What a night we had at Exeter Phoenix on Tuesday 25 February for the final of this year's Battle of the Bands! All of our finalists performed brilliantly and wowed our judges Dave Jones from RSL Awards, Jess McGill from Exmouth Festival and Tom Ward from Rocksteady Music School.
Congratulations to our winners Capacity 16 (West Buckland School) and runners up Bloodhound (Ivybridge Community College) and Mrs Anthrop (Plympton Academy) who will get to record and release their music with Hub partners R&K Systems and Music in Devon Initiative. Special mention to wildcards Burnt Daylight (Queen Elizabeth's School) who will also record their music courtesy of Studio8830. Well done to our other finalists The Revival (The King's School), Project Groove (Ilfracombe Academy), The Brokers (Torquay Boys' Grammar School) and Sekrement (Churston Ferrers Grammar School).
Huge thank you to last year's runners up Absent Minds (Great Torrington School) for entertaining the crowd while the judges deliberated. Thank you to everyone that came along to support these fantastic young bands and provided such a great atmosphere.
Hub Sounds is a new series of events aimed at providing opportunities for school groups to enjoy live music in a range of styles, fun music activities and sing with leading performers and music educators. Each term we will work in partnership with a secondary school to deliver a Hub Sounds event in a different area, with the aim of children from local primary schools.
We are thrilled to announce that our next Hub Sounds event will take place at Bideford College on Friday 28 March, you can choose to attend either the morning session starting at 10.30am or afternoon session starting at 1pm. Both the morning and afternoon sessions will involve performances from professional artists, interactive music through Hub organisations, live music from young musicians and a Big Sing!
Devon Music Education Hub would like acknowledge the generous support of our host schools for supporting these events.
It was so brilliant to bring together 100 young musicians aged 5-16 at King Edward VI Community College, Totnes on Monday 10 February for our first Future Musicians project. Children from Landscove CofE Primary School, Dartington CofE Primary School, Broadhempston Primary School and Harbertonford CofE Primary School came together with KEVICC pupils and Hub staff to perform two brand new pieces of music.
The music was specially commissioned from David Gray (Music with Mr Gray) to ensure everyone could get involved regardless of their experience or ability. We're looking forward to to taking this initiative to Chulmliegh College and looking for more schools to get involved over the next year.
For more information please contact Sam Massey, Music Development Lead and Strategic Lead for Progression and Musical Development email sam.massey@devon.gov.uk
Applications are now open to become one of our Lead Schools for Music. We are looking for up to ten primary and secondary schools from across Devon, Plymouth and Torbay that demonstrate excellence in music education provision to share best practice and support the delivery of the National Plan for Music Education.
We are also looking for a representative mix of EYFS, Further Education, SEND and Alternative Provision settings from across the entire Hub area.
Applications must be received no later than 9am Monday 24 March 2025. For an informal conversation about becoming a lead school for music please contact Debbie Kent, Deputy Head/Hub Lead and Strategic Lead for Schools email debbie.kent@devon.gov.uk
Check out the full line up for our forthcoming Nurturing Creativity in the Early Years Conference delivered in partnership with Take Art on Friday 21 March at Future Skills Centre, Exeter...
Keynote speaker:
- Dr Susan Young - Honorary Research Fellow | Centre for Research in Early Childhood
Workshop leaders:
- Charlotte Gibbs, Devon Music Education Hub's Strategic Lead for Early Years |
- Jane Parker, Co-Director Certificate for Music Educators: Early Childhood and Take Art's Early Years Lead
- Rosie Walton currently leading on Gloucestershire Music's Songscape Project
This conference offers music educators, early years practitioners, childminders, and students the tools and inspiration to integrate music and movement into everyday learning experiences. Whether through song, musical play, or storytelling, attendees will leave with practical techniques to create music-rich environments that spark curiosity and lay the foundation for a brighter future for young learners.
Full programme and booking information available from our website.
Devon Music Education Hub are delighted to present this year’s BIG Jazz Day for young musicians on Saturday 15 March at King Edward VI Community College, Totnes with special guests the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama Big Band!
Join us from 3.45-5.45pm for a Jazz and Big Band workshop with Ceri Rees (saxophone & RWCMD Big Band director) Dr Andrew Bain (percussion & Head of Jazz at RWCMD) and the Big Band from the world-renowned Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama supported by South Devon Youth Jazz, Lipson Cooperative Big Band and the Devon Youth Jazz Orchestras – it’s open to any students Grade 2+ (approximate level only, no exam needed) who are interested in playing jazz on any instrument.
This will be followed by a celebration jazz concert from 7-9:30pm, with the massed bands and masterclass participants opening the concert, which parents/carers/supporters are very welcome to attend. Concert Tickets (7pm-9pm) can be purchased here.
Due to demand, places are strictly limited and allocated on a first come first served basis. Members of DYJO or Co-operative Big Band have already had their places secured, so there is no need to sign up again here.
Please note: There is no charge for young musicians participating in the workshop and/or performance. Admittance to the evening concert at 7pm for parents/carers/supporters will cost £6/£4 concessions.
Devon Music Education Hub would like acknowledge the generous support of King Edward VI Community College for hosting this event.
Once again, the exciting sound of some of Devon’s most accomplished young orchestral musicians will fill Exeter Cathedral. This is a celebration of orchestral music performed by young players from all parts of Devon.
The concert will feature a performance of the first movement of Grieg’s iconic piano, as well as performances by both of the Devon Youth Orchestras, the concert will also showcase soloists and smaller ensembles from within the orchestras.
The programme is particularly chosen to appeal across a wide age range and includes music from film scores and orchestral classics, from Bizet to Stravinsky, performed by the Concert Orchestra and the Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of conductors Paul Painter and Mel Orriss.
Devon Youth Orchestras Spring Concert
Friday 15 March 2025 | Exeter Cathedral
Royal Academy of Music Brass Day
Sunday 16 March 2025 | Wells Cathedral School
Come and Play with National Children's Orchestra
Sunday 23 March 2025 | Uffculme School, Cullompton
Hub Sounds
Friday 28 March 2025 | Bideford College
Live Music Now Musical Mondays
Monday 12 May 2025 | Online
Your chance to perform at Devon County Show
15-17 May 2025 | Westpoint, Exeter
An introduction to Charanga Musical School
Monday 3 March 2025 | Old Priory Junior Academy, Plymouth
Nurturing Creativity in the Early Years Conference
Friday 21 March 2025 | Future Skills Centre, Exeter
Devon Music Education Conference
Friday 23 May 2025 | Buckfast Abbey Conference Centre
Growing Trans and Non-binary Awareness
Wednesday 2 July 2025 | Online
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