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 2021 area ensemble membership will cost £35 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, Jessica Deal
Venue: Amery Hill School, Alton
When: Tuesday, weekly, 4:30pm to 5:30pm - 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: 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: 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 - 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: 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: 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: beginner to advancedBasingstoke Area Youth Choir
Conductor: Emma Nunn
Venue: Queen Mary's College, Basingstoke
When: Thursdays, weekly 5.45pm to 6.45pmBasingstoke Area Guitar Ensemble
Conductor: Ryan O'Donoghue
Venue: Queen Mary's College, Basingstoke
When: Tuesdays, weekly, 4:30pm to 5:30pm - 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: 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: introductory to grade/stage 2+ levelEastleigh Area String Orchestra Cello Class
Conductor: Clare Prest
Venue: Thornden Hall, Thornden Academy, Chandler's Ford
When: Mondays, weekly, 4.30pm to 5pm
Requirements: grade/stage 1 to 4Eastleigh Area String Training Orchestra
Conductor: Clare Prest
Venue: Thornden Hall, Thornden Academy, Chandler's Ford
When: Mondays, weekly, 5.15pm to 6.30pm
Requirements: 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 - 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 Cort 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 Cort 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 Cort 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 Cort Community College, Fareham
When: Thursday, weekly 6pm to 7pm
Requirements: beginner to grade/stage 3Gosport and Fareham Ukulele and Guitar Ensemble
Conductor: Martin McBeath
Assistant: Meryl Pows
Venue: Henry Cort Community College, Fareham
When: Thursday, weekly 5pm to 5.45pm
Requirements: Open to junior school age and abovePortchester, Fareham and Gosport Youth Bands
Portchester, Fareham and Gosport Choir
Director: Wendy Blunn
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: grade/stage 5+Portchester, Fareham and Gosport Training Band
Conductor: Matt Watling
Venue: Crofton School, Stubbington
When: Fridays, weekly 5pm to 6pm
Requirements: grade/stage 3 +Portchester, Fareham and Gosport Junior Band
Conductor: Cathi McKenzie
Venue: Crofton School, Stubbington
When: Fridays, weekly 5pm to 6pm
Requirements: introductory stage and above - Hamble area
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Hamble Area Youth Band
Director: Jamie Langridge
Assistant: Georgina Carter
Venue: Wildern School
When: Tuesdays, weekly 5.45pm to 7.15pm
Requirements: grade/stage 4+Hamble Area Youth Training Band
Conductor: Jamie Langridge
Assistant: Georgina Carter
Venue: Wildern School
When: Tuesdays, weekly 4.30pm to 5.30pm
Requirements: grade/stage 1+ - Havant area
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Havant Clarinet and Saxophone Choir
Director: Gemma Billington
Assistant: Dan Storton
Venue: Cowplain School, Waterlooville
When: Tuesdays, weekly 5.45pm to 7.15pm
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: Cowplain Community School, Waterlooville
When: Tuesdays, weekly 4.45pm to 5.45pm
Requirements: woodwind, brass, keyboard, guitar and percussion players grade/stage 1-2+Havant Ukulele Group (not currently running, students needed, please enquire)
Conductor: Nic Hoskins
Venue: Cowplain Community School, Waterlooville
When: Tuesdays, weekly 4pm to 4.45pm
Requirements: Yr3 upwards, bring your own ukulele - New Forest area
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New Forest Ensemble
Director: Clare Prest
Assistant: Tanya Fay
Venue: Hounsdown School, Totton
When: Wednesday, weekly, 4 to 5pm - 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: 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: introductory to grade/stage 3Hampshire Taiko (Japanese drumming)
Director: Luke Jones
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 1-8North East Hants Area Schools Youth Choir
Conductor: Jo Bolam
Venue: The Wavell School, Farnborough
When: Wednesdays, weekly 5.15pm to 6.15pm
Requirements: Yr3 to Yr13North East Hants Area Schools Bands (NEHASB)
North East Hants Area Schools Brass Band
Conductor: Jason Kong
Venue: All Saints Church of England Junior School, Fleet
When: Thursdays, weekly 7.30pm to 9.00pm
Requirements: grade/stage 5+North East Hants Area Schools Training Band
Conductor: Alice Vaughan
Venue: Alderwood Senior School, Aldershot
When: Thursdays, weekly 4.45pm to 5.45pm
Requirements: grade/stage 3+North East Hants Area Schools Concert Band
Conductor: Alice Vaughan
Venue: Alderwood Senior School, Aldershot
When: Thursdays, weekly 6pm to 7.30pm
Requirements: grade/stage 3+ - 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: grade/stage 1+ - Romsey area
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Romsey Area Schools Orchestras (RASO)
Romsey Youth Concert Band
Conductor: Carrie Hensel
Venue: The Mountbatten School, Romsey
When: Thursdays, weekly 6:20pm to 7:30pm
Requirements: grade/stage 5+Romsey Area Youth Wind Band
Conductor : Helen Trounson
Assistant: Angela Williams
Venue: The Mountbatten School, Romsey
When: Thursdays, weekly 5pm to 6pm
Requirements: grade/stage 2+Romsey Area Youth Jazz Orchestra
Director: Alex Needham
Assistant: James Trounson
Venue: The Mountbatten School, Romsey
When: Thursdays, 7:45pm to 8:45pm
Requirements: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: grade/stage 5/6+ depending on instrument. Entry by audition