Guildhall School introduces Guildhall Young Artists: six centres dedicated to performing and production arts training for young people

Guildhall School of Music & Drama is delighted to introduce Guildhall Young Artists (GYA), a network of centres that provides inspiring performing and production arts training for children and young people. The network of six centres sees Guildhall School become one of the largest providers of specialist individualised performing arts education for under-18s in the UK.

Guildhall Young Artists is formed of six centres: Centre for Young Musicians, Junior Guildhall, Guildhall Young Artists King’s Cross, Guildhall Young Artists Norwich, Guildhall Young Artists Taunton and Guildhall Young Artists Online all of which provide training, teaching and support for children and young people wanting to experience performing arts and backstage skills. GYA helps realise the full potential of children and young people, with courses developed to progress their skills and experience the arts.

Watch our brand-new Guildhall Young Artists Trailer 

We're delighted that the Guildhall Young Artists network has been endorsed by some inspiring artists and industry professionals:

Composer and Master of the King’s Music, Judith Weir says:
“We all know that many young people, especially outside the largest urban centres, currently have few opportunities to learn, perform and create music in a sustained way. Growing out of a great conservatoire, GYA’s network of Saturday centres is a model of the best we can give them; modelled towards each local environment and providing access to teaching of the highest quality. The positivity of this organisation is an inspiration to all of us, in any educational or artistic field.”

Journalist & Broadcaster Naga Munchetty says:
“I studied at Centre for Young Musicians for at least ten years and I can honestly say they were some of the most fun and memorable times of my youth. Not only did it help with my ability to play the trumpet and piano, the skills I learnt and the experiences I had set me up for my career as a journalist - you have to be tenacious, willing to work hard, and be able to hone your individual skills but also be part of a team for the bigger pieces to come together. Having a network like Guildhall Young Artists is essential to ensuring that young people from all backgrounds have access to training that can help them develop essential life skills and supports their career aims."

Composer Benjamin Wallfisch says:
“At a time when funding and support for the performing arts in the UK is at risk, the Guildhall Young Artists community with its breadth of vision for creative exploration is exactly what tomorrow's artists need. During my time studying at Junior Guildhall in my teens I was so fortunate to find incredible opportunities to explore music from so many different angles – experiences which I still call on to this day. It's vital we have a place where young people from every background are nurtured in a sustained way to develop individual strengths and passions in the arts.”

Artist, Music Producer and Songwriter Jax Jones says:
“Centre for Young Musicians was the start of my musical life and little did I know how much music would impact the arc of my life. I attended every Saturday throughout my teens and learnt the classical guitar which became the foundation of my approach to music today. The other opportunities on offer such as ensemble playing, choir, a brilliant orchestra and more contemporary experiences like songwriting classes were equal in their delight and value. I met other human beings from all walks of life which broadened my world view but we were all united by our love for music. All this was echoed by an empathetic team of teachers who made me feel confident in every challenge. Thank you!” 

Actor Barney Walsh says:
“Attending Junior Guildhall was one of the best experiences of my life. Spending time with likeminded people, honing my skills and learning new ones was what really made me fall in love with the industry. I studied both acting and music at Junior Guildhall and I think that the breadth of opportunities, courses and classes were endless. Not only did I make friends for life and memories that will last a lifetime, but I also learned my craft. Having a network like Guildhall Young Artists is hugely important in providing a steppingstone to the performing arts industry and for that I could not be more grateful.”

Each GYA centre is run and overseen by Guildhall School, in partnership with arts venues and local providers of education, including schools, local authorities and Music Hubs. These partnerships ensure that children and young people attending GYA centres have access to opportunities to develop and enrich their experiences as creative individuals.

Over 1500 students currently participate in GYA centre activities, including weekly Saturday courses and orchestras. Bursary support is offered to nearly 20% of participants across all GYA centres and almost 40% of participants are from the global majority. Students come from over 700 schools nationally, and from 23 counties, to attend each week. Taster sessions are offered at Guildhall Young Artists Norwich, Taunton and King’s Cross to give participants a better feel for the classes that they would like to take part in.

Regardless of their ultimate career direction, the professional artistic environment of Guildhall Young Artists provides students with valuable life skills and the means to develop their individual talents to the full. Many students go on to study their chosen discipline full-time at undergraduate level, with 132 students aged 16-18 from the network going on to study music or drama at higher education in the last three years.

Guildhall Young Artists aims to:

• Introduce children and young people to high-quality arts education across a range of genres, allowing for creative understanding of multiple artforms and cross-artform collaboration.
• Help children and young people build the necessary creative skills to reflect the new opportunities available to artists in the 21^st century.
• Encourage children and young people from under-represented backgrounds to engage in the performing arts.
• Provide children and young people with necessary support (including financial aid), access to Guildhall School educators, performance opportunities and technical, personal and social experiences.
• Boost and embolden creative teaching talent across the country and support local teaching infrastructure.
• Provide progression pathways for children and young people to access performing and production arts opportunities at higher education and within the industry.
   

Professor Jonathan Vaughan, Principal of Guildhall School of Music & Drama, says:
“The introduction of this network, which already provides sustained training to over 1500 participants each week, demonstrates the depth and breadth of Guildhall School's commitment to children and young people. Our vision of becoming a sector leader in lifelong learning in the arts is being realised as we work to ensure the boundaries between the different levels of our training are porous, and that people at every stage of life can learn with Guildhall School. The Guildhall Young Artists network is a vital addition to our range of learning opportunities for all ages, which also includes a wide range of short courses and summer schools, delivery of the music education hub for the London Borough of Islington and the London centre of the National Open Youth Orchestra, and training and resources for performing arts professionals.”

Alison Mears, Director of Guildhall Young Artists & Safeguarding, says:
“Over the past decade, a lack of investment and prioritisation of performing arts in state education both within and beyond school has closed down progression opportunity for many. This has profound implications for the talent pool and diversity of who becomes tomorrow’s artists, and the variety of creative work they might produce. At Guildhall School we believe that as many children as possible should have the opportunity to experience the joy of performing arts training, and to benefit from the personal and social skills it brings. Guildhall Young Artists is our response, as a leading conservatoire, to help increase and broaden the country’s talent pipeline, and to enable more young people to perform, create, improvise and collaborate at the highest level.”
 

Further Endorsements

For GYA King’s Cross:
Sarah Beagley, Headteacher at Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School, says:
“I am delighted that Elizabeth Garrett Anderson (EGA) School is the home of Guildhall Young Artists (GYA) King’s Cross. GYA King's Cross provides an outstanding opportunity for students in Islington and across London to explore their creativity together. Diversity of experience and background in our students is a core value at our School and this is very much shared with GYA King’s Cross, in addition to providing students with an environment where they can flourish and grow whatever their interest or aspiration. The rich offer from King’s Cross enhances the taught curriculum in EGA, giving talented and enthusiastic young people the chance to develop their skills alongside other likeminded young people and industry leads. Opportunities shape futures.  These experiences highlight the importance of creativity in finding routes into employment in creative industries and beyond, but importantly ensure that creativity is embedded within young people, and remains a part of their lives into adulthood, bringing them joy and connections throughout their lives.”

For GYA Norwich:
Caroline Jarrold, Patron of the Norfolk County Youth Orchestra and Chair of Norwich Philharmonic Society, says:”
“Guildhall Young Artists (GYA) Norwich is incredibly important in providing access for young people locally to have opportunities to learn and improve their performance of classical repertoire and wider musical genres. Holiday courses at GYA Norwich such as the Norfolk County Youth Orchestra (NCYO), which I am proud to be a patron of, gives members of Guildhall Young Artists Norwich wanting to take their development to the next level the opportunity to further develop their performance skills and progress as a musician. I am always blown away by the quality of the performances of the NCYO and it is heartening to see the enthusiasm with which the players perform. Opportunities for progression are an integral part of GYA Norwich, for many members of the Norwich Philharmonic Society, for which I am Chair of, were members of the NCYO before joining. Without a flow of new, younger talent, such organisations will not be sustainable in the future – and what a loss to society that would be.”

Jo Philpott, Headteacher of City of Norwich School, says: 
"Guildhall Young Artists (GYA) Norwich is a superb opportunity for students of music and drama to learn in a creative environment with specialist teaching. City of Norwich School's relationship with GYA is firmly embedded in the ethos of the school and has resulted in our students having access to the creative arts at a national level. Students of GYA have progressed onto professional, educational and recreational opportunities in the performing arts and associated industries. GYA brings national expertise to Norwich and is a wonderful addition to the creativity of our city."

For GYA Taunton:
Michael Eavis, Creator of The Glastonbury Festival, says:
"This centre is vital if we are to develop the next generation of talent from every background. Young people living in a rural area like Somerset have sometimes had to relocate or travel long distances to obtain high-quality performing arts opportunities, but with Guildhall Young Artists Taunton, I am pleased to say that this is no longer the case - we have now created an opportunity on our doorstep.”

Charles Hazlewood, Conductor and Artistic Director of Paraorchestra, says:
“Having a place like Guildhall Young Artists (GYA) Taunton is a real asset for all children and young people in Somerset. To have a centre with this breadth of imagination and acumen is a vital resource, to fuel the potential of future generations of music makers and performers.

This unique performing arts centre, which my daughter has been a member of, where she felt included and inspired, ensures that children and young people from all backgrounds in Somerset can access high-quality training. 

As someone who has championed inclusivity in music, and who is passionate about the arts in this area of the country, I’m delighted to have this centre on our doorstep. There was a time where London was the main place to access such high-quality opportunities within the performing arts, but I’m pleased to say that Somerset is quickly becoming a strong contender.”

Find out more about the Guildhall Young Artists network.