The London Schools Symphony Orchestra takes you on an epic tour of the orchestra before reaching for the stars with Holst's cosmic masterpiece.

Benjamin Britten’s educational masterpiece has inspired and initiated generations of young musicians around the world with its complex yet comprehensive navigation of the symphony orchestra and its instantly recognisable variations. 

Described as ‘Britain’s greatest living composer of art songs’, Ian Venables’s song cycle takes its words from the late 19th century poet John Addington Symonds. For this performance the songs have been specially orchestrated by the conductor Matthew Lynch. 

Further from home, Holst’s musical exploration of the solar system is packed with tunes that have laid the stylistic for a century of film music. Even if you have never heard of The Planets you will know the tunes.     

https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2025/event/london-schools-symphony-orchestra

Join London Youth Choirs for an enchanting evening of song at Milton Court Concert Hall. Across both of our end of term concerts, you will experience a vibrant tapestry of music inspired by Diwali’s joyous lights, the spookiness of Halloween, the warmth of Hanukkah’s melodies, the reflective beauty of the Winter Solstice and the magic of Christmas time. You can expect an eclectic mix of traditional and contemporary vocal pieces, creating a captivating atmosphere that embraces the spirit of our unity and festivity. However you celebrate this season, we hope to see you there!

Tristan has been conducting the Junior Boys’ Choir this term, and will lead them on stage for their performances. He will also be leading the Cambiata Boys’ Choir on an arrangement of his in this concert.

The Choristers of St Mary the Virgin, Merton Park, will be performing Britten’s "‘Ceremony of Carols’ alongside the Gaia Singers, and harpist Anwen Mai Thomas, on home turf at St Mary’s. The 25-strong cohort are all trained weekly at St Mary’s, and soloists will come from within the choir.

The Gaia Singers are a recently-formed trio, consisting of Elizabeth Howard, Natalie Dalcher, and Martha Littlehales. They performed at St Mary’s during the summer, and are back to sing alongside the choristers.

Anwen Mai Thomas is a recent graduate of the Royal Academy of Music (with Distinction), and a professional harpist from Wales. She gained the ‘Foyle Future First’ Harp position with the London Philharmonic Orchestra for the 2023-24 season, and has performed with groups including the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Sinfonia Smith Square.

Walthamstow’s newest choir is presenting their first concert - A Merry Little Christmas. Come along to hear some festive joy from the choir, including Christmas classics such as Darke’s ‘In the bleak midwinter’, Gaudete; and sing along to ‘All I want for Christmas is you’ with us. At St Mary’s Walthamstow, it’ll be a gorgeous and heartwarming concert on a December evening.

Tristan is delighted to be covering Richard Harker at Parenthesis Choir, in Reading, for the winter term. The advent season concert will feature music by Sarah Quartel, Cecilia McDowell, and Richard Rodney Bennett. It’s sure to be a great way to kick off your Christmas season.

UCL Chamber Choir are presenting their Winter Concert, titled ‘Love Endureth’. Featuring music by Roxanna Panufnik, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, and Giovanni Croce.