Making Music UK

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

19/05/2026

We’re delighted to announce the 2026 cohort for Adopt a Music Creator, our flagship project supporting collaborations between music creators and leisure‑time music groups. Meet this year’s cohort below.

This year, fifteen groups will each receive £1,000 to commission new music, helping to spark creativity and develop both participants and audiences.

We’re grateful to the PRS Foundation for their continued support.

Read more: https://www.makingmusic.org.uk/news/adopt-music-creator-2026-cohort?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=adopt_a_music_creator

All Sing Community Choir
Ca****la Slavonica
Chester Bach Singers
Clyde Wind Ensemble
Dunedin Wind Band
Flutes & Co
Halstead Choral
Newbury Symphony Orchestra
North Norfolk Sinfonia
Norwich Harmony
vocala
Wales Recorder Orchestra
Whittlesey Concert Band
Wokingham Choral Society
Women Sing East

14/05/2026

For Mental Health Awareness Week, remember that the arts are great for your overall wellbeing!

Samir Savant, the CEO of St George's Bristol, says that singing:

🎵 Supports brain health, helping with speech, language skills, and memory.

🎵 Benefits the body by improving posture, breathing, and lung function.

🎵 Boosts mood by releasing feel-good hormones linked to happiness and relaxation.

🎵 Encourages confidence, creativity, and emotional expression.
brings people together and strengthens social connection and community

So keep singing and playing for better health!

More: https://buff.ly/KZAa0Lk

Photos: Electric Pink Voices, Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra, Fascinating Rhythm, Bradford Accordion Band

05/05/2026

Local and devolved parliament elections are coming up this week, with millions of voters heading to the polls.

Campaign periods are a great chance to speak to candidates about the future of leisure‑time music in your area. We’re encouraging our members to start conversations with candidates wherever the opportunity arises.

To help, we’ve prepared clear, practical Doorstep Asks tailored for Scotland, Wales and England, focusing on things elected representatives can genuinely act on, from spaces for music making to wider local infrastructure.

As part of a network of around 4,000 music groups across the UK, your voice matters. Check out the resource, find out who’s standing in your area, and help make sure music is heard this election: https://www.makingmusic.org.uk/advocacy/may-2026-UK-elections

29/04/2026

Is your group looking for ways to sell out your concerts?

We've put together three case studies from our member groups who have done fantastic work in selling out their performances. From sold‑out Mahler to packed houses and growing communities, they show what’s possible with the right approach.

🎶 Leeds Symphony Orchestra turned the sheer scale and drama of Mahler’s Sixth into an inspiring event, using powerful storytelling and member‑led promotion to sell every ticket. https://buff.ly/4dJqRZb

🎶Preston Symphony Orchestra built an audience from nothing by putting listeners first, programming familiar favourites and making concerts welcoming and accessible. https://buff.ly/DVdk0gS

🎶Sheffield Philharmonic Orchestra proved that sustained success comes from people power, smart use of data and a clear focus on giving audiences a great experience. https://buff.ly/M4ANoGq

Three different paths, one shared result: full halls and thriving orchestras!

27/03/2026

We have made a submission to the Living Heritage Inventory to include orchestral, choral, and chamber music societies on their inventory. Read all about our submissions here:

Orchestral societies: https://www.makingmusic.org.uk/news/living-heritage-orchestral-societies

Choral societies: https://www.makingmusic.org.uk/news/living-heritage-choral-societies

Chamber music societies: https://www.makingmusic.org.uk/news/living-heritage-choral-music-societies

Chamber Music Societies are part of our living heritage - and they deserve to be included in the Living Heritage inventory.

19/03/2026

Is your music making Living Heritage? If you are a member of a Choral Society, Orchestral Society or Chamber Music Society, we'd like to hear from you within the next week.

Since January, we've been talking to our members and the wider leisure time music community about how a UK government and UNESCO initiative can help recognise, celebrate and protect our valuable music traditions.

We're now preparing to submit three music practices to the Inventories of Living Heritage - Choral Societies, Orchestral Societies and Chamber Music Societies. If you're in one of those groups, you can comment on our draft submission. The form for comments will remain open now until Wednesday 25 March.

You can read all about this process to understand how we chose these three for submission. Then have a look at our draft submissions to see if your group falls under one of these headings, and comment on the draft to help us improve it before we submit:
https://www.makingmusic.org.uk/advocacy/living-heritage

We need to show that we have the communities' consent to submit, so please do get involved!

17/03/2026

Member shout out!

Lichfield Sinfonia is a Symphony Orchestra based in Lichfield. Isn't this photo of them just gorgeous? Take a look at their upcoming events and give them a follow!

https://www.lichfieldsinfonia.co.uk/