Centre for Young Musicians London Schools Symphony Orchestra

Join London’s premier youth orchestra for young musicians aged 14–19 and enjoy the opportunity to work with distinguished conductors and illustrious soloists during the Christmas, Easter and Summer holidays.

Apply by 2 October 2023 for all courses. Late applications will be considered if spaces are available. Please get in touch if you have missed the deadline.

Apply now
London Schools Symphony Orchestra

Key information:

Course dates:
Christmas, Easter and Summer Holidays
Course times:
10.00am–5.00pm
Age:
14–19
Art form:
Music
Fees:
£570 per course (+ additional fee TBC for Summer tour)
Deadline:
Apply by Monday 2 October 2023 for courses in December–January 2023, April 2024, and July–September 2024 (late applications will be considered)
Level of study:
Short Courses & Summer Schools, Workshops & Saturday Centres (ages 4-18)
Venue:
Morley College & Barbican Hall (+ Summer Tour)
Contact details:
lsso@gsmd.ac.uk

About the London Schools Symphony Orchestra 

Join London’s premier youth orchestra for young musicians aged 14–19 and enjoy the opportunity to work with distinguished conductors and illustrious soloists during the Christmas, Easter and Summer holidays.

Hailed by Sir Simon Rattle as "an incomparable ambassador for the dynamism and excellence of British youth", the London Schools Symphony Orchestra (the LSSO) has for over seventy years been regarded as one of the country’s foremost youth orchestras. LSSO alumni can be found working in professional orchestras across the UK and beyond. 

The orchestra performs regularly at the Barbican Concert Hall in the City of London. Tour destinations have included Europe, Japan, the USA and Argentina. The repertoire is wide and varied, giving young players the opportunity to play orchestral masterpieces, take part in semi-staged productions of operas, and perform contemporary works, many commissioned especially for the LSSO. 

Recent guest conductors include Matthew Lynch, Christopher Warren-Green, Sian Edwards, Dominic Wheeler and Timothy Redmond. 

Please note, commitment to all three courses is preferred but not essential. 

Apply for the London Schools Symphony Orchestra

Please complete our online application form

Course Rehearsal Dates & Public Performances

We encourage attendance of all three courses where possible. This is to ensure that you get a full insight into being part of a professional orchestra and make significant progress within your development as a musician. 

We understand that not everyone may be able to commit to all three courses. Flexibility to commit to two courses or less will be given on a case by case basis, depending on the students talent and the number of students signed up for the year.  

You will be asked to let us know your availability for each of the courses once you are invited for audition.  

All three courses are made up of rehearsals, where you will learn from an industry professional and work towards a public performance at a concert hall. Course Three includes a Summer tour, location to be confirmed. This is at an extra cost to the course fee. 

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