Midlothian Council has backed down on proposed music tuition cuts in its schools after a musical flashmob demonstrated outside its Dalkeith chambers.

The d&b audiotechnik/Backstage Academy partnership sees the German technology supplier continue its support for the live event production education facility

DJ, Grandmaster Flash, violinist, Anne-Sophie Mutter and the Playing for Change Foundation have been announced as 2019 Polar Music Prize Laureates

Melofonetica, the organiser of the Veneto Opera Summer School and Arte Lirica Festival, has announced the Badoer Dalla Rizza Scholarship Fund to support early-career artists in their… Read more

The APPG for Music Education, in partnership with the University of Sussex and the ISM, has released a new report, ‘Music Education: State of the Nation’

American rock band, Foo Fighters, has teamed up with European rock school, Rocksteady, to announce ‘Just PLAY’, a free live music education experience

Midlothian Council is set to axe all musical instrument tuition in its schools – except for children who are studying for Higher or National Five exams

Orchestras Live has launched a new online publication, ‘From Bingo to Bartok’: Creative and Innovative Approaches to involving older people with Orchestras

International electronic music school, Point Blank, has announced details of its new Chinese venture in partnership with NetEase FEVER, Point Blank China

A new website, Music for Dementia 2020, has launched as an information hub offering advice, research and expertise to the music and dementia sectors

A new report by Youth Music, ‘The Sound of the Next Generation’, shows that music is young people’s favourite hobby – ahead of sport, drama and dance.

Nicola Benedetti has launched a video series, ‘With Nicky’, as the first stage in her plan to establish a charitable organisation, the Benedetti Foundation.

The European String Teachers Association (ESTA) and European Piano Teachers Association (EPTA) have agreed to share expertise to deliver a variety of accredited teacher courses. These instrument-specific… Read more

London-based youth charity, Sound Connections, has announced that applications are open for its 2019 Innovate and IMPACT Bursary Programmes

An open letter sent on 23 January 2019 by leading academics to the Department for Education (DfE) in response to the DfE’s recent announcement of the development… Read more

Lord Black of Brentwood, Chairman of the Royal College of Music and a Conservative Peer, argued powerfully for the benefits of digital technology in supporting and enhancing… Read more

Internationally acclaimed pianist and educator, Lang Lang, will release his latest publication, ‘Lang Lang Piano Book’, on 12 April 2019.

Portsmouth Music Hub released Pollution Revolution on 16 January as part of the organisation’s One World environmental campaign. According to the hub, the film, which can be… Read more

Sing Up has released a set of free Sing Up Day resources in support of its tenth Sing Up Day, which takes place on Wednesday 13 March 2019

UK music learning technology specialist, Charanga, and Hong Kong music teaching provider, PURE Orchestral Centre, are launching the Hong Kong Charanga Platform

Concerns have been raised over a consultation launched by the London Borough of Newham Council, which is seeking to cancel its Every Child programme.

A new Fabian Society report, ‘Primary Colours’, has revealed that 68% of Primary teachers in England say there is less arts education now than in 2010.

UK School Standards Minister, Nick Gibb, has announced that schools are to receive a new model music curriculum created by an independent panel of experts.

London-based international rock and pop exam provider, RSL (Rockschool Ltd), has announced details of its inaugural RSL Teacher Conference.

Scottish concert violinist and campaigner for music in education, Nicola Benedetti, has received a CBE for Services to Music in the New Years Honours list.

Help Musicians UK (HMUK) has appointed former interim Financial Director and interim CEO, James Ainscough, as its permanent CEO.

World-renowned choral ensemble, The Sixteen, has opened applications for the 2019-20 cohort of its free young artists’ scheme, Genesis Sixteen.

The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) has submitted an application to the UK Department for Education to open a Secondary school specialising in the creative and… Read more

Tileyard Studios’ education arm, Tileyard Education, has announced details of new partnerships with Backstage Academy and Aston Microphones.

Violinist, Usha Kapoor, and pianist and postgraduate student, Edward Leung, have won the inaugural Birmingham International Piano Chamber Music Competition.

The Royal College of Music will celebrate International Women’s Day 2019 with concerts and a celebration of the life and music of Clara Schumann.

Chetham’s School of Music has launched a student physical wellbeing programme, Fit to Perform, with the aim of preventing performance-related injuries.

Tri-borough Music Hub and a group of partners have been awarded £105,000 by Youth Music to support Early Years music education via Tri-Music Together (TMT).

The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is to introduce a Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (Music) for graduates who aspire to teach Secondary music.

UK national singing organisation, Sing Up, has announced details of its Sing Up Day 2019 song, ‘One moment, one people’, written by Beccy Owen.

London College of Creative Media (LCCM) celebrated the opening of the Music Box, the college’s new home, at a ceremony in London on 4 December 2018. Guests… Read more

Music Generation, Ireland’s national music education programme, has launched Ukes4youth, a project involving over 60 teenagers, in County Leitrim. The organisation’s regional branch, Music Generation Leitrim, has… Read more

Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester has announced that Tom Redmond will succeed Stephen Threlfall as Director of Music from September 2019. A former member of the… Read more

jazzahead! has announced the line-up for its 2019 GALAKONZERT, which takes place at Die Glocke Concert Hall in Bremen, Germany, on Friday 26 April 2019.

The University for the Creative Arts (UCA) has announced a £5,000 Women in Music scholarship aimed at reducing the industry’s gender gap.

Children from Portsmouth schools sang outside Parliament on 27 November 2018 to celebrate the centenary of women’s right to vote, courtesy of Portsmouth Music Hub and MP, Stephen Morgan.

London Music Fund, a charity which supports young musicians through a scholarships scheme, has launched a fundraising campaign as part of  The Christmas Challenge – the UK’s… Read more

nSpire Me has launched Let’s Play Violin!, an interactive practice app which uses cutting-edge technology to listen to and analyse children’s playing.

To celebrate nearly 40 years of success in audio engineering, the School of Sound Recording (SSR) has announced that it is rebranding as Spirit Studios.

The Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) has pledged to increase its support for students through directing its 2018/19 Annual Appeal to supporting their health and wellbeing. According… Read more

22-year-old saxophonist, Xhosa Cole, was announced as the winner of BBC Young Jazz Musician 2018 at London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall on 24 November 2018.

AdRev and Sound Royalties have announced a new strategic marketing partnership to help music professionals and content creators access royalty financing.

A raft of first-time exhibitors has been announced for the Guitar Show 2019, which runs from 23-24 February 2019 at Birmingham’s New Bingley Hall.

The Association for Popular Music Education has announced a Call for Participation in its APME 2019 conference, held at New York University (NYU).

More Music Founder, Pete Moser, launched a three-year community music programme, Remixing Community, in Hong Kong with a residency from 12-19 November 2018.

On Saint Cecilia’s Day 2018, and to cap its year-long ‘Women in Song’ project, National Youth Choirs Of Great Britain (NYCGB) has announced a commitment to ensuring… Read more

Senior executives and representatives of China’s leading companies will visit Berklee College of Music for the Berklee China-US Music Summit in December 2018.

With a range of usability, performance and quality improvements, Steinberg has announced the release of Cubase 10, encompassing Pro, Artist and Elements.

The first piece of research published by the Creative Industries Policy & Evidence Centre (PEC), a new study of 35 million UK job adverts from 2013-2017, finds… Read more

Led by Live Music Now and the University of Winchester, a new report, ‘Live Music in Care’, recommends that live music should be essential in all UK care homes.

Nine Creative Industries Clusters will bring together some of the UK’s best creative businesses with researchers and organisations to enhance their sectors.

Rachel Shapey, a Secondary school teacher from Stockport, is one of five finalists for this year’s Stelios Awards for Disabled Entrepreneurs.

Royal Conservatoire of Scotland patron, HRH the Prince of Wales, has received a 70th birthday message from some of the institution’s youngest string players.

Awards for Young Musicians has released ‘Practical Progression’, a series of films made by and for music leaders, produced in partnership with five music hubs.

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) and the University of Hull have announced a new partnership which builds on a working relationship established over the past two years…. Read more

The Dartington Hall Trust has announced that Sara Mohr-Pietsch will be the next Artistic Director of Dartington International Summer School and Festival.

Sistema Scotland has appointed Peter Nicholson as its new Director of Music, succeeding Francis Cummings who moves to Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Portsmouth Music Hub has been shortlisted in the Outstanding Print Resource category at the Music Teacher Awards for Excellence 2019. The Music Hub has been shortlisted for… Read more

New data released on 6 November 2018 reveals low-income British families are at risk of under-representation in the music industry as access to music lessons is dying… Read more

The finalists of the 2019 Music Teacher Awards for Excellence have been revealed – with the winners to be announced at a gala dinner and ceremony next March.

UK Music had published its annual Measuring Music report, highlighting the scale of the UK music industry’s contribution to the UK economy.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and the London Borough of Waltham Forest have revealed the programme for the first ever London Borough of Culture.

Chetham’s School of Music, the leading specialist music school, will present a week of performance by the School’s young ensembles from 3-14 February 2019. The extended Spring… Read more

The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS) has announced a new fund to kick start the careers of the nation’s emerging creative artists. The Make It Happen Fund,… Read more

Wigmore Hall and classical music broadcaster Classic FM have announced a new collaboration on a discount ticket scheme, which will provide 25,000 £5 tickets to hundreds of concerts… Read more

Sound Connections, the London-based youth charity, has announced that Chris Brannick has been appointed as the organisation’s new Chair. Brannick takes over from Katrina Duncan, who served… Read more

The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama has welcomed the publication of Lord Murphy’s independent review of conservatoire provision in Wales.

German conductor, Julia Selina Blank, has won first prize at LICCC 2018, the inaugural edition of the London International Choral Conducting Competition, held at the Royal Academy… Read more

UK Music CEO, Michael Dugher, has called on the Chancellor to use his forthcoming Budget, to be published on 29 October 2018, to order an ‘urgent review’… Read more

The Irish government has pledged €9m to the 170-year-old Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM) to transform its Dublin campus. The redevelopment of the RIAM’s Westland Row building will… Read more

Parents and Carers in Performing Arts (PIPA) shared the findings of its UK-wide survey into work-life balance and the performing arts at a parliamentary event on 18 October 2018.

Composer, Carmel Smickersgill, wins £1,000 and a year’s membership of BASCA as part of Liverpool Philharmonic’s Christopher Brooks Composition Prize.

Iwan Llewelyn Jones, a faculty member from the School of Music and Media, Bangor University, is visiting China in October 2018 to perform and host masterclasses for… Read more

‘The Singing School Handbook’, a joint publication from Sing Up and Faber Music written by Sing Up CEO, Michelle James, will be released on 7 November 2018. 

Tido, Carl Fischer Music and Theodore Presser Company’s new partnership gives app subscribers access to a diverse selection of repertoire and resources.

John Gilhooly, Chief Executive and Artistic Director of Wigmore Hall and Chairman of the Royal Philharmonic Society, is to receive the 2019 Heidelberger Frühling Music Award.

Roland has introduced its new LX700 digital piano series, featuring three models: the flagship LX708, mid-range LX706 and entry-level LX705.

Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Cultural District Authority has announced the opening of its first performing arts venue, the Xiqu Centre, on 20 January 2019.

The Vocal Studies Department at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance has announced singer and conductor, Barbara Hannigan, and conductor, Dominic Ellis-Peckham, as Visiting Artists, and choral director,… Read more

Help Musicians UK has teamed up with Music Venue Trust for this year’s Venues Day, which takes place on 17 October 2018 at Islington Assembly Hall.

Celebrating Handel’s Divas, the 2019 London Handel Festival launches with ‘Berenice’ at the Royal Opera House’s Linbury Studio Theatre on 27 March 2019.

Following a successful bid to Arts Council England, Islington Council will lead the new Islington Music Education Hub in partnership with the Guildhall School from 1 October 2018.

This year’s Music for Youth (MFY) season draws to a close with three MFY Proms concerts at London’s Royal Albert Hall on 5, 6 and 7 November 2018.

The Music Publishers Association (MPA) has announced that nominations are now open for the inaugural Tony Pool Award. The Award recognises and celebrates the achievements of those who have shown… Read more

Drake Music, the leading music charity, has announced the winners of the organisation’s three Emergent – A Music Legacy commissions. The award scheme is funded by Help Musicians… Read more

The BBC, in partnership with Playlist for Life, a UK music and dementia charity, has launched a new website designed to use music to help people with… Read more

Hong Kong-based World Youth and Children Choral Artists’ Association has announced a major new competition for choral conductors. The inaugural 2019 World Choral Conducting Competition will take… Read more

The Society of Recorder Players has announced its first Composer’s Competition, adjudicated by Jonathan Dove and featuring recorder quartet, BLOCK4.

Sing Up and The School Musicals Company have joined forces in a partnership offering schools a joined-up solution for all their singing needs.

The Royal College of Organists (RCO) has announced the appointment of Sir Andrew Parmley as its new Director, with effect from 1 October 2018. Sir Andrew’s broad experience… Read more

The Musicians’ Union (MU) and Trinity Laban Conservatoire are delighted to announce that Nitin Sawhney will be presenting the keynote address at their professional development weekend for… Read more

Neil Chippington, Headmaster of St John’s College School, Cambridge, succeeded Paul Smith, Headmaster of Hereford Cathedral School, as Chairman of the Choir Schools’ Association (CSA) on 1… Read more

20-year-old American pianist, Eric Lu, has been awarded first place and the Dame Fanny Waterman Gold Medal at the Leeds International Piano Competition 2018.

The One World campaign brings together musicians, composers, performers, dancers, teachers and children in a one-year festival focussing on the environment.

Creative United, in partnership with OHMI, Drake Music, OpenUp Music and Youth Music, has launched Make Some Noise, a major research project aiming to capture a detailed picture of the experiences of disabled… Read more

Printed Music Licensing Ltd (PMLL) and the Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA) have launched the second annual Shake It Up competition for music teachers across the UK.

Faber Music Distribution has announced that it will be the exclusive, worldwide distributor for Trinity College London Press from 1 October 2018. Trinity College London is a… Read more

Senior MU officials have spoken of key issues affecting music education across the UK both in Westminster and at the Trades Union Congress Conference.

The National Youth Choirs of Great Britain (NYCGB) has had a record-breaking Summer season with its five choirs enjoying unprecedented audiences & activity.

The new LSO East London Academy is ‘the first step on a path to making the London Symphony Orchestra truly representative of its community in London’.

Sing Up is giving away a free song and encouraging schools and singers to join with global choral project for peace, One Day One Choir, on World Peace Day.

National Youth Choir of Scotland (NYCOS) is inviting applications from young singers aged 16-25 for auditions in November 2018. The Choir is made up of two sections:… Read more

ACE CEO, Darren Henley, made the case for expanding the NPME to include 0-5-year-olds at Tri-Borough Music Hub’s Early Years Conference on 6 September 2018. 

Music practice buddy app nSpireMe has announced a ‘pre-seed’ funding round totalling £300,000, raised from leading technology venture capital firm Forward Partners. The London-based business was founded… Read more

London College of Creative Media will deliver a new course in Creative Music Technology at its Music Box campus in partnership with Falmouth University.

Music Generation, Ireland’s national music education programme, in partnership with U2 and The Ireland Funds and with support from Bank of America Merrill Lynch and the Stavros… Read more

Sistema Europe Youth Orchestra’s annual Summer Residency (SEYO 2018) comes to London and Birmingham this weekend for the culmination of its 5th edition.

London College of Creative Media is launching the LCCM Scholarship Competition as part of a series of special open days this August.

Mekong Cultural Hub and the British Council have announced details of SEAΔ, a programme for cultural practitioners to reflect on sustainable development in South-East Asia.

The Musicians’ Union and the Incorporated Society of Musicians have launched a Code of Practice to help eradicate bullying, harassment and discrimination in the music sector.

The Royal College of Music has become the first London conservatoire to rename its ‘Masters in Piano Accompaniment’ as ‘Masters in Collaborative Piano’.

Rachel Shapey, Founder of Secondary music composition website, I Can Compose, has been announced as a finalist in the Internet Industry Category of the Enterprise Vision Awards.

Wells Cathedral School Choralia has won the Grand Prize at the 9th Musica Eterna Roma International Choir Festival & Competition.  The girls choir, conducted by Christopher Finch,… Read more

The inaugural Karol Szymanowski International Music Competition kicks off in Katowice, Poland, this September with prize money in excess of €280,000.

Valery Gergiev, Maxim Vengerov, Alessandro Baricco, Hermann Hauser III and Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival will all receive Cremona Musica Awards at this year’s event.

Global choral project for peace, One Day One Choir, is calling for choirs to unite in song on Peace Day, a UN initiative which takes place on 21 September.

The Leeds International Piano Competition has revealed its 2018 programme of talks, masterclasses, exhibitions, free family events and concerts.

The Society for Music Education in Ireland has issued a call for papers for its 8th Annual Conference. The event will be hosted by the Royal Irish… Read more

Morley College London has been validated to offer CME London – a new course for music educators who work with children and young people – from January 2019.

Steinberg is launching a campaign to save music education in schools, #ComposeWithDorico, with a free giveaway of music-making software, Dorico Elements.

Jeremy Wright MP has replaced Matt Hancock as Culture Secretary in British Prime Minister Theresa May’s emergency shake-up of her cabinet on 9 July 2018.

Yamaha, Jazz FM and Chiltern Music Therapy will launch the UK’s first iPodPharmacy on Monday 16 July at Jazz FM’s ‘Yamaha Live’ Performance Space in London.

Building on the findings of its 2017 Education Report, the Musicians’ Union (MU) has commissioned a major piece of research on music education in the UK.

Orchestras for All returns to Leeds with its flagship programme for young people facing barriers to music-making, the National Orchestra for All.

London’s Roundhouse has launched its Next Generation Campaign to build new studios and create a Centre for Creative & Digital Entrepreneurs.

The Musicians’ Union (MU) has announced details of its 6th biennial Teachers’ Continued Professional Development Weekend, which runs from 27-28 October 2018 at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London.

Pressure is mounting on the Government to stop the erosion of school music departments and put the subject back where it belongs, at the heart of the… Read more

London College of Creative Media (LCCM) has announced a new partnership with two leading instrument manufacturers, TAMA and Zildjian. This new collaboration will ensure that LCCM students… Read more

Light 8 Nights, an organisation committed to making Hanukkah more relevant and exciting for modern audiences through music, film and the arts, has announced that it is coming to the UK.

The European String Teachers Association UK (ESTA UK) has appointed violinist, Nicola Benedetti, as its next President.

London-based stringed instruments dealer, J&A Beare, has announced a new, long-term collaboration with the Hong Kong International Chamber Music Festival.

Rhythmix has won Charity Today’s Disability Charity of the Year Award in recognition of its work with young people with physical and learning disabilities.

Towns and cities across England will benefit from a new £20 million regional fund for culture, heritage and creative industries, launched by Minister for Arts, Heritage and… Read more

The Voices Foundation and the David Ross Education Trust have received £150,000 from the Paul Hamlyn Foundation to help deliver a pioneering singing programme.

Tileyard Education, the postgraduate and professional training facility based at London UK’s Tileyard Studios, home to The Prodigy, Sigala, Chase & Status, Lily Allen, Notting Hill Music… Read more

The Berklee Institute for Creative Entrepreneurship (BerkleeICE) and New York-based Women in Music (WIM), the longest running and largest nonprofit organisation for women in the music industry, have partnered to conduct the… Read more

The Purcell School, one of the UK’s leading specialist music schools, has announced the appointment of Paul Bambrough as Head from 1 September 2018.  He will take… Read more

Sing Up has released a compilation video featuring recordings of this year’s Sing Up Day song, Be the change, from schools across the world.

Registration is open for the fifth edition of Eric Whitacre’s celebrated Virtual Choir project, with promises of greater accessibility, multimedia participation and collaboration with scientists. The Virtual… Read more

A new national body should be created with responsibility for delivering music services across Wales, according to a report by a Welsh National Assembly committee, published on… Read more

Louisa Staples, an alumna of the Yehudi Menuhin School in the UK, has been awarded who 2nd Prize at the 2018 Carl Flesch International Violin Competition in… Read more

Stephen Threlfall, Director of Music at the leading specialist UK music school, Chetham’s, has announced that he will retire in September 2019 after what will be 24… Read more

Schott Music has announced publication by Boosey & Hawkes of The Christopher Norton Jazz Preludes Collection, 14 original pieces from intermediate to advanced-level keyboard players. Christopher Norton’s Microjazz… Read more

ABRSM has released its new Piano syllabus, which comes into effect in January 2019. The 2019 & 2020 syllabus lists cover a range of styles and music, including pieces from the teaching canon, recent favourites, popular tunes and new commissions. 

Help Musicians UK (HMUK) has announced that it is the official charity partner of Getahead Festival, the world’s first 24-hour urban festival of the head.

A Birmingham City University researcher has been commissioned to compose a piece of music for the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) as part LSO On Track, a partnership between LSO and 10 East London music services in collaboration with the Barbican and the Guildhall School of Music & Drama.

soundLINCS celebrated 20 years of music development on 1 June 2018.

Sony Innovation Fund (SIF), part of one of the world’s leading companies with a portfolio across consumer electronics, entertainment, and finance, has invested in ROLI, the London-based… Read more

WSCM2020 has issued a call to choirs and choral experts around the world to apply to perform at the 12th World Symposium on Choral Music, to be… Read more

NYCGB has announced a new-look Annual Programme for its flagship ensemble, the National Youth Choir of Great Britain.

NYCGB has opened applications for the fourth year of its Fellowship Programme.

Schoolchildren across Sunderland are rehearsing for a Massed Sing in celebration of The Tall Ships Races Sunderland 2018. The performance will be live-streamed on 11 July to enable schools throughout the UK to join in from their classrooms – with an attempt to break a massed singing world record at 11am.

Rhythmix is celebrating a grant of £39,726 from Arts Council England to support its work with older people living with dementia in acute hospital settings.

Buskers and street performers could soon accept contactless and mobile payments thanks to a new device, Tiptap, developed by Brunel University London student, Emma McBride.

Steinberg has announced the release of a new version of its professional music notation application, Dorico, together with a new entry-level music notation application, Dorico Elements.

ABRSM has updated its free online learning resource, Classical 100, with a series of musical challenges and invited Primary teachers to submit an idea for the resource’s 100th challenge via a new competition open to all UK Primary schools.

The Classic BRIT Awards 2018 has announced its support for the London Music Fund by donating tickets to twenty of its scholars and their parents/guardians, who will receive golden envelopes containing side stage passes to the event. 

The BRIT Awards with Mastercard has announced that £250,000 raised by this year’s BRITs 2018 will be donated to three charities that promote music education and mental wellbeing – Mind, the BRIT School and Music Support.

The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama (RWCMD) has announced the appointment of Bad Wolf and Wolf Studios Wales’ Chief Operating Officer, Natasha Hale, to its Board of Directors.

Sage Gateshead’s Summer Studio programme will open the doors to its rehearsal studios from 6-26 August 2018, offering free residencies of up to one week for musicians, singers and artists of all genres to create new work, develop their practice or prepare for a performance.

Royal Birmingham Conservatoire piano student, Lauren Zhang, has been named winner of BBC Young Musician 2018, securing the title in the competition final at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall on Sunday 13 May 2018.

A new website dedicated to GCSE and A level Music composition has been launched.

Waltham Forest Music Education Hub (WFMEH) was officially launched on 9 May 2018 at a welcome event at Walthamstow’s William Morris Gallery.

Chancellor of Birmingham City University, Sir Lenny Henry, took to the stage of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire on 4 May 2018 (aka Star Wars Day) in a performance introducing young people to the world of classical music.

According to new research by the UK Musicians’ Union, 44% of the nation’s orchestral musicians say they do not earn enough to live on. The organisation represents… Read more

Sing Up has released a new video celebrating the positive connection between singing and wellbeing.

Four emerging music writers will have the opportunity to work with a leading music publication and gain practical experience within the industry thanks to The Journal of Music’s new Northern Ireland Music Writer Mentoring Scheme. 

The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland has taken a Top Five spot in The Complete University Guide’s 2019 league tables – the first time an arts education institution outside London has done so.

UK-based rock and pop music exam board, Rockschool, has won the Queen’s Award for Enterprise – International Trade. Founded in West London in 1991 by music graduate and pop musician, Norton York, the company now conducts rock and pop exams in over 45 countries and has subsidiaries in China, India and Spain.

The 13th edition of international jazz trade fair and showcase festival, jazzahead!, ran from 19-22 April 2018 at Messe Bremen in Germany.

The National Education Union has announced that Stuart Gallimore, Director of Children’s Services for East Sussex County Council, is proposing to close East Sussex Music Service down by 2019, resulting in the loss of music provision for thousands of children and jobs for teachers and administrative staff.

Revealed at Scotland’s forum for music businesses and artists, Wide Days 2018, PRS Foundation’s new partnership with Creative Scotland will allow Scottish artists to apply for funding to support activities such as recording, touring and marketing via its Momentum Music Fund.

London’s Roundhouse has announced a major new partnership with author, speaker and international advisor on education in the arts, Sir Ken Robinson, who will become Associate Creative… Read more

Professor Helena Gaunt has been appointed Principal of the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama (RWCMD). Currently Vice Principal and Director of Innovation at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Professor Gaunt will take up the post from Interim Principal, Professor George Caird, on 1 September 2018.

UK charity, Drake Music, has released a new guide which aims to help the music education sector to diversify its workforce and to support young Disabled people in becoming music leaders in the future.

The National Youth Choir of Great Britain will take the stage on the first night of the BBC Proms for the first time in 2018.

Orange Amplification has launched the world’s first accredited online rock guitar exam system.

Youth music charity, NYMAZ, has announced the appointment of Sarah McWatt as its new Director.

FutureDJs is crowdfunding to take its programme into more schools and to create a foundation that will enable children in poorer areas to access its sessions. The DJing and electronic music production provider hopes to reverse the decline in music education and increase the number of students who go on to take music at GSCE and A Level.

Leading UK membership organisation for flautists and flute teachers, the British Flute Society, will present its second Summer flute festival, Future Flute Fest, in St John’s Smith Square, London, from 17-19 August 2018.

School pupils from across the UK raised the roof of London’s Royal Albert Hall last month, thanks to choir and instrumental ensemble, Armonico Consort.

A new event, ‘Italian Piano Experience’, comes to China next month as part of the ‘Meet in Beijing’ festival.

Music Educators and Researchers of Young Children (MERYC) – England has issued a Call for Papers for its 2018 conference, Music in Early Childhood: New Directions and Valued Traditions.

The School Standards Minister for England, Nick Gibb, has announced £96 million ‘to support talented music, drama and dance pupils kick-start their career in the arts’. Music, art… Read more

Arts Council England‘s funding policy has been branded ‘deeply flawed and unfair’ as new figures reveal huge inequalities in the way the organisation allocates taxpayers’ money. According… Read more

Steinway & Sons has announced the opening of a new Asia Pacific headquarters in Shanghai, China. This new facility, located at the Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone,… Read more

London youth charity Sound Connections is inviting applications to Innovate, the organisation’s long-standing programme providing funding and support for music projects for children and young people in challenging circumstances…. Read more

Global independent music publisher The Music Sales Group announced the sale of its physical and online printed music and Musicroom-branded retail businesses to Milwaukee-based worldwide music print… Read more

National charity Youth Music has announced the formation of the Alliance for a Musically Inclusive England, a collective of leading music organisations working together to promote diversity… Read more

Soundtrap, the Swedish education technology startup, is the winner of the ‘arts, music, or creative solution’ category in the 2018 EdTech Awards. Soundtrap Studio was launched in… Read more

Leading musician and teacher, Francis Cummings, has been appointed as Head of Junior Conservatoire (Music) for the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS). A violinist who has performed… Read more

Surrey Music Hub has launched a new project bringing together professionals and community groups who work with or have an interest in supporting newly arrived and vulnerable young people through the arts and music.

Sage Gateshead is calling on people to reveal their favourite Northern song as part of a second wave of Great Exhibition of The North events announced by the music venue.

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has awarded £24 million of funding to projects from across the capital that will enable local people to take an active role in the regeneration of their communities.

The National Open Youth Orchestra (NOYO) has announced a new partnership with ABRSM to help develop some of the UK’s most talented young disabled musicians as part of an inclusive ensemble.

In partnership with the Musicians’ Union (MU) and Children and the Arts, the Fabian Society has launched a new project aiming to provide definitive evidence of the impact that school cuts have had on Primary-age children’s access to the arts.

Newham Music and ABRSM have announced a new partnership to provide the first dedicated Certificate for Music Educators (CME) course to be led by a London music education hub.

Arts Council England has announced that it will invest £38.6 million of National Lottery funding  in Youth Music – the national charity investing in music-making projects for children and young people in challenging circumstances – between 2018 and 2022.

The William Wates Memorial Trust has come on board as the first ever multi-year funder of music education charity, the Abram Wilson Foundation.

BandLab, the Singapore-based social music platform, has launched a new hardware division, BandLab Machines. The first product range is pitched as ‘a lineup of affordable, high quality… Read more

York St John University has announced details of a number of free, collaborative, continuing professional development (CPD) events for music technology educators working in the Secondary and FE sectors.

ABRSM and the Royal Philharmonic Society (RPS) have announced a new partnership to help musicians develop the skills necessary to build sustainable careers.

Sefton & Knowsley Youth (SKY) Music Hub is hosting a special event on 16 March 2018 to celebrate Sir Henry Segrave’s world land-speed record.

Four of the UK’s most innovative access-to-music organisations have come together to issue a stark warning to the government about the crisis facing young people trying to… Read more

Mahogany Opera Group has announced that premieres of the remaining five operas in its two-year Snappy Operas project will take place in March 2018.

Stuart Murphy, former Director of Sky Entertainment Channels, has been appointed Chief Executive of English National Opera (ENO).

Cardiff’s biennial Festival of Voice has revealed details of a second wave of artists and ensembles from across the spectrum of the arts, music, theatre and performance.

Museums, galleries, theatres and heritage organisations are to be given access to technology and digital skills training to help them reach new and diverse audiences.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, announced the winners of the London Borough of Culture competition on 27 February 2018, following a six-month bidding process which saw 22 boroughs submit proposals.

The Leeds International Piano Competition will present the first of what is to be an annual Leeds Piano Festival in May 2018.

National singing organisation, Sing Up, has been named as winner of the Music Teacher Magazine Editor’s Award at the 2018 Music Teacher Awards for Excellence, presented on 22 February… Read more

Ben Andrew and David Denning, the UK developers of ScaleTracks, an app which supports students practising scales and arpeggios by providing harmonisations, have launched JAM for budding… Read more

Following the findings of its recent report which highlighted the barriers to keeping children musically engaged as they move from Primary to Secondary school, Opera North has launched a new youth ensemble for aspiring young instrumentalists across Leeds.

Drake Music has announced details of its upcoming music education festival, ‘We All Make Music’, which takes place in London on 9 March 2018.

The Welsh Government and Arts Council of Wales have announced plans for a pioneering endowment fund for music in Wales.

Wigmore Hall’s choir for families living with dementia, Singing with Friends, performed in a special concert at Buckingham Palace on 12 February 2018.

Music technology provider, Steinberg, has announced product launch and competition updates for Cubase and Dorico users.

The National Youth Choirs of Great Britain (NYCGB) has announced details of its 35th anniversary season, which will celebrate the themes of ‘Women in Song’ and ‘Music… Read more

Craig David, Pixie Lott, The Wombats, Newton Faulkner, Dream Wife and Femme have pledged their support for Youth Music‘s flagship fundraising initiative, Give a Gig Week, which runs from 16-25 March 2018. Last year’s initiative saw… Read more

The University for the Creative Arts (UCA) has become a Steinberg Certified Training Centre.

The Royal College of Music (RCM) has announced a new partnership with medici.tv to livestream and make available on demand selected masterclasses and concerts at the conservatoire’s… Read more

Live Music Now (LMN) has announced details of an ambitious project studying the effects of music on older people, especially those living with dementias, and staff in five care homes across the UK.

Sing Up has announced details of four new training sessions for specialist and non-specialist Primary music teachers this February.

Ireland’s online portal, Arts in Education, has invited artists, teachers, academics and arts education professionals to be part of its third annual Arts in Education National Day.

The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee is to investigate ways in which taking part in the arts, cultural activities and sport can have a positive impact on health, community and education and is inviting the public, organisations and others with relevant expertise to submit evidence by 22 February 2018.

The English Folk Dance and Song Society (EFDSS) has invited young people aged 14-18 who can play an instrument confidently to register for one of its National Youth Folk Ensemble Sampler Days.

Housing developers building new homes near music venues should be responsible for addressing noise issues in a move to protect both music venues and their neighbours, the Housing Secretary, Sajid Javid, has said.

Wigmore Hall has announced details of a major festival showcasing its award-winning Learning programme.

The London A Cappella Festival (LACF) has announced that British choirmaster and broadcaster, Gareth Malone OBE, will be its Festival Patron. Gareth Malone has helped to popularise vocal music… Read more

Specialist online auctioneers, Amati Instruments, has announced that it is offering, by auction, a collection of predominately new instruments from a closed-down shop in the Netherlands.

An unsigned Cardiff rock band has beaten more than 300 grassroots entries to win Firestone’s 2017 Battle of the Bands competition in partnership with Orange Amplification. Formed… Read more

The European String Teachers Association (ESTA) has announced that the deadline for its 2018 Post Graduate Certificate in String Teaching is Friday 2 March 2018

World renowned ensemble The Sixteen are recruiting talented young choral singers aged 18 – 23 to take part in their leading free choral training programme, Genesis Sixteen.

The London Music Fund (LMF) is holding a fundraising lunch with its Patron, Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, at the May Fair Hotel on Monday 14 May 2018.

France’s Ministry of Education and Ministry of Culture have jointly announced a plan to establish choirs in all schools and colleges over the next two years.

Casio Music UK has announced a new collaboration with UK-based rock and pop examination board, Rockschool.

BASCA (British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors) announced the winners of its 15th British Composer Awards at a ceremony at the British Museum on 6 December… Read more

Drake Music, the national charity working in music, disability and technology, has described remarks made by Conservative Chancellor, Philip Hammond, on 6 December as ‘damaging and unacceptable’ and has called for the comments to be immediately withdrawn.

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland has announced that Pádraigín Ní Uallachaín has been awarded the Comaoin Traditional Music Award at the 2018 TG4 Gradam Ceoil Awards

Sage Gateshead is recruiting for a new role to support the 2018 Great Exhibition of the North, supported by a creative bursary. The job is for a Public… Read more

The country’s leading independent music charity, Help Musicians UK (HMUK), today launched its landmark new 24/7 mental health service ‘Music Minds Matter’ for anyone working in the music industry.

The London Music Fund has been selected to participate in the Big Give Christmas Challenge 2017 supported by their champions, the Childhood Trust. During the Christmas Challenge LMF will be… Read more

The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama (RWCMD) has announced that Sir Bryn Terfel, Rebecca Evans and Sir Brian McMaster, along with Maestro Carlo Rizzi and… Read more

Youth Music has announced that YolanDa Brown has been appointed as the charity’s new Chair. The MOBO award-winning saxophonist, band leader, composer and broadcaster was selected following… Read more

ACM (Academy of Contemporary Music) has announced that students studying at diploma level at its Guildford or Birmingham campuses will now be able to choose Songwriting as… Read more

Bristol Music Trust, the charity behind Bristol’s Colston Hall and local music education hub, Bristol Plays Music, is forming a partnership with the Barbican and Sage Gateshead to… Read more

Three teenagers from a deprived township in South Africa are travelling to Birmingham this week to open the Cecil Aronowitz International Viola Competition and Festival. Kwanda Buthelezi… Read more

Soundtrap, the three-year-old Stockholm-based startup which has developed an online collaborative music and podcast recording studio, announced its acquisition by streaming giant, Spotify, on 17 November 2017.  … Read more

The Guitar Show has announced details of its 2018 event, which runs from 24-25 February at Bingley Hall in Birmingham. With more than 20 new exhibitors and… Read more

Sing Up celebrated its 10th birthday with an event on 7 November 2017 featuring singing from the National Teachers’ Choir, Highfield School Chamber Choir and four-piece a… Read more

ROLI – a UK startup which has created a series of next-generation musical instruments – has announced that Pharrell Williams is joining its team as Chief Creative… Read more

A virtual museum featuring sound, pictures and information about the UK’s most historically significant musical instruments launched on 31 October 2017. MINIM-UK brings 5,000 years of musical… Read more

Composer and musician, Juwon Ogungbe, is working in collaboration with artists and young people from across Haringey to present two performances celebrating the life and work of… Read more

The Royal College of Music (RCM) has announced a new Master of Education (MEd) degree course. Adding to the RCM’s wide range of bespoke programmes, the new postgraduate… Read more

Ireland’s National Music Education Programme, Music Generation, has announced that thirteen young musicians from Music Generation Carlow will perform alongside celebrated Irish dance duo, Velocity, in Sitges,… Read more

Principal of Tring Park School for the Performing Arts, Stefan Anderson, will host a series of workshops and auditions in Singapore and Hong Kong this month. Stefan’s… Read more

Yamaha has announced details of three new pianos, spanning the range from acoustic to digital: Concert Grand SX Series (acoustic) AvantGrand NU1X (hybrid) Clavinova CSP (digital) Concert Grand SX Series… Read more

Independent music charity, Help Musicians UK (HMUK), has released the final findings of its Can Music Make You Sick? report and announced three key pledges for the music industry:… Read more

The European Union Youth Orchestra (EUYO) has announced that it is moving its operational base from London next year. In the first change of headquarters since the orchestra… Read more

Ireland’s national music education programme, Music Generation, has announced that nine new areas of the country will receive philanthropic funding from U2 and The Ireland Funds to create… Read more

The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance (ICMP) will present a series of five industry panel sessions across three days at this weekend’s BBC Music Introducing hosts Amplify…. Read more

British vocal ensemble, VOCES8, is partnering with Cambridge University’s Faculty of Music to offer teaching on a new course combining world-leading academic and performance training. The MMus… Read more

Three choirs will come together in a collaboration between artists, medical professionals and patients at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum on Saturday 14 October 2017. The London Stroke… Read more

The creative industries could be worth £128.4 billion to the UK economy by 2025 and help to create up to 1 million new jobs by 2030 according… Read more

UK Music’s latest Measuring Music report has revealed that the UK music industry grew by 6% in 2016 to contribute £4.4 billion to the economy. The annual… Read more

Musicians from Rocksteady Music School in Godalming, Surrey, travelled to Brussels last weekend to volunteer at a festival which brings together local communities and refugees through workshops,… Read more

Acclaimed British violinist, Jennifer Pike, will curate three concerts exploring four centuries of Polish music at London’s Wigmore Hall on Saturday 14 October 2017. The programmes range… Read more

The nominees for the 2017 Parliamentary Jazz Awards have been announced. Selected by a panel of jazz industry experts, musicians and members of the All-Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation… Read more

Leading manufacturer and distributor of electronic musical instruments, Roland, has announced details of four new digital pianos. Launched on 14 September 2017, the pianos include the following… Read more

The Mayor of New York, Bill de Blasio, and contemporary music college, Berklee, have announced that Berklee will set up home in the city’s historic Avatar Studios…. Read more

Supported by Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, One Dance UK, the UK body for dance, has announced its first ever conference season. Over the course… Read more

The Soundbeam Project has announced the arrival of Soundbeam 6, the latest incarnation of its award-winning ‘touch-free’ device which uses sensor technology to translate body movement into… Read more

UK choral charity, Sing for Pleasure, has announced that funding has been secured to provide training for four would-be choral conductors under its Young Conductors Programme for 2017-18…. Read more

ABRSM has released a new singing syllabus for candidates who will be taking exams from January 2018 onwards. With repertoire lists refreshed for all eight grades and… Read more

The Chartered College of Teaching has launched a new music education network for teachers in London. The Chartered College is an independent professional membership body for the… Read more

Tony Hales CBE, Chair of the Greenwich Foundation and a board member of the Welsh National Opera, has been appointed Chair of the Associated Board of the… Read more

NYMAZ, the North Yorkshire-based youth charity, has been awarded £273,000 by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation to extend its innovative online music education project, Connect: Resound, for four years…. Read more

Analysis by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) and Schools Week has shown a significant fall in the number of GCSE and A Level Music… Read more

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Group (RUG) has announced a new strategic partnership with Shanghai Media Group Live (SMG Live) to develop the musical theatre industry in… Read more

A new training link-up between Falmouth University, CEG Digital (the blended learning division of Cambridge Education Group) and A Greener Festival is boosting environmentally-friendly events. A Greener… Read more

The Guildhall School of Music & Drama has announced details of its Autumn 2017 season. Highlights include the following: Guildhall musicians perform a concert curated by alumnus,… Read more

WOMEX 17 has announced two of its upcoming Award-winners: Malian activist and singer, Oumou Sangaré, will receive the World Music Expo’s Artist Award while Czech radio journalist, Petr… Read more

The Oh Yeah Music Centre in Belfast has announced that this year’s Oh Yeah Legend Award will go to one of Northern Ireland’s leading rock guitarists, Vivian… Read more

Following the latest round of funding awards by the English Folk Dance and Song Society (EFDSS), seven projects will create new music rooted in the English folk… Read more

Following a successful festival in Worcester at the end of July 2017, the Three Choirs Festival has become one of the UK’s first national cultural organisations to adopt the Family… Read more

As part of ICMP’s ongoing drive to develop international networks, students from its BA Songwriting course travelled to Italy last month to play at the ICMP Off… Read more

The National Youth Choirs of Great Britain (NYCGB) has announced that its Summer concert will be broadcast as a Facebook livestream. The concert takes place in the Chapel of Trinity… Read more

Marking the 2018 centenary of the Representation of the People Act – before which women in the UK were unable to vote – is a rare performance… Read more

Yamaha Music London has announced details of its free concert series, The Silent Piano Sessions. Each concert will be performed on Yamaha’s new Silent Piano, an acoustic… Read more

Help Musicians UK, the largest provider of health and welfare support for the British music industry, has announced Music Minds Matter, a new campaign for music-industry-wide support of… Read more

The Irish national music education organisation, Music Generation, announced on 18 July 2017 that it will expand into nine new areas of Ireland within five years, thanks to the ongoing support of U2… Read more

300,000 more people sing regularly than play amateur football each week, according to a new national survey from choral charity, Voices Now. Despite this, football receives £30m in… Read more

The Royal College of Music is to fund three UK students from ethnic minority backgrounds who wish to study for the BMus course at the RCM beginning… Read more

A new project to bring the collections at three national museums to life through traditional music has been unveiled by the English Folk Dance and Song Society… Read more

A new Music Commission has been created to carry out a fundamental review of how to support progression in music learning. The Music Commission was launched on 10… Read more

UK Music has published Wish You Were Here 2017, an economic study that shows the contribution of live music and music tourism to the UK economy during… Read more

Singing teacher, Linda Filby-Borrett, from Ryde on the Isle of Wight has been awarded Classic FM’s Music Teacher of the Year 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award. The award… Read more

South African trumpeter, composer and singer, Hugh Masakela, received an honorary Doctor of Music degree from the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesberg, on 4 July 2017. The music… Read more

ABRSM has released a new Woodwind Syllabus for candidates who will be taking exams from January 2018 onwards. Featuring revised sight-reading tests, new scales and arpeggio requirements… Read more

Hundreds of children descended on Portsmouth’s Guildhall Square on Wednesday 5 July to take part in a Latin American carnival parade. Organised by Portsmouth Music Hub, the… Read more

London-based college LCCM has announced details of a competition open to young musicians interested in attending one of the college’s summer courses, Music Week and Making Music, which run… Read more

Details of the 33rd World Conference of the International Society for Music Education (ISME) have been announced. Running from 15-20 July 2018 in Baku, Azerbaijan, the conference… Read more

Youth music development charity, NYMAZ, has announced that it is participating in Prosper, a business support programme from Creative United. Designed to improve confidence and capabilities within… Read more

The recently tweaked Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (yes, it’s still the DCMS – the D just stands for Digital now) has launched #CultureisDigital, ‘a… Read more

The European Choral Association (ECA) has announced initial details of the 2018 Europa Cantat festival, the ECA’s flagship international event. The 2018 festival takes place in Tallinn,… Read more

A new report for BPI (British Phonographic Industry) and entertainment retail body, ERA, was unveiled on 27 June 2017. Compiled by Mark Mulligan of MiDiA Research, Generation… Read more

In celebration of its 10th birthday, Sing Up has launched the Sing Up Foundation, a new charitable organisation focussing on: singing for children with special educational needs… Read more

VCM Foundation, the choral charity behind vocal super-groups VOCES8 and Apollo5, has announced its inaugural composition competition. According to VCM CEO, Paul Smith: ‘With VOCES8 and Apollo5… Read more

Mahogany Opera Group has announced that it will refocus its activity on two areas from January 2018: MY Opera and Various Stages. MY Opera (Mahogany Youth Opera) aims… Read more

The final of the 65th ROSL (Royal Over-Seas League) Annual Music Competition took place at London’s Cadogan Hall on Wednesday 7 June 2017. The centrepiece of ROSL… Read more

New Music charity Sound and Music has launched an appeal to raise £25,000 by July 2018 to create a bursary fund supporting young composers attending the organisation’s annual… Read more

Disability music charity Drake Music is inviting disabled musicians from the South West of England to apply for paid training opportunities as part of the organisation’s Emergent:… Read more

This year’s Music for Youth National Festival runs from 4-8 July in Birmingham. With brass, classical, folk, choral and contemporary renditions from around 8,000 young musicians at… Read more

Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (RWCMD) postgraduate viola player, Megan Jowett, has won the 25th annual Deutsche Bank Award for Creative Enterprise music prize of £10,000… Read more

The BRIT Trust, the charitable arm of the BPI (British Phonographic Industry) which distributes funds raised through the BRIT Awards, has announced its support for Music Support,… Read more

Submissions are open for  Britten Sinfonia‘s annual competition for unpublished composers of any age and background who are resident in the UK, OPUS2017. Now entering its fifth… Read more

Children from schools across Portsmouth descended on Guildhall Square on 15 June 2017 to smash a Guinness World Records® record for the largest Djembe Drum Ensemble. 900 Infant,… Read more

Lord Winston, Chairman of the RCM Council, and Professor Colin Lawson CBE, Director of the Royal College of Music (RCM), marked the start of an ambitious redevelopment… Read more

The Musicians Institute (MI), a Los Angeles-based College of Contemporary Music built on the idea that musicians should teach and learn from other musicians in a creative,… Read more

Welsh National Opera will launch a new, site-specific virtual reality (VR) experience, Magic Butterfly, on 14 July 2017. With reimagined scenes from The Magic Flute and Madam… Read more

Former Royal College of Music (RCM) student, Tokio Myers, was crowned winner of Britain’s Got Talent on Saturday 3 June 2017. His take on Rag’n’Bone Man’s song,… Read more

The Trustees of the Clore Leadership Programme have announced the appointment of Hilary Carty as the new Director of the Programme. Hilary Carty will take up the… Read more

The National Youth Choirs of Great Britain (NYCGB) has announced details of its 2017 auditions. Open to singers between School Year 5 (boys) or 6 (girls) and… Read more

The BBC has announced details of BBC Young Musician 2018. Open to percussion, keyboard, string, brass and woodwind players who are UK residents of Grade 8 standard… Read more

The winners of the Royal Philharmonic Society Music Awards were announced at a ceremony at The Brewery in the City of London on Tuesday 9 May 2017,… Read more