Making Music UK

11/08/2026

Have you nominated someone for a Making Music Award yet? Nominations close on 17 August!

There’s still time to celebrate the people, groups and projects making a difference through leisure-time music.

From an exceptional volunteer or Musical Director, to outstanding community impact, diverse programming, new commissions, audience development and environmental action: there are lots of ways to shine a light on the fantastic work happening across our member groups.

You can nominate yourself, your group or someone else for an award. Find out more about the categories and submit your nomination:

https://buff.ly/ZejNTuu

16/07/2026

July marks Disability Pride Month. It is a time to celebrate the contributions, experiences and identities of disabled people, while also reflecting on the barriers that still exist.

Many disabled people still face barriers to participating in leisure-time activities, including music making. At Making Music, we believe everyone should have the opportunity to be part of a music group in their community, and we're continually inspired by the many groups finding creative ways to make their activities more accessible and inclusive.

Disability Pride Month is also an opportunity to reflect on the work that still needs to be done. Inclusion isn't a one-off achievement but an ongoing process of listening, learning and adapting. Small changes can make a big difference to who feels able to join, participate and thrive in a music group.

To support groups on that journey, we've developed our INCLUDE research programme, born out of the vision that everyone should have the opportunity to be part of a music group in their community. Through INCLUDE, we explored what leisure-time music groups can do to include a wider diversity of people in their activities and how Making Music can better support them.

If you're thinking about how your group can become more inclusive, explore the resources, research, and practical guidance available through INCLUDE: https://www.makingmusic.org.uk/advocacy/include-programme

Thank you to all who help make our musical communities richer, stronger and more inclusive.

15/07/2026

Need advice on making your submission to the 2026 Making Music Awards as good as possible? Take a look at this article for some great tips! Nominate by 14 August.

https://www.makingmusic.org.uk/news/top-tips-entering-making-music-awards?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=awards

13/07/2026

We can't wait to see what Norwich Harmony and composer Lydia Kenny come up with as part of our Adopt a Music Creator project!

🎼 We've Adopted A Music Creator! 🎼 Making Music UK

We welcomed composer Lydia Kenny to our rehearsal on Thursday to kick off the process of producing our bespoke piece(s) of music.

Lydia got us talking about various topics, recording our conversations to help her craft some verbatim lyrics, personal to us. Lots of laughs came with the chatting.

We're the only barbershop chorus to be selected as one of the 15 leisure-time music groups and we're really looking forward to the next stages of the process.

02/07/2026

Pride Month may be over, but creating welcoming, inclusive music groups is a year-round commitment.

Music brings people together, and everyone deserves to feel that they belong when they sing, play, and perform. Here are some ideas for making your groups more LGBTQ+ inclusive:

- Promote your group as a welcoming, safe, and supportive space for all people of the LGBTQ+ community.

- Make it clear that any form of discrimination towards LGBTQ+ people will not be tolerated.

- If you run a choir, don't assume people's voices. Ask them if they've sung in a choir before and which voice they think they'll be joining. Be flexible and remember that some people's voices will change.

- Think about venue facilities (toilets, changing rooms etc) and whether people can use those that they feel comfortable using.

- Choose repertoire that is diverse and representative of a broad range of people. If you're using lyrics, think about what messages are coded in them and how various people might receive them.

There are many ways to make your music groups more inclusive for LGBTQ+ people. This is just a small list. We'd love to hear feedback from you if you've implemented any of the above suggestions or others.

Photos:
European Q***r Choir
The Sunday Boys
Pink Singers

24/06/2026

Are you a young musician looking for financial assistance?

Young Sounds UK, our newest corporate member, supports young musicians from low-income families to overcome financial obstacles and access learning and mentoring opportunities.

They have helped over 7,000 young musicians since 1998.

If you know of someone who could benefit from their work, tag them in the comments below or refer them to Young Sounds UK.

Making Music - Scotland Making Music - Northern Ireland Making Music - Wales

22/06/2026

What a stunning day for Make Music Day 2026! Music performances across all four nations, gorgeous weather, and incredible people! What more could one ask for?

Did you participate in Make Music Day 2026? Let us know below in the comments.

Making Music - Wales
Making Music - Scotland
Making Music - Northern Ireland

11/06/2026

Nominations for the 2026 Making Music Awards are open!

This is your chance to spotlight the incredible work and achievements of the leisure-time music sector in the UK. You can nominate yourself or someone else. We are inspired everyday by your achievements and want to take a moment to celebrate you all!

Our categories for 2026 are:

🎵 Commissioning Award (new)
🎵 Group of the Year (new)
🎵 Musical Director of the Year (new)
🎵 Volunteer of the Year
🎵 Diverse Programming

Read more and submit your nominations by 14 August: https://buff.ly/Hf3T8Ku

Photos: The Cobweb Orchestra, The Glasgow Barons, Kingston Choral Society

04/06/2026

The Culture, Media and Sport Committee has published its Fan-led Review of Music, putting fans at the heart of the live music conversation.

We are proud to have contributed, helping ensure the voices of people attending community and grassroots concerts are reflected alongside stadium shows. Thank you if you took part!

At its core is a new Fan’s Charter, built around 7 essentials: celebration, fair ticketing, grassroots support, safety, accessibility, transport, and fan voice.

There are clear calls to action for government, local authorities, and those of us running events, so that we can build a stronger, more inclusive live music scene for everyone.

Read the full report and see how you can use it to shape your events or influence change locally: https://buff.ly/Tj47Ev9

In April, the Culture Media and Support Committee published their report on the Fan-led Review of Music inquiry, held in 2025. This UK Parliament House of Commons committee was following up on the previous committee’s 2024 report on grassroots music venues, which had recommended the Government lau...

28/05/2026

Ever thought it was too late to learn an instrument? The East London Late Starters Orchestra (ELLSO) is proving otherwise!

They're helping adults pick up string instruments and play music together from day one. They hold neither auditions nor exams; just a supportive community with high expectations coming together for the joy of making music together.

Read Making Music's Marketing Director, Barry Holloway’s interview with them! https://www.makingmusic.org.uk/news/never-too-late-east-london-late-starters-orchestra?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=news