Together we can Make Music and Change Lives

I want to be an Astronaut when I grow up... 

Well,we’re not sure if any of the graduates from Bromley Youth Music Trust (BYMT) reached this goal...but we do know for certain that many have gained the confidence and skills to reach their own personal goals. Our young students show tremendous discipline and commitment, just by practising and turning up for rehearsals and exams and putting on their best at performances, sometimes under very difficult circumstances. Not to mention the demand on their time from so many other areas. Yet music will always be there for them in their lives, whether playing or listening ... and it will bring back wonderful memories of good times.  

Speaking of which, a good time was had by all those young musicians in our Chamber Orchestra and Concert Band, who joined together on a 5-day tour to The Loire Valley in France in July. What a fantastic way to end a year (or more) of hours of practice, rehearsals and performances. And for those leaving us and moving on to the next step in their careers – a fitting climax to their time at BYMT and an opportunity to celebrate their hard work with their BYMT family and friends. 

Bromley Youth Music Trust will soon be celebrating 30 years as an independent Trust and we are currently on a mission to contact as many of our alumni as possible and find out where they are on their own paths in life. Whatever they are doing now, whether still in full time education or embarking on, or continuing their professional paths, even if they are not still playing their instruments, it is more than likely they will be singing in a choir or practising their musical theatre skills in amateur dramatics and for sure, listening to music in one way or another. And the skills acquired during their time at BYMT will continue to serve them well. 

As BYMT starts a new academic year, we are excited to see our old students returning after the summer break as well as welcoming new students to our courses. For some, this could be the very beginning of an exciting journey with fantastic opportunities: concerts, performances in renowned venues, competitions, masterclasses and of course, Music Tours to places they may not have experienced otherwise. There will be many challenges and for most, daily life will be all the better...because

MUSIC CHANGES LIVES 

Links:

• BYMT website

What an exciting three months we have had at Bromley Youth Music Trust (BYMT)! We started the new year with a week of open rehearsals to inspire anyone coming along to join BYMT - a world of opportunities for making music, performing and meeting new musical friends. At BYMT there is a music group for everyone and everyone is welcome.

At the end of January, we held our annual Rotary Norman Trotman Competition and Rotary Advanced Singer Finals, showcasing the very best of our young musicians and singers. In February, BYMT hosted the Annual Jazz School Day and Concert with an afternoon jazz workshop and evening concert featuring our BYMT Jazz School musicians and the ever popular Steve Buckley with the Buster Birch Quartet. In March, we had the opportunity to showcase the BYMT wind bands, string orchestras and youth and adult choirs in five, sell-out Festival performances at the Langley Park Centre for Performing Arts, giving our young musicians and singers a wonderful opportunity to perform on stage with an audience. 

BYMT was privileged to once again showcase the best of schools music at the biennial Bromley Schools Proms with over 30 Bromley schools taking part in 3 days of performances at South London's largest arts centre, The Fairfield Halls, in Croydon. What a magical experience for all those involved and for many young pupils their first performance on a big stage - who knows where this will lead?

Our popular keyboard concerts took place at the BYMT Centre in Southborugh Lane, followed by our Easter Sounds course in the first week of the Easter Holidays - a chance for any young student to learn an instrument and sing in a choir from scratch. Who would believe at the end of 3 morning sessions those taking part would put on a performance, bringing joy to all those in the audience?

The spring term finished with a flourish when BYMT Musical Theatre performed the wonderful Seussical, The Musical over 3 days.

A lot of work goes into putting on these performances (not just the performers!) and huge thanks to the behind the scenes staff and volunteers.

At BYMT we bring music into young people’s lives and start a journey that will last a lifetime. Some students will not have been able to take part without the financial assitance offered by our bursary scheme. Some will go on to becoming professional musicians, dancers, singers. Many will go on to other successful careers – the skills of commitment, discipline, communication, teamwork – many learned during their time at BYMT. Some will not pick up their instrument again for years and then return to it later in adult life. Some will be inspired by their own children starting music with BYMT, to join our adult choirs and groups. And there will be others that won’t pick up their instruments again once they have stopped playing. But we do know for sure – for all those who have been part of the BYMT family, music will continue to play a big part in their lives and will bring them joy. Thank you to all those who continue to support BYMT - Music Changes Lives.

Links:

• BYMT website
• NOTES for NOTES - give financial assistance for music lessons