Session details

Date: 20th October 2025

Day: Monday

Time: 16:00 – 17:15

Venue: Microsoft Teams

Course Code: PMLN1

For more information and to sign up for this event, go to https://www.leedsforlearning.co.uk/Event/277897

Session details

Date: 6th October 2025

Day: Monday

Time: 16:00 – 17:15

Venue: Microsoft Teams

To book your place, please follow the link below:
https://www.leedsforlearning.co.uk/Event/277890

This year’s concert will be held on the 1^st July, and marks a triumphant comeback for the bi-annual event, which has become a cherished highlight in Leeds’ cultural calendar. Designed to showcase the talent and hard work of children from both primary and secondary schools, the evening will be a true testament to the power of music in bringing people together. You can see the highlights to the 2023 concert here.

A Stage for Young Talent

The concert offers pupils a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform on the iconic Leeds Arena stage. From choral pieces and orchestral arrangements to energetic instrumental ensembles, the programme will highlight the diversity and creativity of music education in Leeds.

Over 80 Schools United by Music

With participation from more than 80 schools, the concert is a unique demonstration of unity and collaboration. A teacher involved in the previous concert shared: “This concert is about so much more than just the music. It’s about confidence, teamwork, and creating memories that these children will carry with them for a lifetime. Seeing them perform at such a prestigious venue is nothing short of magical.”

Community at its Heart

The Celebration Concert isn’t just about the performers – it’s also a chance for families, friends, and the wider Leeds community to come together and support young people. The City of Leeds Youth music groups will be returning along with ArtForms Music Centres.

Sarah Crowley, event coordinator for ArtForms said “We are thrilled to bring the Celebration Concert back to the Leeds Arena, and this year’s event is bigger than ever. Music has an incredible ability to bring people together, and we’re so proud to see how this concert reflects the spirit and talent of our city’s young people.”

Tickets for the event are expected to sell quickly, so be sure to secure yours when they come on sale soon via the ArtForms website and Leeds arena website, to witness this unforgettable celebration of music, community, and the next generation of talent.

If you are interested in sponsoring this event, please contact wymh.artforms@leeds.gov.uk.

The City of Leeds Youth Orchestra are putting out a second call for the following instruments:

• Viola
• Trombone
• Percussion
• Clarinet

Auditions for these instruments will take place on Friday 20^th September at Pudsey Civic Hall. Auditionees will be asked to play two contrasting pieces of at least a Grade 6 standard and an orchestral excerpt (which will be sent out two weeks before). There is no accompanist available on this date, so all pieces will be unaccompanied.

If you play any of the instruments above and would like to audition for CLYO, please complete this google form – https://forms.gle/2t2nW19SSRnhWX5C9

The deadline is Friday 30^th August 2024.

The City of Leeds Youth Orchestra is not looking for applications for instruments other than those listed at this time.

Please contact educ.artforms@leeds.gov.uk if you have any questions.

Ukulele Workshops

Thursday 25th July, 10.30am – 11.30am
Farsley Community Hub and Library, LS28 5DH

Thursday 25th July, 1.30pm – 2.30pm
Otley Community Hub and Library, LS21 1EZ

Leeds Libraries invite you to learn how to play a Ukulele and have fun at this family friendly
event! This inspired taster session offers a fun introduction to the Ukulele instrument and an
opportunity to connect with others for a positive learning experience, to boost your health and
wellbeing.
Sessions will be delivered in collaboration with Leeds Music Centres, part of ArtForms.

A free event for age 7+.
All children must be accompanied by adult.

Booking essential: www.ticketsource.co.uk/leedslibraryevents

Summer Reading Challenge:
Drumming Workshops

Friday 26 July, 10.30am – 11.30am
Armley Community Hub & Library, LS12 1UQ

Friday 26th July, 1.30pm – 2.30pm
The Reginald Centre Community Hub and Library, LS7 3EX

Friday 26th July, 4.00pm – 5.00pm
The Compton Centre Community Hub and Library, LS9 7BG

And also:

Tuesday 30th July, 11.00am – 12.00 pm
Whinmoor Library, LS14 2DF

Tuesday 30th July, 1.30pm – 2.30pm
Scholes Library, LS15 4BJ

“You can be a drummer”
To celebrate this year’s Summer Reading Challenge theme of Marvellous Makers, join us for this
session led by Artforms, where you will learn how to make marvellous music, exploring the world
of rhythm, drumming improvisation and singing. This session will contain a mixture of West
African and contemporary rhythms and traditional songs, using Djembe drums and percussion
instruments. Children and their grown-ups of any ability are welcome to this inclusive event. Bring
your family and join the fun! Sessions delivered in collaboration with Leeds Music Centres, part of
Artforms.

A free family-friendly event recommended for children aged 4 +.
All children must be accompanied by adult.

Booking essential: www.ticketsource.co.uk/leedslibraryevents

9.30-12pm – ensemble workshop for ages 7+

To book a place, click here.

29^th + 30^th July

Times:

29^th 10:00 – 13:30
30^th 10:00 – 14:00 (performance at 13:30).

Location:

North Leeds Music Centre, Allerton C of E Primary School Lingfield Approach Alwoodley Leeds, LS17 7HL

Activities:

1. 2-Day Orchestra – If you’ve already been learning a string, woodwind or brass instrument for a year or more, join the orchestra and get ready to perform a piece together in just 2 days! You will start off working in a small group, then join with other players in a larger group, to get ready for a short performance on the final day.
2. Voices & Drums – A 2-day singing and taiko workshop for children ages 7 and up. No experience necessary! Over the two days, you’ll sing as part of a group and learn various taiko techniques and pieces, culminating in a performance at the end of the second day.

To book a place, click here.

Wednesday 21st August 10:00am – 3:00pm

A mixture of workshops including, samba, drumming and ensemble.

Book a place, click here.

This concert is a chance for parents to experience the tour concerts. It also celebrates CLYO’s accomplishments this year and those Y13’s who are leaving us.

Tickets are free but need to be booked. Here is the ticket link: City of Leeds Youth Orchestra (CLYO) End of Year Concert at The Grammar School at Leeds event tickets from TicketSource

Doors open at 7pm

YAMSEN (Yorkshire Association for Music and Special Educational Needs) hosted ‘YAMSEN Flies to Neverland,’ its yearly set of full-day, immersive, multi-sensory events for pupils with PMLD (Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties) and musical activity events for autistic pupils and pupils with moderate to severe learning disabilities.  The days are funded by LMEP (Leeds Music Education Partnership, the local music hub) and supported by the SEND team at ArtForms music service.  Pupils from special schools in Leeds and across West Yorkshire attended—so many that each event was repeated, for a total of four days of music and fun.  Because of Pudsey Civic Hall’s accessibility, over 40 pupils in wheelchairs were able to attend each multisensory day.

The multisensory and music days are a rare chance for special school staff and pupils to mingle with other special schools.  Each day features a range of activities designed to be repeated or adapted in the classroom, with big instruments for feeling vibrations and props that help pupils make sense of the activities at their own pace.  The days are meant to be both educational and promote a sense of playfulness and stimulation, which can be a challenge particularly among pupils with PMLD.  The multisensory days feature a live band who are experienced in working with children who have additional needs, and they move throughout the room so that the children can experience music up close.

Several of the groups are taught by the ArtForms SEND Music Team.  It was fantastic to see the children reaching out to engage with objects and instruments they enjoyed, bonding with their staff, smiling at people in costume and reacting to big sounds and movement.  Many of the children arrived in style, dressed in costume.  They enjoyed getting up from their seats to dance around, acting out their characters with staff.  The pupils at the Music Days made art, learnt a tune and some rhythms on steel pans and percussion, and helped the crocodile to get Captain Hook in the end.  A teacher from Greenmeadows spoke of one pupil who is particularly motivated by music.  She is normally very quiet and reserved in class but becomes a completely different, confident person with music.  It was fantastic to see her shine and engage in so much.

To find out more about YAMSEN and the Multisensory and Music Days, visit yamsen.org.uk or contact yamsen4@gmail.com.

To enquire about ArtForms SEND provision in schools please email Joanna.Winster@leeds.gov.uk

Joanna Winster – ArtForms Music SEND Team and Inclusion Coordinator, and YAMSEN Chair of Operations Group