a record of their achievement to the music hub office to get a digital certificate.

Young musicians interested in taking part should get in touch with the music hub office.

Ensembles, Music in Schools, Music in the CommunityMatt BrombleyInstrumental and Vocal Tuition
Remote Learning Resources — Friday 3 April

Southampton Music Hub is creating regular resources to support the city’s children and young people learning at home and in school.

Music Curriculum

Instrumental Music

The instrumental teams have been busy making videos, worksheets and other resources to support young musicians playing at home, which they will add to over the coming weeks

Easter Break

Southampton Music Hub instrumental and vocal teachers have worked exceptionally hard this term — thanks to their resilience and creative problem solving we have had over 300 young musicians start online music lessons in less than two weeks. They deserve a break — and so do we all! Lessons and resources will be back after the Easter Holidays, from Monday 20 April onward.

Family Music, Music in Schools, Music in the CommunityMatt BrombleyInstrumental and Vocal Tuition
Recordings from the Synthesis Project

The Synthesis Project has been working with young electronic musicians across Southampton and the Isle of Wight this year, and, as we all approach the end of the Spring Term, it is a great time to share some recordings and reflect on their achievements.

Mayflower 400 Pieces

The first two pieces were inspired by the Mayflower 400 commemorations. The first is an original composition by Callum, and the second, a remix of ‘Symphony 400’ by Keiran. Both pieces were played at the Mayflower Theatre in March.

Hunnyhill Band

The next piece comes from a new iPad band based at Hunnyhill. The group is a Friday afternoon activity in the ‘Rainbow Room’: a teaching space to meet the needs of children and young people with social emotional and mental health needs (SEMH).

In January, the band set themselves the target of getting 100 new fans before Easter. To meet this ambitious goal, they worked together to create a brand new piece of music together that they would play to the whole school in assembly.

Sadly, school was closed before they had a chance to play their music for their friends and classmates — but their recording is here for you all to listen to, and perhaps they can count you as a new fan?

The Synthesis Project has been funded by Youth Music.

Music in Schools, Music in the Community, EnsemblesMatt BrombleySynthesis
Musical learning from a distance — resources for pupils, teachers and parents

Southampton Music Hub is launching the first of a series of regular activity newsletters designed to support pupils, teachers and parents with a musical learning framework in the coming months.

This initial resource has a variety of activities for Key Stages 1–2 which are appropriate to complete either in school or at home. After Easter the hub will aim to provide two weekly newsletters created by the hub’s specialist curriculum team.

Each newsletter will follow a similar structure and include signposts to cross-curricular links. Activities will include guided listening; practical tasks; a research topic; digital and creative music making ideas; and music staves and notation worksheets.

The team would welcome feedback including ideas for genres, topics or types of activities pupils, parents and teachers would like to see included — get in touch and the team will do their best to take on board your suggestions.

Family Music, Music in Schools, Music in the CommunityMatt BrombleyCurriculum, Extra-Curricular Music
Symphony 400: The Voyage — an unexpected twist in a musical journey which began in the classroom, and led all the way to the Mayflower stage
Symphony 400: The Voyage — an unexpected twist in a musical journey which began in the classroom, and led all the way to the Mayflower stage

In September 2019, composer James Redwood visited four Southampton Primary Schools: collecting musical ideas from 100 school children, inspired by the Mayflower 400 story.

Now, those ideas have become a brand new piece of music: “Symphony 400: The Voyage” — debuted by 60 talented secondary and sixth form musicians at the Mayflower Theatre on Friday 6 March 2020

Watch the video of the story of “Symphony 400: The Voyage”.

Where Now? An Unexpected Twist

When the Symphony 400 journey began back in September, no one could have predicted the circumstances that would be to follow in March 2020. With social distancing and isolation set to be a part of life for the weeks, and possibly months, to come, there is a twist in the next stage of our journey.

One Start — Many Different Journeys

Southampton Music Hub is making all the music available — to anyone — for free — including…

  • PDF scores

  • Sibelius Files

  • MIDI Files and more

You can use these to…

  • Remix

  • Reimagine

  • Rearrange

  • Transform

  • Play

  • Perform and more

This can be done…

  • At home

  • At school

  • On video chat with friends or relatives

  • Using apps on your smartphone or tablet

  • Using apps on your PC or Mac

  • With an instrument

  • With your voice

  • Any way you can imagine — the possibilities are endless

Why not try…

  • Printing out the score, and chopping it up — move the pieces around and then stick them down again

  • Adding the MIDI parts to GarageBand or Logic and changing the instruments — explore the world of digital sound

  • Create loops — either by playing or recording — layer them up and remix the parts

If you have recordings, photos or scores you’d like to share, send us links on Twitter or via the contact page, and we’ll try to share some with everybody.

Where next? It’s up to you!

Where our journey goes next is in your hands. Symphony 400: The Voyage launched its journey in the classroom, and led us all the way to the Mayflower stage. Now, let many more journeys begin.

Ensembles, Family Music, Music in Schools, Music in the CommunityMatt BrombleySymphony 400, Mayflower 400
Five exciting ways to make music at home
Five exciting ways to make music at home
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Over the coming weeks, you may find yourself missing out on music lessons, or playing with your ensemble. Here are some things you could do instead.

  1. Perform at home

    Pick pieces of music you know. Try new pieces of music. Come up with an exciting programme of music to share with those around you. Practice hard. Then invite the people you live with to watch the show. Make tickets and a programme with fun facts about the music and your instrument. Don’t forget to invite your pets.

  2. Perform for older relatives with video chat

    We know many older people might be feeling lonely over the next few weeks or months. Why not perform a concert for your older relatives over Skype, or FaceTime, or Video Chat?

  3. Write a song

    Composing your own music is a great way to understand your feelings, particularly in difficult times. It can also be a great way to forget your worries for a while, and focus on something more positive. You could write music inspired by our recent Mayflower 400 project. You could be inspired by your favourite songwriters and composers. You could write parts for any instruments you play. You could write lyrics to sing or rap. Anything is possible when you’re writing your own songs.

  4. Download music apps and create music on your phone/tablet

    If you don’t have an instrument, or can’t play one, or just fancy trying something new, why not download free apps like GarageBand or Walk Band and make music on your smartphone or tablet? Why not get inspired with the free Synthesis eBook?

  5. Create and share playlists of music you like

    Listening to music is a great way to change the way you feel. You could make a playlist of happy songs to pick you up when you feel down. You could also playlist of sad songs that you can listen to when you just want to feel sad for a while, that’s ok too. You can then make a playlist of songs that inspire you to sing, dance and jump around when you’re feeling in more of a party mood. Share your playlists with your friends, or even make one together.

However you do it, remember, making music is great!

Family Music, Music in Schools, Music in the Community, EnsemblesMatt BrombleyInstrumental and Vocal Tuition, Training and Resources, Extra-Curricular Music
Southampton: A Musical Odyssey (in pictures)
Southampton: A Musical Odyssey (in pictures)

On Thursday 5 and Friday 6 March 2020, Mayflower Theatre hosted 1,000 young performers, brought together by Southampton Music Hub, to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the sailing of the Mayflower. The Mayflower’s pioneering voyage 400 years ago created connections that changed the world. In response, these two show stopping performances saw young people at the heart of the start of a year of cultural programming for the city.

Thursday 5 March — Photo Gallery

Friday 6 March 2020 — Photo Gallery

Ensembles, Music in Schools, Music in the CommunityMatt BrombleyMayflower 400, Symphony 400, Big Sing, Southampton Youth Orchestra (SYO), Southampton Youth Concert Sinfonia (SYCS), Southampton Wind Band (SWB), Pulse8, Southampton Youth Brass Band (SYBB), Brassroots, Fusion Brass
Mayflower Cruise Terminal hosts 1,000 performers ahead of two nights of music at Mayflower Theatre
Mayflower Cruise Terminal hosts 1,000 performers ahead of two nights of music at Mayflower Theatre

On Saturday 29 February 2020, Associated British Ports’ (ABP) Mayflower Cruise Terminal hosted a rehearsal for 1,000 performers ahead of two nights of music at Mayflower Theatre on Thursday 5 and Friday 6 March 2020.

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The two events will commemorate the 400th Anniversary of the sailing of the Mayflower: a pioneering voyage 400 years ago created connections that changed the world. In response, Southampton Music Hub, will use these two momentous evenings to celebrate the incredible power of music to take people and communities on life-changing journeys. 

Kath Page, Manager at Southampton Music Hub, says:
“Everybody is so excited to be part of these incredible musical celebrations. These two nights will be an opportunity for the whole community to come together and enjoy the power of music to connect people, to inspire people, and to help make Southampton an exciting city to live in.”

Both evenings will include performers from all across the city: including 800 young singers from city schools; 200 talented young musicians from community bands and orchestras; 80 young theatre performers; 50 community musicians and many more. With so many performers, finding rehearsal space is a huge challenge. But thanks to the kindness of Associated British Ports (ABP), they were all able to come together in the Mayflower cruise terminal for an epic rehearsal on Saturday 29 February 2020.

Michael Ockwell, Mayflower Theatre Chief Executive says:“We are delighted to be able to host these two concerts and to premiere songs from our Mayflower 400 musical commissions which will be performed in August 2020 at the theatre. It will be amazing to see all the talented young singers and musicians on our stage and we hope that they will have an inspiring experience performing their songs.”

Morning Rehearsal Gallery:

Afternoon Rehearsal Gallery:

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Ensembles, Family Music, Music in Schools, Music in the CommunityMatt BrombleyMayflower 400
Symphony 400: the primary school pupils who heard their musical ideas brought to life by an orchestra for the first time
Symphony 400: the primary school pupils who heard their musical ideas brought to life by an orchestra for the first time

On Thursday 27 February, 60 young musicians from across the city came together at Bitterne Park school for one big rehearsal ahead of an epic musical performance on Friday 6 March 2020 at Mayflower Theatre.

The rehearsal, organised as part of an inspirational music project from Southampton Music Hub and Mayflower Theatre, was the first — and only — time the performers will rehearse all together, the brand new piece of music which they will debut on the night.

“Symphony 400: The Journey”, from award-winning composer James Redwood, was inspired by the Mayflower’s pioneering voyage 400 years ago, which created connections that changed the world.

The piece of music started life as musical ideas from 100 primary school children, who joined the rehearsal to hear their ideas transformed and performed by the city’s most talented young musicians ahead of its debut on the Mayflower stage.

James Redwood, composer for the project, says:
“The primary school children were deeply engaged by the Mayflower 400 story, and the musical ideas they created are now taking an incredible journey of their own. I’m delighted to turn those ideas into a piece of music for some of the city’s most talented young musicians to perform, and even more thrilled to know that the composers of the original ideas will see their work performed on the city’s most famous stage.”

On the night, young musicians from Bitterne Park Secondary, Oasis Lordshill, Richard Taunton’s Sixth Form College and St Anne’s Catholic School will join a line up of 500 performers for a momentous evening to celebrate the incredible power of music to take people and communities on life-changing journeys.

Councillor Darren Paffey, Cabinet Member for Aspiration, Children and Lifelong Learning says:
“As we begin our commemorations of 400 years since the Mayflower set sail, I’m delighted that young musicians from across Southampton will have the opportunity to take part in A Musical Odyssey. I know from my own experience of learning and performing music when I was younger that it’s a brilliant way of opening up new experiences, ideas, and cultures, and really brings communities together. My congratulations to Southampton Music Hub for putting this event together and for putting the life-changing power of music into the hands of so many young people.”

Music in Schools, Music in the CommunityMatt BrombleyMayflower 400, Symphony 400
Southampton: A Musical Odyssey — One Week To Go

On Thursday 5 and Friday 6 March, Southampton Music Hub and Mayflower Theatre present Southampton: A Musical Odyssey — connecting children, schools and communities with the Mayflower 400 Commemorations taking place this year.

Music in the Community, Music in Schools, Ensembles, Family MusicMatt BrombleyMayflower 400
Southampton Music Hub in the news: Mayflower 400 and Synthesis

The new year has started with two news pieces for Southampton Music Hub:

Daily Echo highlights the Mayflower 400 Journey

The Daily Echo have written about the hub’s Mayflower 400 journey, with 1,000 residents taking part in workshops and events leading up to two epic celebration events at Mayflower Theatre on 5 and 6 March 2020.

Synthesis Project at the Music Mark Conference

Solent University have written about the Synthesis project session at November’s Music Mark conference.

Music in Schools, Music in the CommunityMatt BrombleyMayflower 400, Synthesis
End of year update: looking back on a decade of music-making for Southampton's young musicians
End of year update: looking back on a decade of music-making for Southampton's young musicians

This year, as we wrap up for a Christmas holiday that includes the ringing in of a new decade, Southampton Music Hub looks back on the past ten years of music-making, to see the impact the hub is having for children, young people, and their families across the city.

18,500+ First Access Musicians

Every year Southampton Music Hub gives children an inspirational start to learning a musical instrument in First Access. In the past ten years 18,500+ children have picked up an instrument for the first time in classrooms across the city.

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2,500+ Ensemble Members

Every year Southampton Music Hub gives young musicians the opportunity to perform and progress in a musical community of orchestras and bands. There are even a small handful of young musicians who, having started in 2009 or before, have been in an ensemble for over ten years!

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30,000+ Affordable Instruments, Saving £10m

Every year Southampton Music Hub provides free, or affordable, instrumental loans to young musicians, families and schools. In the past ten years, there have been over 30,000 instruments loaned out, saving schools and families, an estimated £10million. 

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Looking Ahead:

On Thursday 5 and Friday 6 March 2020, Southampton Music Hub presents two momentous evenings of musical odysseys. Hosted by Soweto Kinch, eache evening will feature musical performances from bands and orchestras of all different shapes and sizes from across the City of Southampton and celebrate the life-changing power of music, including the premiers of Mayflower 400 inspired projects Big Sing: The Journey and Symphony 400: The Voyage.

Tickets cost just £10.

Ensembles, Family Music, Music in Schools, Music in the CommunityMatt BrombleyMayflower 400, Instrumental and Vocal Tuition, First Access
Soton Voce singing around the city
Soton Voce singing around the city
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Southampton Music Hub’s community and family choir, Soton Voce, have been spreading festive cheer around the city carol singing and wassailing alongside Sea Shanty Choir The Salty Sea Dogs.

Soton Voce members began their singing tour by visiting Southampton General Hospital and sang in the main foyer raising money for the Southampton Hospital Charity whilst entertaining patients, visitors and employees. The choirs then moved on to the German Market in the city centre and sang to large crowds of shoppers on what looked like one of the busiest shopping days of the year. A final group went on to take part in Carols on the Square outside St Michael the Archangel on Bugle Street.

Soton Voce presented an eclectic programme spanning medieval rounds, traditional carols and modern acapella classics from The Fleet Foxes and Pentatonix. The Salty Sea Dogs entertained with their always raucous sea shanties in their own inimitable style, including a real dog and several members of the public who joined in with them at the German Market!

Nia Collins, Musical Director of Soton Voce, says:
“It was fantastic to share all the hard work that our new choir has put in this term and bring community music making to other areas of the city and also to be able to share that with The Salty Sea Dogs as well as all our member’s friends and families. We’re looking forward to continuing to recruit new members in 2020 and watching the choir grow and develop”

Soton Voce choir are still recruiting new members so if you would like to come and try it out, rehearsals start again on Tuesday 14th January 2020 from 11.30am-12.30pm at St Michael the Archangel off Bugle Street.



Ensembles, Music in Schools, Family Music, Music in the CommunityMatt BrombleySoton Voce
Get in the festive spirit with Christmas concerts this December
Get in the festive spirit with Christmas concerts this December

Sunday 8 December welcomes the start of Christmas concert season at Southampton Music Hub as three brass bands come together at Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church for their annual Christmas concert.

The Christmas programme continues with an Airplay concert on Thursday 12 December and a chance to rock around the Christmas tree on Friday 13 December with Groove Merchant, Groove Foundation and Groove Syndicate.

The Christmas concert season rounds off on Sunday 15 December with a family-friendly concert from Southampton Youth Concert Sinfonia (SYCS), where they will bring an exciting programme of musical entertainment to Turner Sims Southampton, including Christmas at the Movies, Music from Frozen, and range of Christmas Carols.

Ensembles, Family Music, Music in Schools, Music in the CommunityMatt BrombleySouthampton Youth Concert Sinfonia (SYCS), Brassroots, Fusion Brass, Southampton Youth Brass Band (SYBB), Groove Merchant, Groove Foundation, Groove Syndicate, Airplay
London Sinfonietta inspire Southampton School Children
London Sinfonietta inspire Southampton School Children

London Sinfonietta, in collaboration with Turner Sims and Southampton Music Hub took hundreds of children on a journey into the world of minimalism. An interactive schools concert gave children the opportunity to see music played on toy pianos and microphones. The children composed music for the professional musicians to play and were given insight into the sounds, ideas and concepts that create this iconic style of music.

This was followed by a performance of Terry Rileys 'In C' by members of several Southampton Music Hub ensembles following a series of workshops and rehearsals with London Sinfonietta Musicians.

The day culminated with a community concert that introduced the audience to the world of minimalism

Kevin Appleby, Manager of Turner Sims, says:
"It's always special to see the artists of tomorrow performing on the Turner Sims stage. we have enjoyed a fantastic day of collaboration, inspiration and aspiration - bringing minimalism to life."

Music in Schools, Music in the Community, EnsemblesMatt BrombleyHub Partners
A new half term starts with an orchestral adventure for 1,000 younger school children
A new half term starts with an orchestral adventure for 1,000 younger school children

On Monday 4 November, around 1,000 pupils from across the city of Southampton and the Isle of Wight have enjoyed “An Audience With SYCS”, during two fun filled interactive performances, at Central Hall. 

Pupils from Year R, Year 1 and Year 2 were inspired by the talented young musicians of Southampton Youth Concert Sinfonia (SYCS) who played well-known tunes from films and musicals as well as classical favourites. 

From Tocatta to Toothless the Dragon, pupils learned about different instruments in the orchestra and their families, swing beats, repeating ostinato patterns and other elements of music through interactive musical activities and guided listening.

Kath Page, Manager for Southampton and Isle of Wight Music Hubs, and presenter for the day, said:
“It was wonderful to see the children so enthused and inspired by the music they heard and took part in today and in particular that the music was played so brilliantly by young musicians from our own ensembles. We hope that many of those pupils will eventually be musicians playing with our ensembles in the future”

Music in Schools, EnsemblesMatt BrombleySouthampton Youth Concert Sinfonia (SYCS), Stadium Tour
Tickets go on sale for 'Southampton: A Musical Odyssey'
Tickets go on sale for 'Southampton: A Musical Odyssey'

Tickets are now on sale for 'Southampton: A Musical Odyssey' — presented by Southampton Music Hub in partnership with Mayflower Theatre.

On Thursday 5 and Friday 6 March 2020, the whole family can set sail for an epic evening of entertainment as over 600 young musicians from across Southampton commemorate the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower Ship: a pioneering journey which created connections that changed the world.

Led by Southampton Music Hub, in collaboration with Mayflower Theatre, and hosted by Soweto Kinch, the evening will feature musical performances from bands and orchestras of all different shapes and sizes from across the City of Southampton and celebrate the life-changing power of music, including, the premiers of Mayflower 400 inspired projects Big Sing: The Journey and Symphony 400: The Voyage. 

Tickets cost just £10 and are available from the Mayflower Theatre Box Office.

Music in Schools, Music in the Community, Family Music, EnsemblesMatt BrombleyMayflower 400, The Voyage, Symphony 400, The Journey, Big Sing, Everybody Sing, Stadium Tour
Four Southampton primary schools launch the start of an exciting musical voyage
Four Southampton primary schools launch the start of an exciting musical voyage

Last week award-winning composer James Redwood visited four Southampton primary schools to launch the start of an exciting musical voyage: an exciting musical journey which commemorates the sailing of the Mayflower 400 years ago.

Working with over 100 school children from Kanes Hill Primary, Swaythling Junior, Fairisle Junior and Foundry Lane Primary schools, James collected musical ideas inspired by the Mayflower’s journey across the Atlantic Ocean 400 years ago. They came up with words, sentences, rhythms, melodies and sounds using their bodies, voices and instruments.

What happens next?

Over the next two month, James will turn the ideas created in the workshops in to a brand new piece of music — Symphony 400: The Voyage — which will be performed by older, talented young musicians from across the city at the Mayflower Theatre in March.

The musical ideas will also be used by other musicians and producers across the city to create other brand new pieces of music to debut at the Mayflower in March.

Keep up with The Voyage

Over the six month Southampton Music Hub will track the progress of this exciting musical voyage: from the classroom, across the city, and culminating with two momentous performances at the Mayflower Theatre on 5-6 March 2020 where the children who’s ideas started this epic journey will hear the final piece for the very first time.

Music in SchoolsMatt BrombleyMayflower 400, Symphony 400, The Voyage
Southampton Music Trust’s crowdfunding campaign to give hundreds of Southampton’s young musicians a life-changing experience!
Southampton Music Trust’s crowdfunding campaign to give hundreds of Southampton’s young musicians a life-changing experience!

As Southampton commemorates 400 years since the Mayflower’s world-changing journey, Southampton Music Trust will support Southampton Music Hub to take hundreds of children learning a musical instrument for the first time on a life-changing musical journey. 

In July, young musicians from across the city's primary schools will blast onto the Central Hall stage to create brand new music in The Big Mayflower Jam! The Jam will tell the stories of the composers’ own journeys, exploring the ideas of belonging to a community and building a new future together.

This amazing first experience of performing on stage will be made even more special as the young people will be playing alongside professional musicians from the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO)! The BSO will lead hundreds of young musicians as they play, listen, improvise, compose, and perform together, inspire each other’s musicianship, and build new connections and friends across the city.

But to give the city’s young people this amazing experience, Southampton Music Trust need your help. They want to make sure we can give life-changing music to children across the city, without it requiring any one person to give a life-changing amount of money. So, in partnership with Arts Council England and Spacehive’s Our Music Crowd project, they have launched a special crowdfunding campaign to harness the power of our community and bring together lots of small gifts to reach our life-changing target. 

The Big Mayflower Jam will give hundreds of young musicians a hugely inspirational musical experience, showcase their music, and demonstrate its importance: both to them as young people and to the city. Group music making is at the core of the project – activity proven to boost social bonding by helping participants identify collective identities and experiences, and as a result feel accepted. The Big Mayflower Jam will affirm the value of young musicians’ creative ambitions, improve their social and emotional stability, and help bring our communities together.

Please help make your community a better place and give our young people this amazing experience by making your donation at www.spacehive.com/bigmayflowerjam. Sharing is caring – if you share that you have supported this project on your own social media pages, it can help generate an average of £5 more in donations!

Music in the Community, Music in Schools, EnsemblesMatt BrombleyMayflower 400, Southampton Music Trust, Hub Partners