The National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain are coming to Devon!
Come and see the UK’s leading teenage orchestra perform a specially curated programme for schools, aimed at KS2 and KS3 pupils.
As part of the NYO Open programme, we’re bringing 80 musicians from the NYO Inspire community to perform a FREE Schools Concert on Tuesday 8 July in The Forum at The Riviera International Centre, Torquay.
Everything about The National Youth Orchestra will amaze you. The sound. The energy. The buzz. Take your seat for free and experience something new.
Get ready for a massive, electric surprise created for young people, by young people. We are eager to fill the hall with energy and we would love for as many schools as possible to join us and experience the powerful sound of live orchestral music! Doors will open at 12:45pm.
Come and experience Errollyn Wallen’s Dances for Orchestra, Rimsky Korsakov’s Scherherazade, Contrera’s MeChicano, and more exciting music chosen just for you!
Devon County Show was alive with music and energy last week as Devon Music Education Hub showcased an incredible 1,100 young musicians on the bandstand over three glorious days. With perfect weather and a relaxed, festival-like atmosphere, families and visitors were treated to an inspiring display of musical talent from schools, County Groups, and Hub-supported partners from across Devon, Plymouth and Torbay.
The performances, which ranged from school choirs and jazz ensembles to orchestras and contemporary bands, highlighted the remarkable standard of music education and creativity being nurtured across the region.
Organisers praised the event as a huge success, celebrating not only the quality of the performances but also the sense of community and joy it brought to the showground.
“It was a privilege to see so many young people share their music with confidence and passion,” said Lewis Gibbs, Head/Hub Lead for Devon Music Education Hub. “The atmosphere was electric, and the sunshine made it even more special. We would like thank all of the teachers, music educators and volunteers that have helped make this happen.”
The event clearly struck a chord with the audience, proving that Devon’s young musical talent is thriving.
Devon Youth Jazz Orchestra (DYJO) will be celebrating its first 50 years on Sunday 29 June, with a social day and concert at Exeter's Corn Exchange. We are looking forward to meeting up with musicians going right back to its foundation in 1975, players and tutors alike, along with families who supported them along the way. DYJO is still flying high both locally and nationally (and even internationally!), so we've got a lot to celebrate!
DYJO alumni are invited to come along in the morning to get together and form scratch bands to perform at the concert later in the day. The celebration concert starts at 16:00 featuring alumni bands & current DYJO - you can register your interest here.
If you have any old photos you would like to share please email mail@dyjo.org
Returning for 2025, Sidmouth International Jazz & Blues Festival are pleased to present our education programme. All ages and abilities are welcome to the programme, bring your kids, parents and grandparents – everyone is welcome to join in the groove! All events are held in the Sidmouth Methodist Church, High Street, Sidmouth EX10 8LE.
Saturday 24 May 2025
Sunday 25 May 2025
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2:00pm – 4:00pm – Family Djembe Drumming Workshop | This extremely popular workshop with James from Drum Devon returns for a second year. Rhythmic fun times for the whole family! Bring your kids, their friends, your friends, your grandmother, uncles & aunties, bring everyone for this fun-filled drumming session. No experience necessary.
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10:30am – Blues Church Service | Everyone is welcome!
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2.00pm – 4.00pm – Jazz Jam | This open curated Jazz Jam is hosted by Devon Music Education Hub. It will be supported by a house band of experienced performers to support attendees who wish to participate. This is an inclusive, supportive, and fun model that also ensures a quality experience for all involved. It allows for more experienced participants to shine with a supportive rhythm section and less experienced people to sit in alongside the house band and be guided along.
Monday 26 May 2025
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10:30am – 12:30pm – Blues Jam | Another opportunity to lead a Blues Number with the House band from the Blues in the Pews Team or sit in with a standard – bring your instruments!
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10:30am – 12:30pm – South Devon Youth Jazz Workshop | Join us for a 1.5 hour workshop with a 30 minute sharing concert at the end for everyone to enjoy. Suitable for all instrumentalists Grade 3+ ability.
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2:00pm – 3:00pm – Acoustic and Electric Blues Guitar Techniques | From Slide to Stevie Ray Vaughan we’ve got you covered – bring your guitar!
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2:00pm – 3:00pm – Jazz Composition Workshop | Led by Sam Massey from Devon Music Hub.
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3:30pm – 4:30pm – The History of the Blues | Roots and Routes to the Blues, this popular seminar returns for a second year with something new for everyone to learn. From the American Civil War, banjos to Ragtime through 8 bar and twelve bar blues to R&B and Soul. Male and female blues legends and their innovations.
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3:30pm – 4:30pm – Jazz Trumpet Workshop | Devon-based trumpet player Sam Massey will host a workshop for trumpet players of all ages focussed around developing jazz style and improvisation skills.
All sessions are FREE but please make sure to book your place!
Our Strategic Lead for Early Years, Charlotte Gibbs, is delivering a fully funded CPD session focusing on Early Years Music for Speech and Language Development.
- 2-4pm Friday 6 June | Soapbox Children's Theatre, Plymouth PL1 4QH
Throughout the session, you'll have the chance to explore musical activities that can enhance communication skills in early childhood, with valuable strategies to implement in your practice. Suitable for teachers, teaching assistants, Early Years practitioners, childminders and music educators.
The Classic FM Music Teacher of the Year Awards in partnership with the UK’s leading music exam board ABRSM recognises and rewards incredible music teachers.
Every year, Classic FM celebrates inspiring musical educators from across the nation who are making a real difference to the musical lives of young people. And now, nominations are open again for 2025 – with a sixth category added and a pot of £20,000 of musical equipment to be won thanks to Viking!
Teachers can be nominated into ONE of the following categories:
- Teachers of Primary School Age
- Teachers of Secondary/High School Age
- SEND Music Teachers
- Visiting Music Teachers
- Lifetime Achievement (NEW 2025 category)
- Best Music Learning Initiative
The six category winners in The Classic FM Music Teacher of the Year Awards will each receive a share from a pot of £20,000 of music equipment of their choice for their school, all thanks to Viking.
Entries close on Sunday 20 July 2025.
Sidmouth International Jazz & Blues Festival Education Programme
24-26 May 2025 | Sidmouth Methodist Church
National Youth Folk Ensemble Open Day
Wednesday 28 May 2025 | Exeter Phoenix
Budleigh Music Festival
Monday 30 June 2025 | The Rhossili Duo ' The Last Tango'
Friday 4 July 2025 | Relaxed Concert with ZRI (Zum Roten Igel)
Saturday 5 July 2025 | Family Day - A Musical Treasure Hunt
A New Creation with Exeter Festival Chorus and Devon Music Education Hub
Saturday 12 July 2025 | Exeter Cathedral
Early Years Music for Speech and Language Development
Friday 6 June 2025 | The Soapbox Children's Theatre, Plymouth
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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