Archway School, Saturdays 9.30 am - 12.30 pm
Five Valleys offers many musical opportunities to all (adults and children) who play musical instruments.
The Music Centre has thriving sections for young people as well as adults. (For more details of the adult section, log on to the Five Valleys Adult Music Centre website.)
Within the centre, there are many groups for young people that allows them to expereince the excitement of playing in large ensembles as an extension to their lessons and the musical activities in their school.
The youngest (3 to 7 year olds) start in the Crotchet and Quavers group, whilst older juniors, who have just begun their musical journey, play in a recorder ensemble or progress to String Starters and Wind Starters.
Junior Strings and Wind groups are the next level up with a Junior Orchestra combining these groups.
At Senior level, there are also String and Wind groups that combine into the flagship group, the Senior Orchestra.
Running alongside these groups are a Jazz group, Folk group and the Centre Choirs at both Junior and Senior level. There is also a wide ranging percussion section at the Music Centre too.
All the groups are run by experienced specialists who enjoy working with young talent.
There are Centre concerts every term and external ones involving some of the groups. There is the opportunity to play in Cheltenham Town Hall each Summer at the Youth Makes Music Festival. .
Any prospective student can take up to two trial sessions without charge. There's no need to make an appointment, just turn up and enquire at the registration desk. Parents are welcome to stay and observe, and all new students are assigned a senior student to help them until they feel at home.