Centre for Young Musicians London Schools Symphony Orchestra
Applications for London Schools Symphony Orchestra 2026/27 courses are now open! Please email lsso@gsmd.ac.uk if you have any questions.
Key information:
- Course dates:
- Winter, Spring and Summer Holidays
- Age:
- 13–19
- Art form:
- Music
- Fees:
- TBC
- Deadline:
- Thursday 16 September 2026
- Mode of study:
- Holiday Courses
- Venue:
- Guildhall School of Music & Drama / Morley College / Barbican Hall (+ Summer Tour)
- Contact details:
- lsso@gsmd.ac.uk
About the London Schools Symphony Orchestra
Are you ready to take your musicianship to the next level and perform on some of London’s most iconic stages?
As a member of the London Schools Symphony Orchestra (LSSO), you’ll immerse yourself in world-class orchestral training, collaborate with premier conductors, and build lifelong friendships with fellow young musicians from across the capital.
Our intensive holiday courses offer an unparalleled opportunity to tackle exhilarating, diverse repertoire in a professional, supportive environment.
Applications open in early July and close on 16 September 2026
Don't miss your chance to be part of an unforgettable 2027 season of music-making.
If you love making music at a high level, want to challenge yourself, and want to do so with your peers as part of a vibrant musical community, then LSSO is the destination for you.
Typically, members of the LSSO Community are:
- Londoners: Living or attending school in any of the London Boroughs
- Teenagers: Aged between 13 and 19 and normally in school years 9 to 13.
- Dedicated: Playing and studying their instruments at around Grade 7/8+ level – but you don’t have to have taken the exam to join.
LSSO is a year-long musical experience and journey. Members are invited to join the community based on their commitment to all three holiday courses and the summer tour.
Your LSSO participation begins with your audition in October Half Term, held at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
- Celebration: Auditions are your chance to meet the LSSO Staff and Tutor Team and showcase where you are in your musical development. Auditions are not a test, they are a celebration of your musical achievements.
- Opportunity: Auditions are your moment to tell us, and show us, who you would be in LSSO and what you would bring to the orchestra.
- Momentum: Invitations to the orchestra follow the auditions by just a few days so you won’t have to wait long to get stuck into the music for the first course!
Auditions normally require musicians to prepare 2 contrasting pieces – you do not need to specify these in advance. Additional requirements including orchestral excerpts and any technical studies will be shared by 1 September.
- Invitations to audition will be sent on Monday 21 September 2026.
- Auditions will be held between 24-29 October 2026.
- A full list of audition dates by instrument will be published by 1 September
- Audition results will be shared on Monday 2 November 2026.
Participants are asked to contribute to the costs of the three courses and summer tour. The final costs will be confirmed by 1 September 2026
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For reference, the requested contribution in 2026 has been £2,840 for three courses and summer tour.
Bursaries
Means-tested bursaries of up to 100% of fees are available on request.
Applications are open and the deadline for applications is Wednesday 16 September 2026
Late applications will be considered if spaces are available. Please email lsso@gsmd.ac.uk if you have missed the deadline.
LSSO is a year-long opportunity featuring three courses (Winter, Spring, Summer). Young people are invited on the basis of commitment to all three courses and all rehearsal and performance dates.
We appreciate that in some cases there are challenges to being available for all three courses. If you would need to discuss missing a course you will be able to contact us during the application process. Please note that priority is given to those who can be fully committed to LSSO.
Holiday Courses
LSSO takes places in the Winter, Spring and Summer School holidays. Each intensive course features high-level group coaching from London’s top teachers and performers, alongside rehearsals led by our world-class guest conductors.
This year we’re thrilled to welcome Christopher Warren-Green, Charlotte Corderoy and Tim Redmond to the LSSO community.
Each course ends with a public performing in a London concert venue. Typically, these take place during the school term so that your peers across London can hear the orchestra in full flight.
December Rehearsals
Guildhall School of Music & Drama and Morley College (London Waterloo)
Sunday 13 December
Monday 28 December
Tuesday 29 December
Wednesday 30 December
Break for New Year
January Rehearsals
Guildhall School of Music & Drama
Saturday 2 January
Sunday 3 January
Sunday 10 January
Public Concert
Monday 11 January 2027, Barbican Hall (19:30)
March and April Rehearsals
Guildhall School of Music & Drama
Tuesday 30 March
Wednesday 31 March
Thursday 1 April
Friday 2 April
Monday 5 April
Tuesday 6 April
Wednesday 7 April
Thursday 8 April
Public Concerts
Friday 9 April 2027, Milton Court
Likely Course and Tour Dates:
Morley College (London Waterloo)
Wednesday 28 July
Tuesday 29 July
Thursday 30 July
Friday 31 July
Tuesday 3 August
Wednesday 4 August
Thursday 5 August
Friday 6 August
Friday 10 September
Sunday 12 September
London Concert
Monday 13 September 2027, Barbican Centre
The annual summer course includes a tour where musicians have the chance to deepen their community bond and performing in different venues. In 2027 the summer tour will take LSSO to the South-West of England.
To learn more about LSSO, there are several opportunities to ask questions, meet the LSSO team, hear from some of the current musicians, and hear the orchestra in performance.
- Hear the LSSO – LSSO perform at Fairfield Halls on Tuesday 15 September at 7:30pm. Discounted tickets for all young people who have submitted an application will be available.
- E-mail us – For any questions about LSSO please feel free to e-mail us at lsso@gsmd.ac.uk
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