On Saturday 18 February BYO String Ensemble celebrated the end of their 11th annual tour of the Isle of Wight with an awe-inspiring concert at St Mary de Haura Church, Shoreham before providing the music for a fascinating production, Voices of the Great War in Brighton’s Theatre Royal. Often followed by a small, dedicated audience the Ensemble performed an eclectic programme fit for a stadium audience of thousands, at the picturesque church in Shoreham. Two award-winning s

Thanks to the support from the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Brighton Early Music Festival and Brighton & Hove Music Trust, 26 children from 4 primary schools will get the opportunity to learn to play these bass instruments and perform in concerts later this year. Bass Lines is a new initiative to increase the number of pupils learning some of the ‘lower’ or bass instruments (which traditionally attract fewer young players). This partnership project brings together

The ISM Trust has recently published Performance anxiety: A practical guide for music teachers, written by Gregory Daubney MSc MBPsS and Dr Alison Daubney. Teachers can now download a free copy of the publication by visiting: www.ism.org/performance-anxiety-guide

On Saturdays 11 and 18 March, BHMA presents its first ever, free String Festival. Aiming to provide young string players (grade 2-6) from across Brighton & Hove, East and West Sussex with an opportunity to perform in their first string orchestra, the festival will also include musicians from the service’s most advanced string players (BYOSE). These talented musicians will proffer invaluable tuition and guidance to their younger counterparts. Lisa de Simone (Festival Founder

An anonymous generous donation to the wonderfully supportive group of volunteers, the Parents and Friends’ Association (PaFA), has enabled the much needed purchase of new timpani for use by the Brighton Youth Orchestra. The timpani is perfect for travelling to concerts and tours as the pedal and legs mechanism folds away. PaFA has also recently funded the purchase of a soprano saxophone and a cor anglais. These are both specialist instruments that are often included as essen

We were overawed recently to hear of a parent's plan to run the Brighton Marathon this year for encore Brighton & Hove. Thank you Jonathan! Jonathan's children have been students of the music service for the last ten/twelve years and he has volunteered to take on this mammoth task to try and raise £500. Jonathan said “Music has enriched my daughters' lives. They have benefited for over a decade from the opportunities provided by Brighton Music and Arts and their talented and