The London Schools Symphony Orchestra (LSSO) and Centre for Young Musicians (CYM) Anniversary Concert showcased the breadth of opportunities that CYM offers to young musicians in London through the weekly provision of the Saturday Centre and the short courses held during school holiday periods.
The experience of playing in a major concert is one that members of the LSSO have become familiar with, but for the younger students involved in the chorus and those playing in the Saturday Centre ensembles it was a particularly exciting occasion, and one that everyone involved could be truly proud of, including the hugely supportive parents of the performers.
Alumni of CYM and the LSSO (many of both) also took part in the finale – Jonathan Dove’s specially arranged version of “There Was a Child”, while many others were in the audience.
The concert showed how music impacts the lives of people through the generations and demonstrated what can be achieved through regular, progressive access to high quality music education, whether it leads to a career in music or simply a lifelong love of it. We filmed interviews with some current and one alumni player to capture the spirit of this special moment in time. Those interviews can be viewed here.
The next LSSO concert at the Barbican is on the 20th September 2022 at 7:30pm. Schools can access free tickets for LSSO concerts by emailing info@cym.org.uk.
The LGfL LSSO portal brings awareness of those opportunities to hundreds of young people and informs them of the background and context of the work of the LSSO and CYM.
CYM provides access to that high quality music education through the Saturday Centre, with auditions taking place every year toward the end of the Spring Term. Students can join at any point in their musical journeys, right up to Years 12 and 13.
The LSSO, and its sister ensemble the London Youth Wind Band (LYWB) audition every Autumn Term and those ensembles are open to anyone resident in Greater London, not just students from the Saturday Centre. Details of how to apply for all of the above activities can be found at www.cym.org.uk .
The entire Anniversary Concert can be watched via the LGfL LSSO Archive.
After over 120 years of combined music making for young London musicians CYM and the LSSO will continue to nurture and support many more of them in the future.