William Appleby Music Centre
Each week, pupils from all over the borough come to the William Appleby Music Centre in Doncaster to take part in many musical activities including orchestras, bands, guitar groups, recorder groups, and theory classes.
The young people play music together, make new friends and, perhaps above all, have fun. There is a place for everyone.
The work at the centre forms an essential part of the instrumental training given to pupils, complementing the musical opportunities found in schools. Over the years, the work of the Doncaster Music Service has become renowned for its excellence and staff are committed to maintain and improve on the high standards they have set.
The William Appleby Music Centre is currently centrally funded and attendance is free of charge to pupils of Doncaster local authority schools. (Students from outside the area may join the ensembles subject to a small termly fee). A wide variety of musical activities are offered at the Music Centre and young pupils progress systematically through these bands, orchestras and ensembles.
Contact:
For more information about the activities listed below, contact the Music Service via:
- email: wamc@doncaster.gov.uk
- tel: 01302 327444
- address: William Appleby Music Centre, The Point, 16 South Parade, Doncaster, DN1 2DR
Keep up to date with the latest information!
Bands
Four carefully graded wind bands.
DONCASTER SCHOOLS JUNIOR BAND
- Conductor: Mr C Latimer
- Rehearsal Day: Saturday
- Rehearsal time: 9 am - 10am
- Held at: Jazz Centre on Beckett Road
- Entry level: Grade 1-2
DONCASTER SCHOOLS INTERMEDIATE BAND
- Conductor: Mr A Gurnhill
- Rehearsal Day: Saturday
- Rehearsal time: 10.15-11.15am
- Held at: Jazz Centre on Beckett Road
- Entry level: Grade 3-4
DONCASTER SCHOOLS SENIOR WIND BAND
- Conductor: Mr C Latimer
- Rehearsal Day: Saturday
- Rehearsal time: 11.30am -1.30pm
- Held at: Jazz Centre on Beckett Road
- Entry level: Grade 5 and above
String ensembles
Six carefully graded string groups and orchestras.
FUNKY STRINGS
- Conductor: Mrs R Thomas
- Rehearsal Day: Saturday
- Rehearsal time: 9.15-10am
- Held at: The Point, Studio
- Entry level: Beginner
STRING-TASTICS
- Conductor: Mrs R Thomas
- Rehearsal Day: Saturday
- Rehearsal time: 10.15-11am
- Held at: The Point, Studio
- Entry level: Pre Grade 1
SWINGING STRINGS
- Conductor: Mrs R Thomas
- Rehearsal Day: Saturday
- Rehearsal time: 11.15am-12 noon
- Held at: The Point, Studio
- Entry level: Grade 1
ADVANCED STRINGS
- Conductor: Mrs R Thomas
- Rehearsal Day: Saturday
- Rehearsal time: 12.15-1 pm
- Held at: The Point, Studio
- Entry level: Grade 2
Pedwar String Quartet
- Led by Miss C Pinder
- Rehearsal Day: Friday
- Rehearsal time: 4.30-5.30pm
- Held at: Jazz Centre
- Entry level: By invitation only - please contact the Music Centre office for more information
Watch the Pedwar String Quartet on Youtube
Orchestras
DONCASTER SCHOOLS SENIOR ORCHESTRA
- Conductor: Mr C Latimer
- Rehearsal Day: Wednesday
- Rehearsal time: 5-6.15pm
- Held at: The Point, Studio
- Entry level: Strings Grade 3, Woodwind & Brass Grade 4
Watch the Doncaster Schools Senior Orchestra on Youtube
BEECHFIELD YOUTH ORCHESTRA
- Conductor: Mr D Tonkin and Miss C Pinder
- Rehearsal Day: Friday
- Rehearsal time: 5.45-7.15 pm
- Held at: Jazz Centre on Beckett Road
- Entry level: By audition
Guitar ensembles
UKULELE GROUP
- Conductor: Mr C Wragg
- Rehearsal Day: Tuesday
- Rehearsal time: 4.30-5.15pm
- Held at: The Point, Studio
- Entry level: Beginners - by invitation
CLASSICAL GUITAR GROUP
- Conductor: Mr D Angel
- Rehearsal Day: Saturday
- Rehearsal time: 9-9.45am
- Held at: The Point, Light
- Entry level: First Five Notes+
CLASSICAL GUITAR GROUP
- Conductor: Mr D Angel
- Rehearsal Day: Saturday
- Rehearsal time: 10-10.45am
- Held at: The Point, Light
- Entry level: Initial Grade
CLASSICAL GUITAR GROUP
- Conductor: Mr D Angel
- Rehearsal Day: Saturday
- Rehearsal time: 11-11.45am
- Held at:The Point, Light
- Entry level: Grade 1
ADVANCED CLASSICAL GUITAR GROUP
- Conductor: Mr D Angel
- Rehearsal Day: Saturday
- Rehearsal time: 12-1pm
- Held at: The Point, Light
- Entry level: Contact Music Centre
ADULT UKULELE GROUP
- Leader: Mr C Wragg
- Rehearsal Day: Thursday
- Rehearsal time: 6.15-7.15pm
- Held at: The Point, Light
- Entry level: Contact Music Centre - the group can cater for beginners to advanced players!
Brass Groups
BEGINNER BRASS GROUP
- Conductor: Mr A Gurnhill
- Rehearsal Day: Thursday
- Rehearsal Time: 4.45-5.30pm
- Held at: Town Field Primary School, Thorne Road
- Entry level: First 5 notes+
SENIOR BRASS GROUP
- Conductor: Mr C Latimer
- Rehearsal Day: Friday
- Rehearsal Time: 4.30-5.30pm
- Held at: Jazz Centre, Beckett Road
- Entry level: Grade 5 and above - contact Music Service to check for availability of places
Recorder Ensembles
PRE-BEGINNER RECORDER GROUP - BLUE GROUP
- Conductor: Led by Myvanwy Smith
- Rehearsal Day: Thursday
- Rehearsal time: 4.10-5.00pm
- Held at: The Point
- Entry level: Beginners (must be able to play B, A and G and know where the notes are on the stave)
BEGINNER & INTERMEDIATE RECORDER GROUP
- Conductor: Led by Myvanwy Smith
- Rehearsal Day: Thursday
- Rehearsal time: 4.10-5.00pm
- Held at: The Point
- Entry Level: Initial - Grade 2 (Beginner Group) Grade 3-5 (Intermediate Group
TREBLE CLUB
- Conductor: Led by Myvanwy Smith
- Rehearsal Day: Thursday
- Rehearsal time: 5-5.10pm
- Held at: The Point
- Entry Level: Intermediate and Advanced standard players
ADVANCED RECORDER GROUP
- Conductor: Led by Myvanwy Smith
- Rehearsal Day: Thursday
- Rehearsal time: 5.10-6.00pm
- Held at: The Point, Studio
- Entry level: Grade 6 and above
Theory classes (ABRSM)
- Delivered by: Mrs Belbin-Wood
- Day: Saturday
- Time: 9.00-11.00am
- Held at: The Point
- Entry level: Contact Music Centre
HEY PRESTO! THEORY CLASSES
- Delivered by: Mr J Belbin-Wood
- Day: Saturday
- Time: 9.30-10.30
- Held at: The Point
- Entry level: Basic Music theory aimed at beginner students. Contact the Music Centre to be added to the waiting list.