Artforms Leeds

North Leeds Music Centre 60th Anniversary Concert
2026-03-28 | North Leeds Music Centre, Guiseley Music Centre

Leeds Song Festival Pop-ups
2026-03-28 11:00 - 12:00 (Europe/London) | North Leeds Music centre, Allerton C of E Primary School Lingfield Approach Alwoodley, Leeds, LS17 7HL, United Kingdom
Before the Leeds Song Festival (11–18 April 2026), get ahead of the music with our pop up recital tour. We’re hitting spots across Leeds with short, informal 30 minute performances – taking song where you least expect it. Take a break from your day and catch Leeds Song popping up around the region.
Lizzie Betts
Estrada – Soprano
Jong Sun Woo – Piano
11am – North Leeds Music Centre
Learn more and book tickets for the 2026 Festival via www.leedssong.com
@LeedsSong (IG and Facebook) / @Leeds_Song (X)

City of Leeds Youth Wind Orchestra concert
2026-03-28 19:00 - 21:00 | St Matthew’s Church, Leeds, Leeds, LS7 3QF, United Kingdom
£7 adult (including booking fee). U18s free.
Click here to purchase your tickets

If you have trouble with the above ticket link please try the one below.
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/artforms-music-service/city-of-leeds-youth-wind-orchestra-concert-28-march-2026/2026-03-28/19:00/t-njkorpa

City of Leeds Youth Music Prom
2026-03-31 13:00 - 14:00 | Pudsey Civic Hall, Dawson's Corner, Pudsey, Leeds, LS28 5TA, United Kingdom
£3 per child. Free for staff.
Click here to purchase your tickets
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/artforms-music-service/city-of-leeds-youth-music-prom-31-march-2026/2026-03-31/13:00/t-ejkanpz

Horsforth Music Centre A Capella Group
2026-04-19 | Hall Park, Hall Ln, Horsforth,, Leeds, LS18 5JE
19th April: Horsforth Music Centre A Capella group at Horsforth Cherry Blossom Festival, Hall Park

Centre-wide workshop and performance (at HMC)
2026-04-25 08:30 - 14:00 | Horsforth Music Centre, Horsforth School, Lee Lane East Horsforth, Leeds, LS18 5RF, United Kingdom

Horsforth Music Centre Adult String Ensemble
2026-04-26
26th April: HMC Adult String Ensemble at Headingley Community Orchard Blossom Celebration

Big Samba Teacher Workshop
2026-04-27 16:00 - 17:30 | Pudsey Civic Hall, Dawson's Corner, Pudsey, Leeds, LS28 5TA, United Kingdom
Monday 27th April from 4:00-5:30, at Pudsey Civic Hall.
This is for schools who have successfully signed up to the Big Samba event. The workshop, led by ArtForms, will cover what is taught to the children participating and teachers will collect the samba kits to take back to school.
Big Samba a CPD and Performance Event from Music Connect led by ArtForms.
On Friday 10th July, Music Connect led by ArtForms will host our 11h annual Big Samba event for upper key stage 2 children at Pudsey Civic Hall. This event is partially funded by ArtForms as part of the West Yorkshire Music Hub. There will now be a charge of £2 per child to take part.
Teachers from participating schools will attend a twilight Samba workshop at Pudsey Civic Hall on Monday 27th April – 4:00-5:30. For the first time this session will be led by ArtForms staff featuring Will Fletcher and Jim Gaylard from the Percussion team alongside Sam Mercer and Claire Rivers who lead Music Connect. They will teach teachers how to use the instruments and how to play and compose Samba grooves. At this session staff also collect the Samba Kits, provided by ArtForms specifically for the project, to take back to their schools.
For those of you who don’t know, Samba is a form of Music for untuned percussion that originates from Brazil. Like Brazilian football, Samba Music has a degree of flare and joy that encourages movement and dance, particularly when you are playing it.
The project is a wonderful way of encouraging and inspiring class teachers, to learn new skills and teach a completely new style of Music. The grooves that staff learn at Pudsey start at a basic level but progress to a good level of challenge for both staff and the children who they will be teaching. This is brilliantly supported by a full set of YouTube videos produced by our partners, Louder Than Life, with each part clearly broken down, so that staff can use them for reference or to support their teaching.
Our evaluations show that 100% of the staff who took part have developed new Music teaching skills and feel that their confidence to teach Music has improved as a result of this project. When asked went well here’s what they had to say –
‘They loved it! Best event ever was pupil voice.’ Caroline Pattenden – Alwoodley Primary
‘The children were buzzing when they returned to school and school leaders invited them to perform in an impromtu assembly!’ Marion Barnes – Shakespeare Primary
Youtube videos really helpful – such high quality. Not onerous. We have high level of SEN (over 50%) and it all still felt really accessible and inclusive. Friendly atmosphere etc. Sarah Triner – Bankside Primary

Open Rehearsals
2026-04-28 17:15 - 18:45 | Pudsey Civic Hall, Dawson's Corner, Pudsey, Leeds, LS28 5TA, United Kingdom
Why not come along and meet the Members and Conductors at our Open Rehearsals Tuesday 28th April 2026 for the following groups listed below.
Leeds Youth Jazz Rock Orchestra (LYJRO) between 5.00pm and 7.00pm
Leeds Schools Wind Orchestra (LSWO) between 5.15pm and 6.45pm
Please see the desired ages and grades by clicking the links above.
Bring your instruments if you like and join in the rehearsals.
Please see our Friday Open Rehearsals groups by clicking here.
To confirm your place at the Open Rehearsals please email us at educ.artforms@leeds.gov.uk

Open rehearsals
2026-05-01 17:00 - 20:45 | Pudsey Civic Hall, Dawson's Corner, Pudsey, Leeds, LS28 5TA, United Kingdom
You are warmly invited to attend our Open Rehearsals on Friday 1st May 2026, where you can meet the Members and Conductors of the ensembles listed below.

Roots Alive, between 5.00pm and 6.30pm
Leeds Schools Brass Ensemble, between 5.15pm and 6.15pm
Leeds Schools String Orchestra, between 6.30pm and 8.00pm
City of Leeds Youth Training Orchestra, between 6.45pm and 8.45pm

Please refer to the age and grade requirements via the links provided above.
Students are welcome to bring their instruments and participate in the rehearsals.
Please see our Tuesday Open Rehearsal groups by clicking here.
To confirm your attendance, please email: educ.artforms@leeds.gov.uk

Chestra Trio at Horsforth Music Centre
2026-05-09 10:00 - 11:00 | Horsforth Music Centre, Horsforth School, Lee Lane East Horsforth, Leeds, LS18 5RF, United Kingdom
Caroline, Del and Jane are professional musicians and teachers who enjoy sharing their musical enthusiasm with children!
Witness their enthusiasm at the ArtForms North Leeds Music Centre as they play many instruments including harp, piano, violin, viola, flute, piccolo, clarinet, saxophones, recorders, guitar and mandolin. Their sessions go beyond music and encompass storytelling, language, cultural and social development, design and other expressive arts, physical education, history and science.
This is a pay-as-you-feel event, with a suggested donation of £2.50 per person.

If the ticket shop above isn’t working, get your tickets by clicking the link below.
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Primary Music Leaders Conference
2026-05-15 08:30 - 15:30
Session detail
Date: 15th May 2026
Day: Friday
Time: 08:30 – 15:30
Venue: Pudsey Civic Hall
Course code: PMLN3
For more information and to sign up for this event, go to https://www.leedsforlearning.co.uk/Event/277978

City of Leeds Youth Orchestra and City of Leeds Youth Wind Orchestra auditions
2026-06-06 09:00 - 17:00 | Music House

City of Leeds Youth Orchestra and City of Leeds Youth Wind Orchestra auditions
2026-06-07 09:00 - 17:00 | Music House
Details TBC

City of Leeds Youth Training Orchestra collaboration concert with Horsforth First Orchestra
2026-06-13 | Horsforth Music Centre, Horsforth School, Lee Lane East Horsforth, Leeds, LS18 5RF, United Kingdom

The Primary Big Choir Sing 2026
2026-06-19
This year’s Big Sing will be a choir thing! We are inviting all primary school KS2 choirs (Y3-6 inclusive) to take part. Choirs will be required to rehearse a variety of songs in their school choir practices, ready to sing together as one big choir, accompanied by a live band, on Friday 19th June at Pudsey Civic Hall. Schools without an existing choir are very welcome to form one specifically for the event. Supporting video clips for each song will be provided so that schools can rehearse the songs, independently, ready for the big day.
One of the songs we are excited to include in the event is ‘The Future’s in our Hands’, the hugely popular anthem from our 2023 Singing Challenge that brought the house down as the finale in our first Leeds Arena concert. Video footage from our Primary Big Choir Sing will be included in an ArtForms Leeds 400 video, to be released later in the year.
The event is subsidised by ArtForms as part of the West Yorkshire Music Hub.  There is now a nominal charge to Leeds schools, depending on numbers attending the event. The cost to schools will be as follows –
£30 for up to 15 singers
£50 for up to 30 singers
£65 for up to 45 singers
£80 for up to 60 singers
What can you expect from us before the day?

Resource materials (songs/rehearsal tracks and lyrics) for you to use to practise the songs with your choir at school, ready for the Big Choir Sing

A video resource, where we will teach the songs like a rehearsal, for those choir leaders who may need more support

What will happen on the day?

The event will be led by Claire Rivers

The songs will be accompanied by our house band

Extra material will be taught, in addition to the songs we share before the event.

How to book
All schools will be sent an email invitation to sign up via Leeds for Learning in the final week of the spring term. 5/2026-06-19/09:45/t-
Bookings will open at 9am on Wednesday 1st April. Follow the link below to book your tickets:

Morning session: 9:45-11:15

Afternoon session: 13:00-14:30

If you are music lead and do not receive our emails, please let us know at educ.artforms@leeds.gov.uk and we will add you to our mailing list. Also, to automatically receive the Primary Music Newsletter by email, please ask your business manager to tick “Music Leader” in the roles section of your Leeds for Learning user account.
Please get in touch if you have any further questions about this event: claire.rivers@leeds.gov.uk

North Leeds Music Centre Summer Festival
2026-06-20 | North Leeds Music Centre, Guiseley Music Centre

Music Subject Leader Development Conference 2
2026-06-26 08:45 - 15:00
Date: 26th June 2026
Day: Friday
Time: 8.45am-3.00pm
Venue: TBC
Course Code: –

City of Leeds Youth Wind Orchestra concert
2026-06-27 | York St. John University Creative Arts Auditorium
£7 adult (including booking fee).
U18s free

Alternatively, click here to purchase your tickets
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/artforms-music-service/city-of-leeds-youth-wind-orchestra-concert-27-june-2026/2026-06-27/19:00/t-ldknpqj

Secondary Schools Concert
2026-06-29 19:00 - 21:00 | Bishop young CofE Academy, Bishops Way, Leeds, LS14 6NU
The Schools Orchestra Concert with the Youth Orchestra will take place on Monday 29th June 2026 at 7pm at Bishop Young Academy.
The following ticket prices apply:-
£30 for up to 15 pupils
£50 for up to 30 pupils
£65 for up to 45 pupils
£80 for up to 60 pupils
£100 for up to 90 pupils
Tickets can be purchased at the below link
https://www.ticketsource.com/artforms-music-service/schools-orchestra-concert-monday-29th-june-at-7-00pm/2026-06-29/19:00/t-lddryvq

Wetherby EPOSS Ensemble Day
2026-07-03 09:30 - 15:00 | Wetherby High School, Hallfield Lane, Wetherby, LS22 6JS, United Kingdom

Adult Orchestra Workshop
2026-07-04 10:00 - 16:00 | Horsforth Music Centre, Horsforth School, Lee Lane East Horsforth, Leeds, LS18 5RF, United Kingdom
Adult orchestra workshop, at St Margaret’s Church 10am-4pm.

City of Leeds Youth Orchestra Pre-tour concert
2026-07-04 19:00 - 21:00 | Selby Abbey, The Crescent, Selby, YO8 4PU, United Kingdom
£7 adult (including booking fee).
U18s free.

Alternatively, click here to purchase your tickets
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/artforms-music-service/city-of-leeds-youth-orchestra-pre-tour-concert-4-july-2026/2026-07-04/19:00/t-qmvjork

Orchestra Concert for Secondary Schools
2026-07-06
Details to be confirmed.

Live at The Wardrobe
2026-07-09
On Thursday 9 July 2026, the annual ‘Live at The Wardrobe’ event will once again take place. Rehearsals and sound checks will begin at lunchtime, followed by a concert in the evening, beginning at 7.00pm. The event is a fantastic opportunity for small ensembles of any musical genre to perform at an exciting venue, following an afternoon experiencing professional preparation and sound checks with ‘The Wardrobe’ team. Students will also be offered the opportunity to visit Leeds Conservatoire, making the whole experience something that our young people will remember for many years to come!

Following the 2025 event, teacher feedback included “Great experience of performing in a professional music venue” and a student stated “We were buzzing after the event – having a large audience clapping for us was amazing.”
This year’s event will take place on the 09/07/26, so watch out for further details or contact jane.roe@leeds.gov.uk.

Primary Big Samba Performance
2026-07-10 09:00 - 15:00
Big Samba a CPD and Performance Event from Music Connect led by ArtForms.
On Friday 10th July, Music Connect led by ArtForms will host our 11h annual Big Samba event for upper key stage 2 children at Pudsey Civic Hall. This event is partially funded by ArtForms as part of the West Yorkshire Music Hub. There will now be a charge of £2 per child to take part.
Teachers from participating schools will attend a twilight Samba workshop at Pudsey Civic Hall on Monday 27th April – 4:00-5:30. For the first time this session will be led by ArtForms staff featuring Will Fletcher and Jim Gaylard from the Percussion team alongside Sam Mercer and Claire Rivers who lead Music Connect. They will teach teachers how to use the instruments and how to play and compose Samba grooves. At this session staff also collect the Samba Kits, provided by ArtForms specifically for the project, to take back to their schools.
For those of you who don’t know, Samba is a form of Music for untuned percussion that originates from Brazil. Like Brazilian football, Samba Music has a degree of flare and joy that encourages movement and dance, particularly when you are playing it.
The project is a wonderful way of encouraging and inspiring class teachers, to learn new skills and teach a completely new style of Music. The grooves that staff learn at Pudsey start at a basic level but progress to a good level of challenge for both staff and the children who they will be teaching. This is brilliantly supported by a full set of YouTube videos produced by our partners, Louder Than Life, with each part clearly broken down, so that staff can use them for reference or to support their teaching.
Our evaluations show that 100% of the staff who took part have developed new Music teaching skills and feel that their confidence to teach Music has improved as a result of this project. When asked went well here’s what they had to say –
‘They loved it! Best event ever was pupil voice.’ Caroline Pattenden – Alwoodley Primary
‘The children were buzzing when they returned to school and school leaders invited them to perform in an impromtu assembly!’ Marion Barnes – Shakespeare Primary
Youtube videos really helpful – such high quality. Not onerous. We have high level of SEN (over 50%) and it all still felt really accessible and inclusive. Friendly atmosphere etc. Sarah Triner – Bankside Primary

Kirkstall Festival
2026-07-11 | Kirkstall Abbey, Abbey Rd, Kirkstall, Leeds, LS5 3EH
CLYTO, Roots Alive and LYJRO

City of Leeds Youth Orchestra Tour 2026 Zaragoza
2026-07-14 - 2026-07-21
More information TBC
