The Sound of Leicester 2025
Be inspired. Be empowered. Be creative!
NYJC invites young improvisers and composers (from beginner to young professional) aged 8-18 to join its new series of inspirational workshops at Cosmopolitan Arts Parkside House, 72 Friday Street, LE1 3BW in Leicester, collectively creating new works that tell the contemporary tale of creativity in Leicester.
Dates
- Sunday 2 November 2025, 10am-6pm
- Sunday 7 December 2025, 10am-6pm
- Sunday 11 January 2026, 10am-6pm
- Sunday 8 February 2026, 10am-6pm
- Sunday 8 March 2026, 10am-6pm
- Sunday 17 May 2026, 10am-6pm
Attendance is required at all workshop dates.
There are still a few places left! Apply by 30 November 2025 to join the programme from December.
Work in a highly creative and supportive environment as you collectively develop your ability to play by ear and build your confidence as an improviser, composer, and band member… skills you don’t often get taught elsewhere!
Meet and connect with other enthusiastic young musicians, sharing your musical interests as you collectively create new pieces while making creative friendships for life.
We welcome ALL instrumentalists and vocalists of any style and tradition – not just jazz!
No music grades are required – but a basic ability (similar to grade 3) at entry level is recommended. Participants will be divided into beginner, intermediate, and advanced groups – so you’ll always be playing with other young musicians at your level of ability. Each group will be guided by outstanding teaching artists from NYJC’s faculty of international artists led by NYJC’s Founding Artistic Director, Issie Barratt.
(Please note: All participants, except pianists, are expected to bring their own instruments)
All workshops will end in a sharing session at 4:30pm open to parents/guardians
There are still a few places left! Apply by 30 November 2025 to join the programme from December.
Location
Cosmopolitan Arts, Parkside House, 72 Friday Street, LE1 3BW
Cost
The participation cost for 6 days is £210
ANYONE CAN APPLY FOR A BURSARY
We don’t want anyone to miss out because they cannot afford the fees. NYJC offers means-tested bursaries for those needing financial help. This can include covering the full costs of the regional programme enrolment fee.
Please complete our separate bursary application form below.
About NYJC
The National Youth Jazz Collective specialises in bringing together young musicians (aged 8-18), keen to develop their creative skills and interests through small group improvisation and composition. Whether complete beginners or young professionals, our programme of regional and national projects develops their ability to play by ear, improvise, compose, arrange and band-lead through an inspirational and diverse programme of cross-genre, cross-cultural repertoire – introducing them to other young musicians of similar age and ability, within a nurturing and supportive environment. All NYJC activity is supported by online teaching & learning resources and bespoke programmes of Continuing Professional Development, designed to support the creative needs of the young musicians’ teachers and music leaders.
Meet some of NYJC’s stellar award-winning alumni, who first worked with NYJC aged 8-18.
