TWANGO!

Director:  Martina Zuhlke

Originally formed around 8 years ago by 3 local classical guitar teachers, Twango! became part of the SMS ensemble stable 4 years ago. Rehearsing weekly at Foundry Lane Primary School on a Wednesday from 4.30 - 5.30pm, Twango! play a wide variety of specially arranged music ranging from Vivaldi to James Brown! Members ages range from 9 to 17 and new classical players are always welcome. Twango has players in the grade 1-5 category and another group, Kerrango, has players from grade 5 up. Twangolitos, a group for beginners up to grade 1, meets weekly. Twango attended the World Youth Guitar Festival in July 07 and August 2009.  Please click here to visit the twango website.

We also have a junior guitar ensemble, Twanglitos who rehearse on Thursday from 4.00 - 5.00pm at Bitterne Park Asecension Centre.

THE SOUTHAMPTON CLARINET CHORALES

Director: David King

There are two clarinet chorales: a Senior and a Junior group.  The Junior group ranges from grade 1/2-4, and the Senior group from 4/5 to 8.  They are given the opportunity to experience ensemble playing, and to improve their own individual standards in technique and sight reading.  The music ranges in style from classical to modern and from duets to quartets.

The main focus of the clarinet chorales is the development of good intonation and technique.  Students experience playing the full range of the clarinet family of instruments.  They develop the confidence to lead a section and to play a solo line within the ensemble.

The clarinet chorales rehearse on alternate Saturdays at Cantell School between 9.30 - 11.00am.


SOUTHAMPTON FLUTE CHOIR + PREMIER FLUTES

Director - Claire Stocker

Southampton Flute Choir rehearses fortnightly on Saturday mornings at Cantell School from 9.15 - 10.30am. We play a wide variety of musical styles using trios and quartets to develop ensemble skills, sight reading ability and improve aspects of technique.

Members of Southampton Flute choir range from grade 1-4 and are able to progress into other ensembles in Southampton including orchestras, wind bands and Premier Flutes. New members are always welcome.

Premier Flute Choir rehearses fortnightly on Saturday mornings at Cantell School from 10.45 - 12pm. We play a wide variety of musical styles using trio, quarters and flute choir music to develop ensemble skills and improve aspects of technique. We benefit from expanding the range of instruments including the piccolo, alto flute and bass flute. This expands the reperotoire available to the group and helps to create a richer and deeper sound.

Members of Premier Flutes range from grade four above and often play as part of other Southampton Music Service ensembles. We regularly perform with other groups from Southampton including the Clarinet Chorales, Southampton Flute Choir, Pulse 8, Consort and Southampton Youth Sinfonia. New members are always welcome.

PULSE 8 WIND BAND

Director - Tracy Clark

Pulse 8 rehearse at Mansel Park Primary School on a Wednesday from 4 - 5.30pm.

GOOD VIBRATIONS WIND BAND

Director - Rebecca Farwell                                

Co-Director/Arranger - John Bell

Good Vibrations is a wind band that serves the east city and welcomes players between Grade II and Grade V. We have an exciting range of repertoire including music from the Beatles, Abba and John Williams, as well as unique arrangements of jazz standards, musicals and popular music. The music we play is tailored to the abilities of the individual pupils to that they can play to the height of their capability and reach their full potential. Players learn to work as a member of a section, follow a conductor, and devlop stamina on their instrument.

We take part in joint pyramid concerts with the other wind bands in the city in addition to having our own concerts. The band rehearses during term time at Weston Park Junior School on a Wednesday between 4-5pm. If you are interested in joining or would like more information please email us at:

AIRPLAY - WIND BAND

Director - Stephanie Watkins

Airplay is the first band for young woodwind players from beginners to approximate grade 2/3. The age range is generally from 7 - 12yrs, and instruments include oboe, bassoon, saxophone and french horn.

Rehearsals are at Sholing Junior School between 4-5pm on Thursdays during term time and at Mansel Park Primary School on a Wednesday 4-5pm.

Players are welcome to come and try a session.

JUNIOR CONSORT!

Director: Anna Thompsett/Anita Felton

Junior Consort! is open to children from Year Four and above. Our current members are from Years Five, Six and Seven. There is no audition. Children will be invited to attend a rehearsal. If they enjoy it and can play to a minimum standard they will be invited to join. The children need to be able to play notes B, A, and G confidently and be able to read from notation. Rehearsals are held weekly on Wednesdays from 4.15 - 5.15 p.m. at Ludlow Junior School, Bitterne.

PERCUSSION ENSEMBLES

Director: Ted Carrasco

West - Oakwood Junior School, Monday 4.30 - 5.30pm

East - Ludlow Junior School, Tuesday, 4.45 - 5.45pm

Supersonic Percussion Ensemble

Director: Alex Pope

Must be able to read music from grade 5 level and above.

Supersonic was created in January 2009 and rehearses monthly on a Friday evening from 7-9pm at Cantell School. It features percussionists in the Southampton Area that already take part in the cities intermediate to senior level youth ensembles.

The aim is to develop each member's self-confidence and to give them the opportunity to play in an ensemble purely of their own kind. Whilst achieving and perfoming to a high standard, Supersonic remains fun and informal.

PHOENIX

Director: Ping Hua

The Phoenix Arts Group was formed at the beginning of 2002 based on the former Southampton Chinese School Orchestra & Dance Group. 

The aims of the group are to promote Chinese culture and to enable the local Chinese community to contribute towards the cultural diversity of Southampton and the surrounding region, to raise awareness and understanding of Chinese art and culture amongst all communities.  

The age range of the members of the group is from 6 to 17.   There are three Chinese music instrumental classes and instrumental ensembles taking place every Saturday from 12pm to 1pm at Cantell School.  The three music instruments are: Dizi: Chinese Bamboo flute; Erhu: two stringed fiddle, also called Chinese Violin, and Pipa: Four stringed Lute.  

The group's instrumental ensemble participated in the Annual Cultural Performance Competition organised by UK Federation of Chinese Schools in 2002 and 2003 and won the top prize both times in the music instruments category. 

First Steps Ensembles

SMS have created six new beginner ensembles across the city. These ensmebles are aimed at pupils receiving their first experience of playing an instrument at school. For more information please call 023 8083 3648.

Ludlow Junior: Directed by Huw Llewellyn, Monday 15:30 - 16:30

Springhill Primary: Directed by Kelly Evans, Monday 15:45 - 16:45

Mansel Park Primary: Directed by Bev Geen, Tuesday 15:30 - 16:30

St Denys Primary: Directed by Anna Thompsett, Tuesday 15:30 - 16:30

Moorlands Primary: Directed by Paul Hart, Tuesday 15:30 - 16:30

Oakwood Junior: Directed by Ian Green, Tuesday, 15:30 - 16:30

Please visit the website: http://www.southamptonchinese.org.uk/activites/arts.htm for more details.

How can I join?

If you are interested in joining one of the above orchestras please fill in our online enquiry form and you will be contacted shortly.