Area ensembles
Our area ensembles offer a wide range of opportunities from beginner level upwards
Our events calendar gives a full listing of forthcoming events for all ensembles and more. Why not have a look to see if there's a performance near you?
- Membership and how to apply
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Our area ensembles offer a wide range of opportunities from beginner level upwards. You can become a member at any time during the school year. Membership is open to young people up to the age of 19, who are in full-time education at school/college/home.
From September 2024 area ensemble membership will cost £40 per term.
To help you decide if you want to join, contact us to arrange to visit a rehearsal. Join in or watch to get a flavour of the group. You can attend two rehearsals free of charge to help you decide if you want to join.
Rehearsals take place in term time only.
Your personal information will be handled in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). See our HMS Privacy Notice for Ensemble Membership.
- Alton area
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Alton First Access
Conductors: Martin Garrod
Assistant: Jessica Deal
Venue: Amery Hill School, Alton
When: Tuesday, weekly, 4:30pm to 5:30pm
Requirements: Entry level ensemble – one term of learning is all that is required! - Basingstoke area
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Basingstoke Area Youth Orchestra and Choirs
Basingstoke Area Youth String Orchestra
Conductor: Paul Timms
Assistant: Victoria Eglin
Venue: Queen Mary's College, Basingstoke
When: Fridays, weekly 5:30pm to 6:30pm
Requirements: Strings grades/stage 3 to 5+Basingstoke Area Youth String Training Orchestra
Conductor: Brenda de Souza
Venue: Queen Mary's College, Basingstoke
When: Mondays, weekly 6pm to 7pm
Requirements: Strings stage/grade 1 - stage/grade 3Basingstoke Early Access String Ensemble
Conductor: Brenda de Souza
Venue: Queen Mary’s College, Basingstoke
When: Mondays, weekly, 4:45pm to 5:45pm
Requirements: Strings players learning for two terms - stage/grade 1Basingstoke Area Youth Wind Orchestra
Director: Chris Pott
Assistant: Gary Chong
Venue: Queen Mary's College, Basingstoke
When: Tuesdays, weekly 6:15pm to 7:15pm
Requirements: Wind/Brass/Percussion grade/stage 4+Basingstoke Area Youth Wind Training Orchestra
Conductor: Serena Ludford
Assistant: Tony Ludford
Venue: Queen Mary's College, Basingstoke
When: Tuesdays, weekly 5pm to 6pm
Requirements: Wind/Brass/Percussion grade/stage 1 to 4Basingstoke Area Youth Percussion Ensemble
Conductor: Chris Pott
Venue: Queens Mary's College, Basingstoke
When: Mondays, weekly 5pm to 6:30pm
Requirements: Percussion players beginner to advancedBasingstoke Area Youth Choir
Conductor: Emma Nunn
Venue: Queen Mary's College, Basingstoke
When: Thursdays, weekly 5:45pm to 6:45pm - Eastleigh area
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Eastleigh Area Schools Orchestras (EASO)
Eastleigh Area Wind Orchestra
Director: Gabrielle Horne
Assistant: Alice Bartlett
Venue: Thornden Hall, Thornden Academy, Chandler's Ford
When: Mondays, weekly 5:15pm to 6:30pm
Requirements: Wind/Brass/Percussion grade/stage 3Eastleigh Area Wind Orchestra Trainers
This ensemble is for players who would like some ensemble experience before joining the main Wind Orchestra
Conductor: Angela Williams
Venue: Thornden Hall, Thornden Academy, Chandler's Ford
When: Mondays, weekly 4:15pm to 5:15pm
Requirements: Wind/Brass/Percussion introductory to grade/stage 2+ levelEastleigh Area String Training Orchestra
Conductor: Clare Prest
Venue: Thornden Hall, Thornden Academy, Chandler's Ford
When: Mondays, weekly, 5:15pm to 6:30pm
Requirements: Strings grade/stage 1 to 4Eastleigh Area Guitar Ensemble
Conductor: Stuart Goodeve
Assistant: Simon King
Venue: Thornden Hall, Thornden Academy, Chandler's Ford
When: Mondays, weekly 5:30pm to 6:30pm
Requirements: Guitar players learning for two terms - stage/grade 1 - Gosport, Fareham and Portchester area
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Gosport and Fareham Youth Orchestras (GFYO)
Gosport and Fareham Youth Concert Band
Director: Matt Watling
Venue: Henry Court Community College, Fareham
When: Thursday, weekly 6pm to 7:15pm
Requirements: Wind/Brass/Percussion grade/stage 4+Gosport and Fareham Wind Training Band
Conductor: Sam Ottley
Assistant: Alison McIntyre
Venue: Henry Court Community College, Fareham
When: Thursdays, weekly 6pm to 7pm
Requirements: Wind/Brass/Percussion introductory to grade/stage 3Gosport and Fareham Youth Orchestra
Conductor: Jim Potter
Assistant: Heather Graham
Venue: Henry Court Community College, Fareham
When: Thursdays, weekly 7:30pm to 9pm
Requirements: Wind/Brass/Percussion grade/stage 5+, Strings grade/stage 3+Gosport and Fareham Young Strings
Conductor: Anna Pring
Assistant: Heather Graham
Venue: Henry Court Community College, Fareham
When: Thursday, weekly 6pm to 7pm
Requirements: Strings beginner to grade/stage 3Gosport and Fareham Ukulele, Guitar and Keyboard Ensemble
Conductor: Martin McBeath
Venue: Henry Court Community College, Fareham
When: Thursday, weekly 5pm to 6pm
Requirements: Open to junior school age and abovePortchester, Fareham and Gosport Youth Bands
Portchester, Fareham and Gosport Choir
Director: Becs Humby
Venue: Crofton School, Stubbington
When: Fridays, weekly 4pm to 5pm
Requirements: Years 5 - 10Portchester, Fareham and Gosport Youth Brass Band
Director: Matt Watling
Venue: Crofton School, Stubbington
When: Fridays, weekly 6pm to 7:15pm
Requirements: Brass/Percussion grade/stage 5+Portchester, Fareham and Gosport Training Band
Conductor: Matt Watling
Venue: Crofton School, Stubbington
When: Fridays, weekly 5pm to 6pm
Requirements: Brass/Percussion grade/stage 3 +Portchester, Fareham and Gosport Junior Band
Conductor: Jim Potter
Venue: Crofton School, Stubbington
When: Fridays, weekly 5pm to 6pm
Requirements: Brass/Percussion introductory stage and above - Hamble area
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Hamble Area Youth Band
Director: Jamie Langridge
Assistant: Georgina Carter
Venue: D@rt Centre, Wildern School
When: Tuesdays, weekly 6pm to 7pm
Requirements: Brass/Percussion grade/stage 4+Hamble Area Youth Training Band
Conductor: Jamie Langridge
Assistant: Georgina Carter
Venue: D@rt Centre, Wildern School
When: Tuesdays, weekly 5pm to 6pm
Requirements: Brass/Percussion grade/stage 1+ - Havant area
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Havant Clarinet and Saxophone Choir
Director: Gemma Billington
Venue: Horndean Technology College, Barton Cross, Horndean
When: Tuesdays, weekly 6pm to 7pm
Requirement: Clarinet grade/stage 4+, Saxophone grade/stage 5+, Percussion/Guitar/Piano grade/stage 6+Havant Wind Ensemble
Conductor: Gemma Billington
Assistant: Sue Riggs
Venue: Horndean Technology College, Barton Cross, Horndean
When: Tuesdays, weekly 5pm to 6pm
Requirements: Woodwind/Brass/Keyboard/Guitar/Percussion players grade/stage 1-2+ - New Forest area
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New Forest Ensemble
Director: Clare Prest
Assistant: Tanya Fay
Venue: Hounsdown School, Totton
When: Wednesday, weekly, 4pm to 5pm
Requirements: Entry level ensemble – one term of learning is all that is required! - North East Hants area
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North East Hants Area Schools Ensembles (NEHASE)
North East Hants Area Senior Strings
Conductor: Carole Jenkins
Venue: The Wavell School, Farnborough
When: Wednesdays, weekly 5:30pm to 6:30pm
Requirements: Strings grade/stage 3+North East Hants String Training Orchestra
Conductor: Linda White
Venue: The Wavell School, Farnborough
When: Wednesdays, weekly 5:30pm to 6:30pm
Requirements: Strings introductory to grade/stage 3Hampshire Taiko (Japanese drumming)
Director: Catherine Capper
Venue: Alderwood Senior School, Aldershot
When: Thursdays, weekly
Training ensemble 4:30pm to 5:45pm
Senior ensemble 5:45pm to 7pm
Requirements: age 11 to 18, beginners welcomeNorth East Hants Area Schools Wind Band
Conductor: Lucy Powe
Venue: The Wavell School, Farnborough
When: Wednesdays, weekly, 5:15pm to 6:15pm
Requirements: grade/stage 4+ - Petersfield and Alton area
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Petersfield Area Schools String Orchestra (PASSO)
Director: Catherine Lawlor
Assistant: Bridget Hughes
Venue: The Petersfield School
When: Wednesdays, weekly 5pm to 6pm
Requirements: Strings grade/stage 1+ - Romsey area
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Romsey Area Schools Orchestras (RASO)
Romsey Area Youth Wind Band
Conductor : Alex Needham
Assistant: Angela Williams
Venue: The Mountbatten School, Romsey
When: Thursdays, weekly 5:30pm to 6:30pm
Requirements: Wind/Brass/Percussion grade/stage 3+Romsey Area Youth Jazz Orchestra
Director: Alex Needham
Venue: The Mountbatten School, Romsey
When: Thursdays, 7pm to 8pm
Requirements: Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, Piano/Keyboard, Guitar, Double Bass/Electric Bass, Drums/Percussion, grade/stage 6+ and to pass audition - Winchester area
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Winchester Area Schools Orchestras (WASO)
Winchester Area Schools Introductory Band
Conductors: Jamie Langridge, Jemima Kingsland
Venue: Concert Hall, Henry Beaufort School, Winchester
When: Wednesdays, weekly, 4:30pm to 5.15pm
Requirements: Wind/Brass/Percussion grade/stage introductoryWinchester Area Schools Wind Band
Conductor: Tom Barton
Assistant: Rob Eastgate
Venue: Music 2, Beacon Arts Centre, Henry Beaufort School, Winchester
When: Wednesdays, weekly 5pm to 6pm
Requirements: Wind/Brass/Percussion grade/stage 1+Winchester Area Young String Ensemble
Conductor: Lucinda Wright
Assistant: Sophie Edge
Venue: Drama 2, Beacon Arts Centre, Henry Beaufort School, Winchester
When: Wednesdays, weekly, 5:15pm to 6:30pm
Requirements: Strings grade/stage 1Winchester Area String Training Orchestra
Conductor: Gideon Baker
Assistant: Sophie Edge
Venue: Drama 1, Beacon Arts Centre, Henry Beaufort School, Winchester
When: Wednesdays, weekly, 5:30pm to 6:45pm
Requirements: Strings grade/stage 3+Winchester Youth Concert Band
Director: Jamie Langridge
Assistant: Jemima Kingsland
Venue: Concert Hall, Henry Beaufort School, Winchester
When: Wednesdays, weekly 5:20pm to 6:40pm
Requirements: Wind/Brass/Percussion grade/stage 4+ and by auditionWinchester Youth Orchestra
Conductor: Adam Broughton
Assistant: Martin Garrod
Venue: Concert Hall, Henry Beaufort School, Winchester
When: Wednesdays, weekly 6:45pm to 8pm
Requirements: Strings/Wind/Brass/Percussion grade/stage 5/6+ depending on instrument. Entry by audition