County Music Groups
Orchestras, bands and choirs
Suffolk County Music Service (SCMS) runs a bespoke programme for Suffolk’s finest young musicians. These high-level County Music Groups offer exciting performance opportunities throughout the year, performing at prestigious venues. Selected ensembles also have the opportunity to tour abroad each year.
Ensembles are coached by SCMS’s professional team of tutors and guest artists from our partner professional orchestras, which in recent seasons have included the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.
- Suffolk Youth Orchestra: for instrumentalists aged up to 21, playing at Grade 6+ standard and above (or equivalent).
- Suffolk Youth Wind Orchestra: for woodwind, brass & percussion players aged up to 21, playing at Grade 5+ standard and above (or equivalent).
- Suffolk Young Strings: a string orchestra for players aged under 16, playing at Grade 4+ standard (or equivalent).
- Suffolk Youth Choir: a non-auditioned opportunity for all singers 13-21 years - will be available later in the year. More details will be sent to schools and published on our website and social media as they become available. Watch this space!
Why join?
- European concert tours! (Suffolk Youth Orchestra and Suffolk Youth Wind Orchestra)
- Perform in prestigious concert halls, including Snape Maltings!
- Take your instrumental skills to the very highest levels.
- Learn, play and perform a varied and exciting programme of music.
- Develop your ensemble performance skills.
- Work with like-minded musicians and friends as part of a brilliant team!
- A progressive pathway in your personal, musical and broader educational development and excellent experience for your CV and College/University application statements.
More information
Find our rehearsal and performance dates for the 2020-21 season.
Read on to find our costs, membership conditions and frequently asked questions.
Open the menu below to find out how to apply and read more information about the County Music Groups.
Contact us if you have any questions by email county.musicservice@suffolk.gov.uk or phone 01473 263400. Our office is open Monday-Friday from 9am to 5pm, closed on Bank Holidays.
How to apply
Suffolk Youth Orchestra
We are a full symphony orchestra of around 95 players that enjoys playing major symphonic repertoire.
Each season we perform in some of the UK's major concert halls.
A highlight of our season is the annual Summer Concert Tour, where we get the fantastic opportunity to perform abroad! We play in amazing venues to audiences all over Europe.
On our return, we always look forward to performing at the world-famous Snape Proms music festival.
Recent tour destinations include:
- Belgium (2010)
- Spain (2011, 2018)
- Italy (2012, 2014, 2019)
- France (2013)
- Czech Republic and Slovak Republic (2015)
- Germany (2016)
- Poland (2017)
Season highlight!
In 2019 we worked with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Suffolk University on a ground-breaking video game composition and recording programme, in partnership with Sony Interactive Entertainment, Avid Music Software and Place 21!
Suffolk Youth Wind Orchestra
We are a full Symphonic Wind Orchestra of around 60 players that enjoys playing works from both the major symphonic wind band and wind orchestra repertoire as well as a lighter repertoire from films, shows, and popular artists.
Throughout the season we enjoy playing a diverse and varied repertoire, from the most taxing symphonic wind orchestra works to jazz, big band, and show music!
Each season we perform in fantastic major concert halls including Snape Maltings and The Apex in Bury St Edmunds, as well as beautiful cultural venues in our tour destinations.
A highlight of our season is the annual Summer Concert Tour, where we get the fantastic opportunity to perform abroad! We play in amazing venues and to appreciative audiences all over Europe.
On our return, we always look forward to sharing our experiences and music with a home audience in our Gala Concert back at Snape.
Recent tour destinations include:
- Czech Republic (2010)
- France (2013)
- Germany (2012, 2019)
- Slovenia (2011)
- Spain (2014).
Season highlight!
In 2019 we worked with the British Army Band for two days just before the country went into lock-down! We had a fantastic two day course with a performance of Godzilla Meets Last Vegas! alongside our own repertoire that we had been studying at the Christmas Course.
Suffolk Young Strings
We are a string orchestra of around 30 players aged 16 and under. We enjoy playing an exciting variety of repertoire and have fun learning new skills on our instruments!
Each season we play great music, from baroque to contemporary classics!
Our ensemble works to a high-performance standard and is an excellent opportunity to hone our skills in preparation for Suffolk Youth Orchestra.
Season Finale
In September all the groups perform together for a rousing end of season Gala concert at Snape Maltings Concert Hall. We get a taste of what it’s like to be professional musicians, with our own dressing rooms, stage crew and sound checks!
