What a month! Here’s a quick look at some amazing moments...
 Big Saxophone Day over 20 young players came together for an inspiring day, marking the launch of the Devon Youth Saxophone Ensemble
 Colleagues came together for our first Lead Schools for Music Forum, strengthening music leadership across Devon
 We worked with Two Moors Festival to provide unforgettable live music and workshops for local schools
 Several Battle of the Bands finalists released brand-new tracks this month!
Lipson Co-operative Academy and Plymouth Youth Music Service hosted a fantastic jazz workshop with saxophonist Tommaso Starace, exploring improvisation and technique.
 Half-term Residentials for Devon Youth Orchestras and DYJO, full of music-making, teamwork and fun!
HUGE thanks to all our fantastic Hub partners, music educators, and young musicians for a brilliant October!
Join us on Wednesday 10 December at the Riviera International Centre, Torquay, for a joyful evening of music and celebration!
Enjoy performances from massed school choirs across Torbay, alongside ensembles including the Devon Youth Inspire Ensemble, Devon Youth Choir, Folk Ensemble, and Jazz Orchestra Ambassadors. Special guests Burnt Daylight, finalists in the 2025 Battle of the Bands, will also take the stage.
Proceeds from a bucket collection on the night will support Children’s Hospice South West, helping to make a real difference this Christmas.
Tickets: £10 (£8 concessions) + booking fee
Devon Youth Choir is aimed at young singers aged 11-18 from across Devon, Plymouth, and Torbay. Our expert vocal practitioners Anthony Chamberlain and Hannah Stephenson co-lead the choir and there are lots of exciting opportunities coming up including a tour to Brittany in the Summer of 2026! Sign up now to get involved - a parental contribution of £35 per term applies. Monthly gathering days take place on Saturday from 10am-4pm at Exeter School.
National Children’s Orchestras are coming to Devon this Spring for a FREE, fun day of orchestral music-making in partnership with Devon Music Education Hub. There is space for 50 young musicians from Devon & Cornwall to come and play with NCOs team of tutors and conductor Veronica Urrego. Children will also create their own piece of music as a group with trombonist and composer Richard Shrewsbury. The day will end with a short sharing for parents and carers.
📅 10am-4pm Sunday 8 March 2026
📍 Uffculme School, Cullompton
Orchestral Days are designed to support young musicians in the earlier stages of their playing, who are not already part of our auditioned orchestras. They are delivered around England for the children local to the venue by our friendly and experienced tutor team. They are free to attend and open to any young musician in years 4-9 (age 8-14) playing between grades 2-5 on traditional orchestral instruments. You don’t have to have taken grade exams or audition to join in.
Traditional orchestral instruments include all strings, flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, french horn, cornet/trumpet, trombone, tuba and percussion (If you play drum kit and interested in playing percussion with an ensemble then sign-up! We can support treble reading brass players, Euphoniums and Tenoroons to take part too)
Sign up by Friday 5 December. Places will be allocated on a first come first serve basis if we exceed the spaces available.
If you have any questions, please contact our friendly office team info@nco.org.uk
Devon Music Education Hub is thrilled to present the Devon Secondary Schools Battle of the Bands 2026! Aspiring young bands from secondary schools and settings across Devon, Plymouth, and Torbay are invited to apply for a place in one of our regional heats. Each band will receive performance feedback from music industry professionals, with selected groups progressing to the final at Exeter Phoenix on Tuesday 10 March 2026.
Thanks to the support of our Hub partners—R&K Studios and Music In Devon Initiative (MIDI)—previous participants have gone on to professionally record and release their music, perform at major festivals, and receive radio airplay. Next time, it could be you!
Our regional heats will take place on the following dates and locations (6-9pm, soundchecks from 4pm):
🎵 Tuesday 3 February – Petroc College, Barnstaple
🎸 Wednesday 4 February – Plympton Academy, Plymouth
🥁 Tuesday 10 February – Torquay Academy
🎤 Thursday 12 February – Queen Elizabeth's School, Crediton
Devon Music Education Hub would like acknowledge the generous support of our host schools for hosting these events.
Devon Music Education Hub is thrilled to partner with Music For Youth to host a Local Event at Coombeshead Academy, Newton Abbot, on Sunday 22 March 2026. Sessions will run from 11am–1pm, 2–4pm, and (subject to demand) 5–7pm.
This exciting day will showcase group music-making from across Devon, Plymouth and Torbay, including schools, Hub-supported partners, County Groups, and home-educated/EOTAS learners. Groups of two or more performers (aged 21 or under) are invited to present up to 15 minutes of music in any style or genre.
Music For Youth mentors will offer feedback to each group, with the chance to be selected for the National Festival later in the year. You never know, you might even be invited to perform at London's iconic Royal Albert Hall for the MFY Proms, just like Devon Youth Jazz Orchestra (DYJO1) have been this year!
Devon Music Education Hub would like to acknowledge the support of Coombeshead Academy for hosting this event.
Teaching Creatively with Charanga's New Creative Music Scheme
Monday 17 November 2025 | Ladysmith Junior School, Exeter
Exeter & Wider Area Schools Network Meeting
Monday 24 November 2025 | St Peter's High School, Exeter
Starting with a Song: Practical Approaches for the Early Years with David Gray
Tuesday 25 November 2025 | Online
OHMI Music-Makers Training for WCET
Tuesday 9 December 2025 | Future Skills Centre, Exeter
Visiting Music Teacher Forum
Monday 5 January 2026 | County Hall, Exeter
Online Teach Meets
Tuesday 13 January 2026 | Online
Wednesday 22 April 2026 | Online
Music & Drama Education Expo
12-13 February 2026 | The Business Design Centre, London
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra KS4 Set Works LIVE!
Thursday 6 November 2025 | Plympton Academy, Plymouth
Friday 7 November 2025 | Uffculme School, Cullompton
Be a Chorister for a Day FULLY BOOKED
Saturday 29 November 2025 | Exeter Cathedral
Duncan Honeybourne (piano)
Sunday 30 November 2025 | Barkham, Exmoor
A Christmas Cracker
Wednesday 10 December 2025 | Riviera International Centre, Torquay
Music For Youth Local Event
Sunday 22 March 2026 | Coombeshead Academy, Newton Abbot
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