Connect’s Summer Round-Up 2026

---

It’s been another great summer term for our Connect programme! 

Connect offers regional support to help musicians from the earliest stage in their musical journey, into their teens and beyond. Our national team of Connectors have delivered a brilliant programme for young musicians in our partner Hubs as well as connecting hundreds of additional young people to musical experiences, funding opportunities and other information across the country. 

This term, our young musicians have told us how they have continued to develop their confidence, identity and belonging with Connect – taking music exams, joining ensembles, writing their own music and using their Connect bursaries to further their musical interests and ambitions. Pupils are showing promising musical progression, and some are even moving towards professional pathways in music and the wider creative industries! 

As the academic year draws to a close, let’s look back at all the exciting activity in Connect this summer…

---

Making Connections

---

This term has seen our Connectors making valuable musical connections with young people, local organisations and fellow teachers in their communities through local festivals, Teacher Forums, family Hubs and social media. 

Our Hertfordshire Connector Ross Lanning has been developing activity with his public library, encouraging young people to explore the connection between stories and songs – and keep up their reading over the summer holidays – through national campaign Read to the Beat. As BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend hit Sunderland this year, our Connector Emma coordinated a high-profile performance opportunity with Ezra Collective!

Tom in Norfolk has also been part of organising some large-scale inclusive events – SENDfest and Savannah Sundown – which has been invaluable in reaching vulnerable children, young people and families. 

Looking for musical opportunities and support for young musicians next term? Contact your local Connector to find out more.

---

Teacher Forum in Devon with Connector Hannah Stephenson

---

Summer Get Togethers

---

Each term, Connect students in our Ambassador Hubs have the opportunity to meet with others on the programme to share a musical experience. We call these Get Togethers and this summer, we’ve seen lots of them taking place across a range of genres and activities – from orchestral days and concert visits to beatboxing workshops and family events. 

Opportunities to share their own music have been taking place across the country in Get Togethers this summer, from Liverpool to Southampton and the Isle of Wight. Last weekend also saw our Hubs in West Yorkshire come together for an ensemble event at University of Huddersfield! We’ve also had young Connect musicians engaging in workshops on new instruments, from a taiko drumming workshop in Sheffield to a steel pan workshop in Central Bedfordshire.

---

---

Our Mentors

---

Each of our Ambassador Hubs also have a Mentor to help young musicians through tailored one-to-one support, participation in Get Togethers, and leading our youth voice panels, Amplify. This summer, our Mentors across the country have helped to provide invaluable experiences for young musicians. A special mention goes to Taz Duval, who has recently hosted an Amplify panel in Liverpool about how to keep making music over the summer holidays. 

We’d like to say a huge thank you to Joseph Baldwin in Central Bedfordshire, Victoria Goddard in Worcestershire and Carys Holden in Manchester who will be leaving the programme this term and we wish them all the best in their exciting new adventures.

---

Achievements and Partnerships

---

Once again, we are pleased to see many Connect students have made use of free graded exams and music medals provided by ABRSM this term. We wish all students taking exams this month the best of luck! 

Our partnerships have continued to thrive at Connect, as musicians have made use of our offer of free concert tickets with BBC orchestras this term, and musical mentors from the National Youth Orchestra continue to inspire Connect students at Get Togethers.

---

Thank you!

---

To all of our Connectors, Mentors, Hubs, music teachers, young musicians – have a great summer break. We can’t wait to see where Connect takes us in the new academic year!

Connect is delivered as part of the Department for Education’s Music Opportunities Pilot and supported by Arts Council England.