Ensembles are available at all levels, from beginner to advanced. Coaching and training is provided by professional Musical Directors assisted by skilled instrumental tutors.
- Jazz Centre - Mondays - Hawkley Hall High School
- Leigh Music Centre - Tuesdays - Bedford High School
- Brass Band Centre - Tuesdays - Performing Arts Centre, Hindley
- Wigan Rock School - Tuesdays - PEMBEC
- Wigan Music Centre - Thursdays - The Deanery CE High School
Pupils are normally advised by their instrumental teacher to join a suitable beginner group, progressing to an intermediate ensemble when they are ready. Entry to some senior ensembles is by audition and the high standard of performance provides members with a wide range of opportunities.
The nationally acclaimed Wigan Youth Brass Band recently performed at the Royal Albert Hall in London as part of the 2006 Schools Prom with the Wigan Gabrieli Brass Ensemble following in their footsteps in 2007. Overseas tours are an important feature of our senior ensemble schedules and the Youth Brass Band has toured Italy, Germany, Belgium, France and Poland in recent years. Wigan Youth Orchestra recently performed at the Disneyland Theatre in Paris, toured Holland in 2006 and Slovenia in 2008, Leigh Music Centre Rock Band appeared in the finals of Music for Youth Festival at the Carling Academy in Birmingham and the award-winning Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra works regularly with international soloists and has made numerous trips abroad including tours of Japan and America. WYJO has a number of commercially available CD recordings including their recent new release “CU in Da Coda!”
Music Centre Ensemble activities are open to any young musicians in the borough - you don’t need to receive your lessons through the Instrumental Teaching Service. For information about joining an ensemble, please don’t hesitate to contact us by telephone (01942 776169).
Music Centre Fees 2009/2010
Music Centre membership fees for 2009/2010 is just £30 per term (about £2.50 per week). Subject to level of ability, each Music Centre member has the opportunity to play with any number of Music Centre ensembles for this single termly charge. For families with two or more children attending instrumental ensembles, a family membership fee is available at £55 per term. The fee for those pupils only attending any of the Choirs is £20 per child per term.
Directly Charged to Parents Teaching
A limited amount of private style instrumental lessons are available at the Leigh and Wigan Music Centres. For more information please contact us on 01942 776169
“I felt I had to write to you in praise of the young band musicians who were part of the twinning celebration [Angers 08]. I, myself and everybody who heard and saw these young people were so impressed by their musical ability, their excellent professionalism and their whole attitude to their part in this visit…. It has certainly opened my eyes to the wealth of talent which exists in Wigan.”
Maureen Smith – Wigan Over 50’s Forum.
