County ensembles

The Hampshire Music Service County ensembles bring Hampshire's most able young musicians together to practice and perform

Membership and how to apply

Membership is open to young people up to the age of 19, who are in full-time education at school/college/home. From September 2025 the fees for membership of one county ensemble will be either £55 or £75 per term subject to the ensemble tier level. Fees will increase subject to the number of ensembles they become a member of.

The county orchestras and wind ensembles hold auditions at the end of the summer term (late June, early July). We publish the application forms on this page in March or April. The application deadline is usually the end of May. You can apply for membership on different instruments and voices. You will need to complete a separate application for each one.

The bands and choirs are open to members throughout the academic year.

If you have missed the deadline this does not necessarily mean you need to wait another year to join. Please contact HMS or the ensemble you are interested in joining to see if there are any vacancies!

Apply to be a member of the County Youth Ensembles

Contact us about any of the county ensembles.

Your personal information will be handled in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). See our HMS Privacy Notice for Ensemble Membership.

Orchestra

Hampshire County Youth Orchestra (HCYO)

Director: Tom Goff
Venue: Thornden Hall, Winchester Road, Chandlers Ford, SO53 2DW
When: Saturdays, fortnightly, 10:30am to 3:30pm
Requirements: at or close to grade/stage 7+ and to pass annual audition

Hampshire County Youth Orchestras

Hampshire County Youth Chamber Orchestra

Conductor: Tom Goff
Venue: Thornden Hall, Winchester Road, Chandlers Ford, SO53 2DW
When: as identified, 3:50pm to 5pm
Requirements: at or close to grade/stage 8+ and to pass annual audition (by invitation only)

Hampshire County Youth String Orchestra

Conductor: Brian Lloyd-Wilson
Venue: Thornden Hall, Winchester Road, Chandlers Ford, SO53 2DW
When: Saturday, fortnightly 10:30am to 3:30pm
Requirements: at or close to grade/stage 5+ and to pass annual audition

Brass

Hampshire County Youth Band (HCYB)

Director: Matt Watling
Venue: Perins Community School, Alresford
When: Saturdays, weekly 9:30am to 12:15pm
Requirements: at or close to grade/stage 7+

Hampshire County Youth Bands Association

Hampshire County Training Band

Conductor: Ed March
Venue: Perins Community School, Alresford
When: Saturdays, weekly 10am to midday
Requirements: at or close to grade/stage 5+

Hampshire County Junior Band

Conductor: Kiri MacDonald-Jones
Venue: Perins Community School, Alresford
When: Saturdays, weekly 10am to midday
Requirements: at or close to grade/stage 3+

Wind

Hampshire County Youth Wind Ensemble (HCYWE)

HCYWE website

Director: Gary Chong
Assistant: Alice Randle
Venue: Barton Peveril Sixth Form College
When: Saturdays, every two weeks 11am to 3:45pm
Requirements: at or close to grade/stage 7 and to pass an annual audition

Hampshire County Training Wind Ensemble

Conductor: Martin Garrod
Venue: Barton Peveril Sixth Form College
When: Saturdays, every two weeks 10am to 1pm
Requirements: grade/stage 4+

Hampshire Double Reed Ensemble

Conductor: Angela Williams
Venue: Barton Peveril Sixth Form College
When: 1 Sunday per month, 3pm to 5pm
Requirements: grade/stage 4+ and to pass an annual audition

Hampshire Flute Choir

Conductor: Carrie Hensel
Venue: Barton Peveril Sixth Form College
When: Saturdays, every two weeks 9am to 11am
Requirements: grade/stage 6+ and to pass an annual audition

Hampshire Percussion Ensemble

Conductor: Grace Lane
Venue: Barton Peveril Sixth Form College
When: Saturdays, every two weeks 9:45am to 10:45am

Choir

Hampshire County Youth Choir (HCYC)

 

HCYC website

Hampshire County Youth Choir

Director: Andrew Hayman
Pianist: Ashton Gray
Venue: The United Church, Winchester
When: Fridays, weekly 7:30pm to 9pm
For school years 10 to 13 (Grade 5 standard and above)

Hampshire County Youth Chamber Choir

Conductor: Andrew Hayman
Venue: The United Church, Winchester
When: Fridays, when required, 9pm to 9:30pm
Members drawn from the main Youth Choir

Hampshire County Youth Show Choir

Director: Nick Duncombe
Pianist: Ashton Gray
Venue: The United Church, Winchester
When: Fridays, weekly 5pm to 7pm
For school years 7 to 13

Hampshire County Youth Training Choir

Director: Julie Shaw
Pianist: Ben Cooper
Venue: The United Church, Winchester
When: Fridays, weekly 7:30pm to 8:45pm
For school years 7 to 9

Hampshire County Junior Choir

Conductor: Julie Shaw
Assistant: Helen Liddle
Venue: The United Church, Winchester
When: Fridays, weekly 5:15pm to 6:30pm
For school years 2 to 6

Jazz

Hampshire County Youth Jazz Centre

Director: Dave Smith
Assistants: Dan Franks, Callum Quinn
Venue: Barton Peveril Sixth Form College
When: Sundays, at least four a term, 9:45am to 2pm
Requirements: Saxophone, trumpet, trombone, piano/keyboard, guitar, double bass/electric bass, drums/percussion, grade/stage 5+