New Music Workshop with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Help create a brand new musical work

Join a collaborative workshop

Premiere it at The Hexagon

We’re delighted that this year we have a collaboration with the world famous Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as Reading’s largest musical venue - The Hexagon.  

As part of this collaboration, we’re creating a totally free community ‘double event’ opportunity for musically interested people from across Reading. We thought you might be interested and know people who would like to be involved?! 

The first element is a workshop day in the beautiful ‘Great Hall’ on the University’s London Road Campus (Saturday 2nd May). This will be led by an RPO workshop leader and composer, and helped by RPO musicians. 

During that day you’ll have fun, meet with, and create music with lovely people, enjoy exploring sound and composition, and together create a brand new musical work. Then, a week later, you’ll perform this new work.... live.... at the Hexagon! You’ll be performing alongside a symphony orchestra, and a few stellar local groups from around Reading. The performance is Saturday 9th of May (the week following the workshop). 

We’re hoping to find 100 inquisitive and creative community musicians, who would enjoy coming and be part of this process. We’re expecting amateurs, so please don’t feel it’s for pros only! You just need musical passion. 

We would love to see many different instruments from across the world, representing the wonderful diversity and tapestry of Reading itself; so, if you play something interesting, please do come along! And bring your instrument – we don’t have a stock of unusual instruments, so you do need to bring your own.  

Whatever your musical genre, style, passion, or instrument, you’re welcome to join us (and for free!). 

Have an unusual instrument? Even better! We want this new piece to reflect the rich tapestry of cultural life that makes Reading unique. 

Don’t play anything but love music?  - Come and sing or be involved in body percussion or one of the other creative ways the RPO workshop leader will get everyone involved.  

Event Dates & Times

2 May Workshop day

• 10:30am – 4:30pm
• Great Hall, University of Reading, London Road Campus

9 May Performance

• Daytime and evening (exact times TBC)
• The Hexagon

Note – the expectation is that if you’d like to join, you do commit to both Saturdays (the workshop and the performance).