News and Events

Friday afternoon music – a free initiative for all Leeds schools

Fully funded by Leeds Music Education Partnership, all schools in Leeds currently have access to a wide range of music videos to enhance and enrich their music curriculum.

A selection of performance videos showcase the ‘Live music in Schools’ ensembles, whilst our Music Nugget videos are a selection of fun, bite-sized activities for children to join in with, created by our experienced Extended Learning team. A different set of videos are released each Friday afternoon, and the links are made available for you to watch after this time at your own convenience.

For more information about this initiative, please email sarah.truscott@leeds.gov.uk

Places Available at Girls-Only DJ Club

Free and subsidised places are available at DJ School UK, for girls age 9 and up who attend Leeds Schools.

With support from Leeds Music Education Partnership, these sessions are held weekly on Tuesdays in school term time from 5-6pm. They are free to girls entitled to free school meals or pupil premium and attend a Leeds School, everyone else must pay £10 per term.

The group is a relaxed social space where girls and young women share DJ Skills and music.

Click here for more information, alternatively please contact Jim Reiss (jim@djschooluk.org.uk) or call 07949379442 for queries.

Book Now for Music Connect CPD Opportunities 19-20

Calling all classroom teachers and music specialists!

Whether you are looking to share best practice with others, learn more about a specific aspect of music or just need a bit of help developing your music curriculum, we will have a workshop, event or training session for you.

Click here to find out about upcoming events.

Click here for our 2019-20 brochure for course and booking information. The 2020-21 brochure is coming soon!

For more information on how you, or your school, can benefit from our Music Connect programme, please contact Paula.Brookes@leeds.gov.uk.

Singing Games and Rhymes for All – Workshop with Lucinda Geoghegan and YAMSEN

Come along and join us on 29th June, 10.30-3.30 at Meanwood Community Centre. This will be a practical session full of ideas to take away and use with your children. 

The session will consist of Singing Games and Rhymes and how they can be used as a springboard to learning – both holistic development and musical learning. The games will be appropriate for a range of ages and are suitable for all children.

The session will be based on the philosophical ideas of the Hungarian composer, Zoltán Kodály who believed that music education was the right of every child and that musical training should begin with singing. 

For more information and to book, please click here to see the flyer and application form.

In-school Key Stage 1 Performance Available to Book Now!

Leeds International Piano Competition, supported by the Leeds Music Education Partnership and Arts Council England, is offering Leeds schools the chance to book a new in-school musical and theatrical experience for Key Stage 1 pupils. Through this opportunity, which is available between September and November, pupils will learn about the core elements of music, discover the piano in a playful and enjoyable way and take part in interactive workshops. All for just £150! For more information, and to book, contact Jenny Rogers at jenny.rogers@leedspiano.com.

Applications now open for the 2019 Opera North Orchestra Academy

Applications are now open for the 2019 Opera North Orchestra Academy, a unique summer residential opportunity for outstanding young musicians age 14–19 Grade 7+ from across the North of England and beyond.

Held at the University of Leeds, participants have the unique opportunity to work directly with the musicians of the Orchestra of Opera North in side by side rehearsal, sectional coaching sessions and rehearse under the guidance of an internationally renowned conductor.  Auditions will be held at Opera North in Leeds on Saturday 27 of April, with applications closing March 25. All information can be found at: https://www.operanorth.co.uk/whats-on/opera-north-orchestra-academy/

Exciting opportunity to perform at Leeds Town Hall

Applications are now open for this year’s Leeds Schools’ Music Association (LSMA) Concert taking place on 23rd May 2019 at Leeds Town Hall. This is an exciting opportunity for pupils to play in an ensemble and is open to children in year 5 and 6 who are learning instruments at home or in schools/music centres across Leeds. There are three different groups:

String Group – for children learning violin, viola, cello or double bass.  All standards/abilities welcome.

Wind Band – for children learning woodwind, brass and percussion instruments. Standard is approx. grade 1 although easy parts are available for trombone, tuba, bassoon and oboe.

Guitar Group – All standards/abilities welcome

For information about how to get involved, please email LSMA.artforms@leeds.gov.uk

Musicians for Life: Free Talk and Workshop for your School

Do you want something to inspire the talented young musicians in your school to continue with their music making?

Leeds College of Music and the University of Leeds, in partnership with Leeds Music Education Partnership, are launching a new programme called Musicians for Life. The programme is introduced by a talk and workshop in your school, with input from students who are currently studying music at university or conservatoire.

For those who then want to know more, there are further workshops between March and July at Leeds College of Music and the University of Leeds.

Please encourage your students, and their parents, to take advantage of this brilliant offer. It’s a great way to let them know about the wide range of higher education music courses available, how studying music can be a route into a whole host of careers, and how you can get onto a course even if you don’t have GCSE or A Level Music.

Students can book places on as many of the workshops as they want….they don’t have to sign up for all of them, and it’s all FREE. To find out more and book a place for your school visit https://www.lcm.ac.uk/courses/junior-lcom/musicians-for-life/

Singers Wanted to Join Award-Winning Opera Company

Leeds Youth Opera are looking for singers aged 12+ to perform in their upcoming production of Die Fledermaus by Johan Strauss.

Informal auditions for this fun-packed operetta will take place in mid-February and the production will be staged at the Carriageworks Theatre in Leeds in early July 2019.

Email: leedsyouthopera_group.outlook.com for more details.

Sign up for the Big Hoo-Ha’s Rock School

LMEP partner, the Big Hoo-Ha Co. will be running their popular Rock School from Saturday 19th January at The Woolpack Studios in Otley. The Rock School is for anyone aged 12-18. Any instrument can be played and all singers are welcome. Contact the Big Hoo-Ha to book your place.

All welcome at the MAP Charity Community Day

All are welcome to attend the MAP Charity Community Day, a FREE festive celebration of their students’ work and a showcase of their plans, on 1st December from 1:30 – 7:30pm at Leeds Corn Exchange. There’ll be artworks and visuals from their students and alumni, a merchandise stall, DJ sets, food, drinks and much more! It promises to be an unforgettable afternoon of inspiration, art, music and togetherness. Please RSVP if you’d like to attend via https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/map-charity-community-day-tickets-52060443187

Join DJ School UK’s Three Year Celebrations

Join DJ School UK on 8th December as they celebrate the best talent from DJSchoolUK.org.uk over the last 3 years. The event – which features the best of their students, ex-students and tutors – takes place at The Works Skatepark. There’ll be free DJ and breakdance workshops 12.30-2pm and much more. It promises to be quite a day! More information at: https://djschooluk.org.uk/event/dj-school-uk-3-year-round-up/

Free Singing Workshop for Vocal Teachers

Join the Leeds College of Music on Saturday 24 November, 2-3.30pm, for a free workshop for vocal teachers led by Kirstie Smith. As part of the workshop you will be able to find out more about the Rock School Ltd graded exams syllabus for singers and how this can support your teaching practice. Kirstie is vocal specialist, professional musician and experienced examiner with a wealth of experience to share. Book your place by 16th November at https://leedscollegeofmusic.wufoo.com/forms/mdaew3d0fnofgb/

Join SAA-UK for a double bill of Bharatanatyam dance

SAA-UK is presenting a double bill of Bharatanatyam dance on 16th November at Seven Arts Leeds in Chapel Allerton. The two dance pieces will be exploring the artform’s classical roots in ancient India and its more contemporary narrative in the UK. For more information, visit http://saa-uk.org/whatson/dance_revival-16-11-2018

Plug In and Play – Unique Open Mic for Under 18s

Under-18s are invited to perform at a new series of free Open Mic sessions being held at the Woolpack Music Studio in Otley. Any young person under 18 can play (on any instrument), or sing, and all necessary equipment is provided. Family members are very welcome to join the audience.

The two sessions this term are: Sunday 18th November 3pm-5pm and Sunday 9th December 12.30pm-2.30pm

Free lunchtime concert showcasing the art of Gayaki

SAA-UK is staging a free lunchtime concert at Leeds College of Music on 5th December, as part of the Leeds International Concert Season. The concert will feature maestro of violin Sri Kamalbir Singh and percussionist John Ball on tabla and will showcase the art of Gayaki, a music style designed to emulate the human voice through a masterful playing technique. For more information, visit http://saa-uk.org/whatson/gayaki_LICS-05-12-2018 

Exciting new project from SAA-UK

On 8^th November SAA-UK will present their new musical youth project, SCORE IT! at the Leeds College of Music. 17 young talented musicians will bridge the gap between historical tradition of Indian classical music and Hollywood’s most famous film scores during this free event. For more information, visit http://saa-uk.org/whatson/score_it_debut-08-11-2018

Calling all Leeds based producers and music makers!

MAP’s Leeds Producer Forum – a community of Leeds based producers and music makers interested in sharing ideas and processes with like-minded artists – will be taking place on 9th November at Hope House Gallery. MAP Charity Community Day will be running at Leeds Corn Exchange on 1st December.

Ten Leeds’ Schools Given LMEP Music Champion Status

The following schools have been given Music Champion status by LMEP in recognition of their ongoing commitment to music education and awarded with a certificate, logos, a banner, and a Music Mark membership: Woodkirk Academy; Roundhay All Through School; Co-Operative Academy Priesthorpe; Pool-in-Whafedale C.of E. Primary School; Primrose Lane Primary School; Five Lanes Primary School; Alwoodley Primary School; Carr Manor Primary School; Westerton Primary Academy; Broomfield South SILC.

Free Creative Event in Batley this Half-Term

Young people can discover the secret histories of Kirklees’ Mills this half-term at Bagshaw Museum, Batley. With the support of amazing professional artists, 11-18s can create their very own performance including music, dance and poetry and bring it to life on stage at the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival. All abilities are welcome at this free event taking place on 31st October- 2nd November (10.00am-3.30pm).