Celebrating the achievements of RBC’s youngest wind players at Junior Conservatoire

Описание: In September 2025 we launched a brand new ‘Primary Winds Programme’ at Junior Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, welcoming 19 young people aged 7-11 who joined us on Saturdays to learn a woodwind instrument.

Just before we stopped for the Christmas break, our very first Primary Winds cohort performed to parents and other family members. This informal sharing event was a wonderful celebration of how far the children had come in just 3 months, showcasing the musical achievements and developing confidence of RBC’s youngest wind players. The event included large woodwind ensemble items, smaller ensemble pieces, solos and song items.  

Associate Head of Junior RBC and Leader of the Primary Winds Programme, Dr Luan Shaw said:

'I feel proud to have launched this programme and am thankful to all who have supported me in doing so. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the young musicians and the PWP tutor team across the Autumn term 2025. The children are a delightful bunch who get on very well together and work hard every week whilst having a lot of fun!  We had a large and supportive audience at the sharing event, and every single young musician played and sang with enthusiasm throughout.  It was a real joy to see the pride in the children’s faces after their performances!’  

You can see highlights of the sharing session here.

The Primary Winds Programme runs on Saturday afternoons at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and offers instrumental lessons for beginners and early-grade players on flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone or recorder. Ensemble playing is fully integrated into the programme, scheduled every week alongside musicianship games and activities, all of which support the development of students’ wider musical and social skills.

Thanks to generous charitable donations, we have a small stock of instruments to loan to beginner pupils free of charge.  We also have bursaries available to support tuition fees, helping families who can’t prioritise music but want their children to have a musical education. We continue to fundraise and are always looking for new donors.  If you, or someone you know, would be interested in supporting the Primary Winds Programme with a good quality instrument that goes unplayed, or a financial gift, please contact RBC’s Head of Development, Terry Gibson: [email protected]

Applications for the Primary Winds Programme are now open for September 2026 entry for children who will then be in school years 3-6: further details can be found here.  For an informal conversation, please feel free to contact the Primary Winds Programme Leader, Dr Luan Shaw: [email protected]