On Sunday 15th March, Alison Lansdown and Karen Swales took 11 Trafford students to MediaCity, home of the BBC Philharmonic, for a fantastic day of music-making alongside young musicians from across the other Greater Manchester Music Hubs. Bringing together a 100-piece orchestra, the day included full rehearsals and sectional sessions led by members of the BBC Philharmonic, who were truly inspiring for all involved.
Trafford students played an important role in supporting the ensemble, providing a number of the less commonly represented instruments including French horn, oboe, bassoon, trombone, double bass, viola and violins. The project was aimed at younger musicians, offering them a valuable opportunity to experience large-scale ensemble playing and to see what could be possible as they continue their musical journey.
The day was busy and rewarding, culminating in a concert for friends and family in the BBC’s main studio, a space usually reserved for professional broadcasts and recordings. As the first event of its kind, it was a great success, and we very much hope it will be the start of more opportunities like this in the future.
A Day with the BBC Philharmonic
We’ve been delighted to offer a series of additional ensemble sessions following the end of term, giving students the chance to take part free of charge. These pilot groups included a French horn ensemble led by Karen Swales, a trombone ensemble with Simon Fitton and Steve Sandiford, and a combined clarinet and saxophone ensemble led by Lucy Fazakerly. The aim has been to build on our already busy ensemble programme and give students even more opportunities to play together.
The response so far has been really positive, with students enjoying the chance to meet new people and try something a little different. It’s been great to see such enthusiasm and willingness to get involved.
Looking ahead, we hope to expand this offer further to include a flute ensemble and string quartets. More information will be shared as these opportunities become available.
New Ensemble Opportunities Take Off
Many of our trombone ensemble players, known as the ‘Super Sliders’ also take part in our brass bands. Here they are performing at The Stoller Hall in April this year.
RNCM Young Projects
We’re pleased to highlight the fantastic opportunities available through the Royal Northern College of Music and their Young Projects programme. Designed for young musicians aged 8–18, these sessions offer an inclusive and inspiring environment where students of all abilities can develop their creative, musical and technical skills. With no audition required, the programme provides accessible workshops across a wide range of instruments, allowing students to work with expert tutors, collaborate with others, and explore music in a practical and engaging way. RNCM Young Projects also forms part of a wider pathway of opportunities, helping young people build confidence, connect with like-minded musicians, and take their next steps in music-making
For further information, visit the RNCM website.
Winmarleigh Hall Residential
From 23rd–25th May, 40 Trafford students of different ages and instruments will be heading to Winmarleigh Hall for an exciting residential experience combining music-making and outdoor adventure.
Across the three days, students will take part in a wide range of activities designed to build confidence, teamwork and resilience. These include challenges such as abseiling, archery, high ropes, zip wire and raft building, alongside opportunities for water-based activities on the centre’s lake.
Alongside the outdoor programme, students will also take part in ensemble sessions led by our talented Trafford Music Service staff. This will give them the chance to rehearse, collaborate and perform with a wide range of other musicians, many of whom they may not usually play with.
We’re sure it will be a fun-packed few days, full of music, challenge and memorable experiences, helping students to grow both musically and socially.
Photos from our previous visit to Winmarleigh Hall in 2024
Teacher Spotlight: Daria Fussl
A big shout out to Daria Fussl, who was involved in this year’s BRIT Awards! The ceremony on Saturday 1st March featured a performance by the Hallé alongside Alex Warren, and Daria was part of the team behind the scenes.
Here’s what Daria had to say about the experience:
“It was a very short-notice thing. The Hallé performing with Alex Warren was a surprise and it all came together very quickly, with the call to freelancers going out the day before the recording. I imagine it would have been quite complicated to mic up a full orchestra for just one performance during such a busy show, so the audio was pre-recorded the week before, and then mimed/played along to during the live broadcast.
That’s why, during this year’s BRITs, you couldn’t see me… but you could hear me as one of six cellos on the backing track! It’s quite funny to think about. The recording session itself was really relaxed. The arrangers were there and really enjoyed what we were doing, which made it a great experience.”
It’s fantastic to see our staff involved in high-profile professional work, and bringing that experience back into their teaching.
Daria teaches cello and piano for Trafford Music Service, as well as running all of our theory classes.
Did you know Trafford Music Service now has its own shop on Bookshop.org? We’ve carefully organised a range of instrument-specific books into easy-to-browse categories, making it simple to find the right resources for your child. There are also thousands of other titles available on the site, not just music books, so it’s well worth exploring.
One of the best things about Bookshop.org is that every purchase helps support independent bookshops, while also earning a small commission for Trafford Music Service. This income goes directly back into creating more opportunities for young musicians across Trafford.
Next time you’re looking to buy a music book, we’d really encourage you to consider using our shop. Prices are often identical to other major retailers, delivery is free on orders over £20, and your purchase supports both local bookshops and the music service. It’s a simple way to make a positive difference while getting what you need.
Explore the shop here: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/traffordmusicservice
Our Bookshop Store
Young Sounds Connect
We’re proud to celebrate the recent Young Sounds Connect activity that brought together young musicians from across Greater Manchester for a special day of music-making at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. The Connect programme supports young players from a range of backgrounds to continue progressing beyond initial whole‑class music lessons, offering bursaries, regular lessons and termly ensemble experiences that broaden horizons and deepen musical engagement.
At the RNCM event, talented Connect participants took part in workshops, ensemble sessions and interactive activities such as singing and Bamboo Tamboo, enjoyed a guided tour of the college, and were inspired by performances from RNCM students in concert. It was a brilliant example of how partners across music education are working together to give young musicians new experiences and pathways to grow.