NOTES for NOTES

It was a long, cold and wet winter in the UK but here at Bromley Youth Music Trust (BYMT) in South East London we have warmed our hearts with the sound of music and song and our spirits have been lifted with the most amazing performances from our young musicians and singers in our Festival Concerts in March and the 'Spring' term ended with a spectacular performance of 'Legally Blonde' by our Musical Theatre members. In June we held our Infant Song Festival and Minting Cup and Young Singer of the Year Finals. All this is on top of our daily music services which include classes, music lessons and music support in schools.  

We have been working hard towards our vision that all children, young people and the wider community benefit from the enriching and transformative power of music and this year we have helped an unprecedented number of young people access our music services by giving financial support from our Young Musicians’ Bursary. This has put an incredible strain on our resources and we would not be able to help so many without the generosity of our supporters, including our BYMT alumni, our former BYMT pupils and the roots of BYMT. 

Some of our alumni are members of XBY Concert Band who meet weekly at BYMT to rehearse and who together with one of BYMT’s adult choirs, SING! Bromley, performed at the St George’s Arts Festival last week. This year BYMT celebrates its 30th Birthday and we are looking forward to seeing many of our alumni at our ‘Play and Social’ at the beginning of July, with special guest performances by our Alumni Wind Band and Alumni Strings Orchestra at our annual Garden Party. We have received the most wonderful comments from our alumni about their time spent with BYMT: 

"I couldn't think of a life without music. Everything I have done since leaving BYMT has been connected to music in some way. My longest-lasting friends are all from my time at BYMT."

"It has been the single most consistent thing in my life. It is my only creative outlet." 

"BYMT years were some of my happiest and many of my very best memories of youth... Music enriches every part of my life." 

"Without BYMT I wouldn't be where I am today." 

"A wonderful outlet for children, of all backgrounds and financial means, to learn really important life skills which will support educational outcomes, employment outcomes and mental health/wellbeing."

Thank you to all our young musicians, singers and musical theatre members, our teachers, volounteers and staff and last but not least the parents and carers - you are helping BYMT change lives with the power of music.