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Summer Newsletter 2025
Welcome to this edition of our WYMH Newsletter, where we bring you all the current news and events happening within the music hub all in one place.
West Yorkshire Music Hub Partnership Launch – Tuesday 8th July
Just a reminder; the WYMH partnership launch meeting will be 9.30am -12.30pm on Tuesday 8th July at Opera North’s Howard Opera Centre, LS1 6PA. This will be an opportunity for all West Yorkshire Music Hub partners and their regional network organisations to meet together for the first time to discuss hub priorities and topical issues affecting West Yorkshire.
Please sign up via the form here to confirm your attendance. https://forms.gle/P9Tjg4WQDWsPrLVr6
Hub Updates
ArtForms Leeds
This spring, ArtForms Leeds hosted a vibrant array of events and opportunities for children and young people to demonstrate their musical and artistic talents. Highlights included:
Orchestral music day
A fantastic opportunity for Leeds students to play alongside professional musicians. Meliora Collective worked alongside our City of Leeds Youth Orchestra Conductor, Mark Edwards to support students to rehearse and perform a symphony in a day.
KS1 Little Sing
An interactive and immersive performance event attended by 600 children. This year’s theme of Marvellous minibeasts enthralled children who thoroughly enjoyed singing and dancing at the minibeast rave!
Youth Music Prom
Students from the Leeds Youth Jazz Rock Orchestra, City of Leeds Youth String Orchestra and City of Leeds Youth Wind Orchestra performed at Pudsey Civic Hall for 350 children and young people, inspiring them to learn to play an instrument, join an ensemble or just appreciate the music and dance.
Notes Around the World
Our music centres at North and South Leeds held an innovative session of workshops giving all participants the opportunity to experience something new – from Taiko to DJ scratching to graphic scores there was something for everyone to enjoy. Certainly an event we’re hoping to expand next year!
These events not only provide performance opportunities but also foster a sense of community and growth among musicians, young and old. We are especially looking forward to our Leeds Youth Music Celebration Concert at the arena on 1st July, which will showcase over 1000 children and young people across the city. Information about this and all our upcoming events can be found here on the ArtForms website.
Musica Kirklees
Musica Kirklees have just launched their ‘Spotlight on…’ initiative to bring attention to a variety of instruments and raise awareness of the range of opportunities open to learners. Kirklees school pupils are invited to apply for up to 3 free sessions of hands-on tuition with an instrument included.
The spotlight is shining on the cello as we go into the summer term and with plans to feature a selection of brass, woodwind and strings over the coming months, we’re hoping to highlight the special qualities of each instrument as we go.
The Spotlight series is an offshoot of Musica Kirklees’s existing Give it a Go programme which is already active in Kirklees schools. Backed up by a social media campaign, the Spotlight initiative is Kirklees-wide and will inspire more young people to take up an instrument.
Music Network Updates
YAMSEN
Multi Sensory and Music Days
20-23rd May at Pudsey Civic Hall
YAMSEN are hosting their annual days full of live music, sensory and arts activities. The theme this year is YAMSEN Time Travellers.
Opera North
The Opera North Youth Company and Youth Orchestra will be opening the 25/26 Opera Season, performing Judtih Weir’s ‘The Secret Of The Black Spider’. Described by composer Judith Weir as ‘a historical thriller’, The Secret Of The Black Spider tells two interrelated stories. One is a legendary tale set in the 15th century of villagers terrorised by a giant spider that emerges from the hand of the heroine, Christina; the other based on a news report of the strange happenings that followed the excavation of a Polish tomb in the 1970’s…
This is the UK premier of the ‘Hamburg’ version of the opera. More details can be found here: https://www.operanorth.co.uk/whats-on/the-secret-of-the-black-spider/
Recruitment
Opera North are now recruiting for their Youth Company, Youth Orchestra and Young Musicians Studio. If play an orchestral instrument, or love singing and are interested in joining one of these groups, please visit https://www.operanorth.co.uk/participate/
Woolpack Studios
This year’s popular ‘Gig In A Week’ summer holiday project will run from 4th-8th August 2025 at Woolpack Music Studios in Otley. It’s five days (11am-4pm) of music-making in bands, with a live gig in the evening at the end of the week. It’s suitable for anyone aged between 11 and 18 who loves to sing and/or play any instrument- whether that’s drums, guitar, bass, brass, wind, strings or keys! The cost is £140 per person.
More information is available at www.woolpackstudios.co.uk or by emailing richard@woolpackstudios.co.uk
Music House – Leeds
We’ve got lots going on at Music House including free projects, new music lessons, choir and something exciting going on for the summer hols. We’ve got some brilliant free projects running at the moment, thanks to our amazing funders and the kind support of people in the community.
Clear Out Your Closet – Saturday from 2-4pm
This is a really special peer support group for adults dealing with mental health challenges, led by spoken work artist Michelle Scally-Clarke. Find out more.
Beginner Music Courses – 17th May to 2nd Aug, and 6th Sept to 22nd Nov
We’re putting together some 12-week beginner music courses for children aged 7 to 14 and they’re going to be fab. They’ll run on Saturday mornings and they will work out at £12 per lesson. Find out more.
Summer School – coming soon
We’re in the planning stages for some exciting summer school days. More details coming soon. Please keep an eye on our website to find out more about our work, projects and news!
DJ School UK
DJ School UK has expanded its offer of teacher training in DJ Skills. Full online courses are now available in both Rekordbox and Serato DJ software. Fully equipped in-person visits and support are available again. All training focuses on how to engage pupils and aims to increase the uptake of GCSE music.
All training details learning outcomes which incorporate the delivery of the UK Music curriculum. Discounts are available where Music Hubs choose to book sessions for multiple schools.
Discounts are also available for hardware and software from nationwide distributors.https://www.djschooluk.org.uk/schools-and-community/cpd-and-training
For more information, email jim@djschooluk.org.uk
Academy of Live Technology
Our open day events are a great way to get a feel for what studying with us is really like. Talk to staff and students, experience what student life is like at the Academy of Live Technology and explore a campus that’s based in the heart of industry where the world’s greatest live experiences are put together.
Academy of Live Technology Open Day Booking | Academy of Live Technology
Saturday 28th June 2025, 12.00 – 4.00pm
Saturday 26th July 2025, 12.00 – 4.00pm
Virtual open events
Tuesday 27th May 2025, 6.30 – 8.30pm
Tuesday 8th July 2025, 6.30 – 8.30pm
Chapel FM
Chapel FM Musicathon
A FREE music festival to celebrate the cultural diversity in our city, featuring local artists, broadcasting live on East Leeds Community Radio from our studios in Seacroft.
Saturday 3rd May from 6am until MIDNIGHT at Chapel FM Arts Centre – 1081 York Road LS14 6JB
South Asian Arts UK
Sanskaar Summer School 2025 – Sat 2nd to Fri 8th Aug, 9am to 5pm
Explore the vibrant world of Indian music and dance in a joyful week filled with creativity, culture & connection! Children and adults will learn about Raags (melody) & Taals (rhythm), try Indian instruments like Tabla, Sitar, and Santoor, sing, dance, and take part in fun, hands-on workshops led by expert tutors.
To register or learn more, email education@saa-uk.org or call Dhivya on 07570 393470.
SAA-uk Leeds Summer Solstice 2025: 21st June
Celebrate the Summer Solstice in unforgettable style on 21st June 2025, from 9:00 PM to 6:00 AM, at The HUB, White Rose Park, Leeds, LS11 0LT. As the longest day fades into the shortest night, embark on an immersive, all-night journey through sound, spirit and culture. More information here.
Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty: 20th July, Howard Assembly Room
Join us for a transcendent evening of Indian classical music with the legendary Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty, whose soul-stirring voice bridges tradition and innovation. With over 100 albums and performances at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall and the Royal Albert Hall, his repertoire spans Dhrupad, Khyal, Thumri, and devotional works in multiple languages. More information here.
Junior Conservatoire
Leeds Junior Conservatoire offers a welcoming and creative Saturday School for young people aged 8–18, with tailored pathways in Tech, Experience, and Performance. Applications are closing soon, so please share with any students interested in developing their musical skills. This summer, we’re running a range of exciting opportunities:
Summer Music Camp (29th July)
Ages 8–14, a one-day workshop offers hands-on songwriting, and each participant will leave with a recording of their original song.
Summer Academy (28th July–1st August)
For students starting Year 13 in September 2025, an immersive week with Performance and Production strands.
Industry Insights: Working as a Community Musician (10th May)
We’re also offering 10 free places for Leeds students aged 14–18 to attend this event. Email us to book.
Summer Festival on 28 June from 10AM
We’d love to invite you to celebrate our students’ work. If you’d like to attend, please email us.
Click here for more information or email Junior@lcm.ac.uk.
Leeds Song (formerly Leeds Lieder)
Leeds Song are very excited to offer each of our award-winning projects in all three terms next year:
Discovering Lieder
Your KS2 class or choir group will receive a free 1-hour workshop visit from our team to be invited into the wonderful world of Art Song before coming along to an exciting concert to hear more songs and share their own performances. Register here.
Living Lieder
Your KS3 music class or choir group will receive three 1-hour workshop visits from our team to be coached in the performance of Art Song before they share their performances at the culmination concert. Register here.
Autumn term 25 will take place in late October and November 2025; concert in Morley on (TBC) Friday 14th November. Spring term 26 will take place in March 2026; concert in Pudsey on (TBC) Friday 27th March. Summer term 26 will take place in June/July 2026; concert in central/east Leeds (the dates for this project are flexible).
All our projects remain completely free to schools.
Yorkshire Young Musicians
Applications for September 2025 are open! YYM is a specialist music school for promising young musicians aged 8-18 from across Yorkshire. Sessions on Sundays at Leeds Conservatoire include one to one tuition, small ensembles and classes covering theory, musicianship, composition, production and more. Grants and fully funded places available, more info here.
Open Day
Leeds Conservatoire, 18th May 2:00 – 4:00pm.
Flute Workshop
Leeds Conservatoire, 18th May 10:00 – 12:30. For flute players around Grade 2 – 8+, join YYM for a morning of ensemble playing and workshops, plus optional audition advice for older students. More information.
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