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Join us for a two-day feast of live music! Hear performances from talented young musicians, from jazz, soul and funk groups to choirs, orchestras and much more.
Open to the public, every July, thousands of young musicians from across the UK perform at world-class venues in Birmingham as part of the annual Music for Youth National Festival.
Not-to-be-missed highlights this year include:
- Performances by the next generation of young musicians (full line-up to be announced on 1st June)
- ‘Fringe stages’ in Centenary Square, featuring a mix of musical performances
- Workshops with critically-acclaimed Jazz pianist, performer and composer, Pete Latanka, The Royal Welsh College of Music, National Youth Choir, and more
- Frequencies New Music Residency for 16-25 year olds. Selected participants will be collaborating with Birmingham Schools Symphony Orchestra, Northamptonshire Concert Band and RNCM Session Orchestra at the CBSO Centre on the 7th July to upscale their music for a performance at the Royal Albert Hall in November. Participants will also take part in a workshop with conductor, composer & presenter, Patrick Bailey. Applications for the New Music Residency are now closed and selected participants will be announced soon. To find out more, click here.
- A specially curated Youth Citizen’s Assembly where young people get to have their say in the future of the music industry (facilitated by leading music industry experts).
- A fantastic Showcase Concert on Friday 7th July.
PROGRAMME OVERVIEW
Want to perform on a Fringe Stage? Click below to apply.
Friday 7th July
Primary Live 11am to 12 noon
Presenter Pete Letanka
Performers:
Stafford Grammar School Concert Band
CBSO Career Accelerator Fellows
QA Collective
Tremains Primary School Orchestra and Choir
Gloucestershire Youth Jazz Orchestra
Performances and Workshops 1pm to 3:45pm
Brass and Wind
Performers:
Shepherd Group Youth Band
Cardiff County & Vale of Glamorgan Youth Brass Band
Camarthenshire Youth Wind Band
Gwent Youth Brass Band
Barnsley Town Concert Band
Boston Music Centre Massed Ensemble with Tattershall T Jazz
Carrick Breeze and Winds
Co-operative Youth Wind Band
Performances and Workshops 4:30pm to 7:15pm
Brass and Wind
Performers:
Dark Peak Concert Band
Gloucestershire Youth Wind Orchestra
Norfolk County Symphonic Wind Band
Northamptonshire Youth Brass Band
East Riding Senior Wind Band
Birmingham Schools' Brass Band
Sutton Youth Wind Orchestra
Swindon Young Musicians Wind Band
Junior Choirs 1pm to 2:30pm
Performers:
St Elphege's Infant School Choir
East Herrington Primary Academy
Barmby Moor C of E Primary School
Crookesbroom Primary Academy Choir
Rainbow Forge and Netherthorpe Primary Combined Choirs
Junior String & Chamber 3pm to 4:30pm
Performers:
Northamptonshire County Junior Strings
Musica Colne and Holme Valley Junior Strings
Penzance Junior Strings
The Nicolaou Junior Strings
Showcase 7:30pm to 9:30pm
Presenter Nikki Yeoh
Performers:
Ashleigh Turley
Chasing Violet
Greenhead College Big Band
Essex Youth Jazz Orchestra
The Doncaster Youth Swing Orchestra
NPTC Group Jazz Vocal Combo
Reuben And The Squires
I&J Workshop 1:45pm to 2:45pm
Leader Pete Letanka
Jazz Masterclass 3:15pm to 4:15pm
Leader Nikki Yeoh
Jazz Workshop 5pm to 6pm
Leader Pete Letanka
Guest Reception 6:30pm to 7:30pm
Performances and Workshops 10:15am to 12:45pm
Infants & Juniors
Performers:
Grange Primary School Guitar Ensemble
East Ham Groove
Oxford Young Singers
Maybury Primary School Choir
Living Glory
The Rose Learning Trust
West Twyford Primary School
Performances and Workshops 1:45pm to 4:15pm
Jazz
Performers:
Boston Youth Jazz Orchestra
Altrincham Grammar School For Boys Big Band
Ousedale
Musica Youth Jazz
Newham Music Jazz Collective
NMPAT County Youth Big Band
Performances and Workshops 5:15pm to 7:45pm
Jazz, Funk & Soul
Performers:
Royal Wootton Bassett Academy Function Band
DGS R&B Band
Funky Bishops
Hull Music Service Soul and Funk Collaborative
St George's Academy Session Band
LAET Highgate Big Band
Gosford Hill School Soul Band
Frequencies Collaboration Day 10:30am to 5:30pm (Lunch 1:30pm)
Composition Workshop 11am to 12 noon
Leader Patrick Bailey
Fringe Stage 11am to 7pm
(Jazzlines 5pm to 6:30pm)
Saturday 8th July
Performances and Workshops 10:15am to 12:45pm
Orchestras
Performers:
Oxfordshire County Youth Orchestra
Holmfirth High School Pyramid Orchestra and Voices
Gloucestershire Youth Orchestra
Chiltern Music Academy Symphony Orchestra
Chordis Caerllion
Performances and Workshops 1:45pm to 4:15pm
Orchestras, String & Chamber
Performers:
Gloucestershire Youth String Orchestra
SuperStrings Cornwall
Altrincham Grammar Schools String Orchestra
Create Music Youth String Ensemble
The Henrietta Barnett School Chamber Orchestra
Cardiff County and Vale of Glamorgan Music Service's 'Senior Strings' Ensemble
Milton Keynes Youth Orchestra
Performances and Workshops 5pm to 7:30pm
Choirs
Performers:
Rastrick High School Senior Choir
Springwood High School Cantabene Choir
St George's Academy Choir
Oxfordshire County Youth Choir
Musica Mirfield Youth Choir
Monmouth Prep School Choir
Haverfordwest High VC School Girls Choir
Youth Citizens' Assembly 10am to 2pm
RWCM Side By Side 2:30pm to 3:30pm
Leader Roger Argente
NYCGB Choirs Workshop 3pm to 4pm
NYCGB Choirs Workshop 4:45pm to 5:45pm
Performances and Workshop 10:30am to 1pm
Ensembles
Performers:
NYPE
Birmingham Schools' Recorder Sinfonia
East Riding Percussion Ensemble
Hull Youth Percussion Ensemble
Ealing Percussion Academy
Legacy A Cappella Plymouth (LEGS)
Boston High School Vocal Group
Performances and Workshop 2pm to 4:30pm
World, Folk and Roots
Performers:
Cumann Ceoil Naomh Mhuire
Thomas Middlecott Academy Taiko Drummers
Thats All Folk
Walthamstow School for Girls Year 11 Band
Birmingham Schools' Azaad Dhol Group
Gyoko Youth Taiko
Performances and Workshop 5pm to 7:30pm
Frequencies
Performers:
Alex and Micah
Death by Creation
DEEPWATER (HYMERS COLLEGE ROCKBAND)
Sho Nation
The Thing Is...
The Qube Records Collective
Supernova
Performances and Workshops 10:15am to 12:45pm
Ensembles
Performers:
NMPAT Wellingborough Music and Arts Centre
Musica Colne Valley Senior Guitars
Stelus
Tarrega Guitar Ensemble
Oxfordshire Youth Bassoon Ensemble
Performances and Workshops 1:45pm to 4:15pm
Choirs
Performers:
The Lads
Northamptonshire County Youth Choir
Ysgol Garth Olwg vocal ensemble
CBA Singers
Malton School Chamber Choir
Thornton College Chamber Choir
Kingsmen
Ignition - Altrincham Grammar School for Boys
Performances and Workshops 5pm to 7:30pm
Chamber
Performers:
Manor School String Ensemble
Simply Strings Junior Quartet
NPTC Group Chamber Ensemble - Strings, Piano and Percussion
Sponne Strings
Senzatori String Quartet
Penarth Clarinet Quartet
Deko Quartet
Fringe Stage 11am to 6pm
Workshops
Join in the festival by taking part in our FREE world-class workshop series. The workshops are inspiring, practical sessions to build skills in an interactive environment, led by music industry experts. Anyone under the age of 25 can sign-up for free, whether you are a Music for Youth group or hub, or a member of the public.
with Patrick Bailey
Gain practical composition advice from one of MFY’s Music Mentors.
Do you have a phrase that you don’t know how to expand; do you have a piece that you’d like to orchestrate; do you have a rhythm that you’d like to talk about in more detail? Come and join MFY Mentor, Patrick Bailey, in this practical, engaging and fun workshop looking at composition techniques as well as giving you advice on how to take your skills to the next level.
Led by: Patrick Bailey
Duration: 1.5 hours
Date: 11am, Friday 7 July 2023
Location: CBSO Centre
Suitability: Young composers of any age or ability
Click here to book.
Become the Headliner – Infants & Juniors Workshop (Friday)
with Pete Letanka
Collaboration and improvisation
Join one of the UK’s leading composers, musicians and animateurs, Pete Letanka for a jam-packed, interactive music workshop.
This creative workshop will have participants creating new music which will be brought together at the end of the session for its very own world premiere!
Led by: Pete Letanka
Duration: 1 hours
Date: 1.45pm, Friday 7 July 2023
Location: Justham Howe Room, Symphony Hall
Suitability: Mixed instrumental musicians and vocalists of any ability, in KS1 & KS2
Click here to book.
with Nikki Yeoh
Gain practical and performance advice from one of the UK’s top female jazz musicians.
Come and join jazz pianist, Nikki Yeoh for a masterclass in the art of improvisation, phrasing and performance practice.
This hands-on session will allow young aspiring jazz musicians to jam with Nikki, develop new techniques to further their skills and find their unique voice. Maybe you want to watch her ‘Improvisation Top Tips’ video from our 2021 REMIX Festival beforehand.
Led by: Nikki Yeoh
Duration: 1 hour
Date: 3.15pm, Friday 7 July 2023
Location: Justham Howe Room, Symphony Hall
Suitability: Mixed instrumental musicians of any age or ability
Click here to book.
with Pete Letanka
Gain practical, guided experience on improvisation
Come and join jazz pianist, Pete Letanka for a practical improvisation workshop, lifting the lid on this art form and giving you practical advice and confidence for your performance practice moving forward.
You will learn a new piece from scratch and explore its harmonic possibilities – using just your ears!
Led by: Pete Letanka
Duration: 1 hour
Date: 5pm, Friday 7 July 2023
Location: Justham Howe Room, Symphony Hall
Suitability: Mixed instrumental musicians of any age or ability
Click here to book.
with the Royal Welsh College of Music Brass Ensemble
Collaborative and high energy, this workshop improves performance skills by playing current pop hits!
In this lively, open workshop rehearsal for wind, brass and percussion players, focused on improving performance skills, you can expect to play well-known pop repertoire inspired by music and musicians from all backgrounds alongside the Royal Welsh College of Music.
The Royal Welsh College of Music Brass Ensemble brings together musicians from both the classical and popular degree programmes, providing them with industry standard training and professional performance opportunities.
Led by: Roger Argente, The Royal Welsh College of Music
Duration: 1 hour
Date: 2.30pm, Saturday 8 July 2023
Location: Jennifer Blackwell Performance Space, Symphony Hall
Suitability: Instrumentalists, aged 11 and above of any ability
Click here to book.
Massed Vocal Workshop (Saturday)
Improve vocal technique, musicianship and ensemble skills
Come and join vocal leader, Greg Link, young leaders and singers from the National Youth Choir for a fun and engaging session packed full of musical games and warm-ups. Suitable for all who love to sing!
The National Youth Choir is a national champion and community for youth singing, standing for artistic excellence, creative diversity, and openness and relevance to all.
Led by: Greg Link, National Youth Choir
Duration: 1 hour
Date: 3pm and 4.45pm, Saturday 8 July 2023
Location: Justham Howe Room, Symphony Hall
Suitability: Singers of any age or ability
Click here to book.
The Citizens Assembly brings together young people across the UK to deliberate on issues and recommend solutions that shape the future of music policy. The assembly is a democratic approach to solve problems and empower young people, whether they want to develop their skills to build a career in music or experience it as a source of joy.
Young people from the music hubs Tri-borough and Lancashire have co-curated this assembly in partnership with Music For Youth, who are hosting the event at B:Music, Birmingham.
Anyone between the ages of 12-25 can sign up for free. If you are a young person that cares about music education and are thinking about a career in the music industry, have your say in shaping the future of music education and join us at our open forum with a panel of leading music education, industry experts and policy makers.
To attend, please complete the registration form here
Duration: 4 hours
Date: 10am to 2pm, Saturday 8 July 2023
Location: Jennifer Blackwell performance space, Symphony Hall
I had an amazing time over the weekend playing at the National Music For Youth Festival with The Mountbatten Concert Wind Band… It was an amazing experience and I’m so glad I got the chance to play there!
