Parents and students play a vital role in musical journeys.
This page signposts trusted organisations and partners who support young musicians across Peterborough, offering opportunities to take part, progress, and stay involved in music beyond the classroom.

Peterborough Centre for Young Musicians

The Peterborough Centre for Young Musicians (PCYM)is an exciting venture for the region’s enthusiastic young musicians.

PCYM is aimed at children and young people aged between 3-18 years. Acceptance will be based on, engagement, enthusiasm and musical potential with bursaries and free instrument loan available.

PCYM has packages suited to all ages and abilities allowing young musicians to progress on their musical journey.

For more information or to book a PCYM taster session, please email Kirsten Goldthorp – Head of Peterborough Music Hub (PMH) & Peterborough Centre for Young Musicians (PCYM)

Peterborough Youth Orchestra

Peterborough Youth Orchestra players are all Grade 6+ and week long holiday courses are held throughout the year, leading to special Gala Concerts at the end of each course.

The Peterborough Youth Orchestra is led by Robin Norman. Robin studied at the Birmingham Conservatoire, one of Europe’s top specialist music institutions, graduating with a first class honours degree in 1995. Since that time he has worked as musical director for a number of orchestras, concert bands and other ensembles, as well as performing around the world as a conductor and tuba player.

Beat This is a Community Interest Company (or CIC), which is a social enterprise with a conscience. We use music and technology to help children, young people, adults and people with additional needs develop skills, interact and express themselves through music.

​Many of the people that we support are disengaged from mainstream society or education and may have special educational needs and disabilities, mental health issues, or challenging behaviour.

Please see below for some of the ways Peterborough Music Hub partners with Beat This

Alternative Music School – The Music Makers Club is a program for young people ages 8-18 who are interested in learning about music and creating their own music. The club will meet for five 2-hour sessions from September 2023 to August 2024. There are also three holiday sessions during this time period.

Little Chimes – Inclusive, interactive music-making programme, for a group of up to 20 home-schooled children, between the ages of 5 – 12

Beat Orchestra – The youth orchestra combines traditional orchestral and popular music instruments with electronic music production and rapping/singing. It was founded in 2013 by Beat This CIC, a community music organisation in Peterborough. The orchestra is open to young people aged 11 to 18 (25 with additional needs or as a young apprentice/volunteer), regardless of their musical experience.

Peterborough Sings! leads two annual Big Sing events for local Primary and Junior Schools on behalf of the Peterborough Music Hub.

These hugely popular singing days, provide participating schools with high quality music tuition, together with a fantastic performance opportunity.

Teachers are supplied with resource material—including lyrics, sheet music and audio recordings.

Pupils participate in a variety of sessions with a team of professional vocal coaches, led by William Prideaux. In the afternoon they are joined by a live band who accompany their singing in the concluding performance.

For further information email: musichub@peterborough.gov.u