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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 Winter, Spring and Summer holidays.
Applications for LSSO 2024-25 courses will open on 2 September and close 2 October 2024.
![LSSO](/sites/default/files/styles/12_6_media_small/public/2024-08/28%20%28c%29%20David%20Monteith-Hodge%20-%20Photographise%20-%20please%20credit%20-%20LSSO%20Barbican%28DMH_7793-Enhanced-NR%29.jpg?h=5d85b1d2&itok=43jAKVsc)
Key information:
- Course dates:
- Winter, Spring and Summer Holidays
- Age:
- 14–19
- Art form:
- Music
- Fees:
- £595 per course (+ additional fee TBC for Summer tour)
- Deadline:
- Apply by 2 October 2024 for courses in December–January 2025, April 2025, and July–September 2025 (late applications will be considered)
- Level of study:
- Short Courses & Summer Schools, Workshops & Saturday Centres (under 18)
- Mode of study:
- Holiday Courses
- 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 Winter, Spring 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.
Applicants should have reached at least Grade 7 on their instrument, which should be demonstrated via the answers on their application form and at audition.
Upon receipt of your application, a friendly member of our team will be in touch to invite you for audition.
Auditions are relaxed and informal. Applicants will be asked to play up to 5 minutes of contrasting music of their own choice. They will also be sent orchestral excerpts to prepare.
Accompanists are not provided but applicants may bring their own.
LSSO auditions take place during or close to the autumn half-term.
Fees
£595* per course
*Please note, Course Three includes a tour which will carry additional fees — these will be confirmed shortly.
Payment schedule
You will be invoiced separately for each course.
Bursaries
Means tested bursaries are available on request.
Late applications throughout the year will be considered if spaces are available. Please get in touch if you have missed the deadline.
Applications open on 2 September 2024 and close 2 October 2024.
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.
December Rehearsals
Sunday 15 December
Sunday 29 December
Monday 30 December
Break for New Year
January Rehearsals
Thursday 2 January
Friday 3 January
Saturday 4 January
Sunday 12 January
Monday 13 January (evening only)
Public Concert
Tuesday 14 January 2025, Barbican Hall (19.30)
Matthew Lynch conductor
Alessandro Fisher tenor
Programme to be confirmed
April Rehearsals
Sunday 6 April – Thursday 10 April (Morley College)
Sunday 13 April – Monday 14 April (Milton Court)
Public Concerts
Tuesday 15 April 2025, Milton Court Concert Hall (19.30)
Tuesday 22 April 2025 – Carnegie Hall ‘Link-Up’ Schools concert
Conductor
Christopher Warren-Green conductor
Programme to be confirmed
Provisional dates, to be confirmed
July Rehearsals
Sunday 20 July
Wednesday 23 July – Sunday 27 July
Tour (location tbc)
Wednesday 29 July – Sunday 3 August
September Rehearsals
Friday 12 September (evening only)
Sunday 14 September
Public Concert
Monday 15 September, Barbican Hall
Programme & Conductor to be confirmed