Amplify Schools Showcase Student Talent

More than 400 young musicians from Amplify Education schools gathered on Wednesday 29 April 2026, for ‘All Together Now!’, a celebration of musical talent and community.

Amplify Education was created by merging Cathedral Schools Trust and Trust in Learning Academies. It now supports 21 schools and over 12,000 pupils, focusing on building belief, expanding opportunities, and strengthening citizenship across the city. Music is central to Amplify’s vision, enriching the curriculum and giving young people a stronger voice across the city.

The event was held at the well-known Bristol Beacon, in partnership with the LEAP Ensemble from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. It was one of the first major public celebrations for Amplify since the merger on 1 March 2026. The concert highlighted Amplify’s commitment to raising aspirations, expanding opportunities, and building cultural pathways for children and young people in Bristol.

A Celebration of Music and Collaboration

The evening started with a lively steel pan performance at 5.30pm, followed by the main concert at 6.30pm. The programme included big band music, dhol drummers, soulful singing, choral music, brass fanfares, junior orchestras, and full symphonic pieces.

This event shows the stronger collaboration and new opportunities now open to all Amplify schools. Our communities aim to be ambitious and thoughtful, and to work well together. Amplify believes that world-class music education can transform lives, turning classrooms and concert halls into places where young people succeed, and their voices are heard.

World Premiere: Connect

One of the evening’s highlights was the world premiere of Connect, a new piece created by Amplify students working with composers from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Written for full symphony orchestra and voices, this piece reflected Amplify’s mission to help young people explore their creative potential through high-quality musical opportunities. The event also welcomed guest conductor Peter Smalley, Chair of Music Mark.

Reflecting on the event, Trust Music Lead, Andi Nicholls, said:

‘All Together Now! was always meant to be more than just a gala concert. Indeed it was a spectacular event featuring over 400 young people from Amplify, over 30 colleagues from Royal Birmingham Conservatoire all in the world-class venue of Bristol Beacon. There was a palpable sense of excitement in the air as the opening fanfare started the show.
The finale, ‘Connect’, was breathtaking. This was a world premiere of a 5-movement piece written by Amplify Music students in collaboration with RBC composers. Involving body percussion, extended and unusual techniques for instrumentalists, a fanfare and pre-recorded samples in addition to the full orchestration for Symphonic forces and 4-part voices, the piece completed the concert with positivity and togetherness.’

Why This Event Matters

‘All Together Now!’ is an important milestone for Amplify. It highlights the wide range of musical talent in its schools and shows how the merger has encouraged more collaboration and creative opportunities. As Amplify grows and supports more schools in Bristol, its strong vision for education and commitment to opportunity and citizenship remain central to its mission.

By working with the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Amplify is making professional-level music education more accessible. This partnership helps young people across the region experience the positive impact of the arts.

Dan Rodeck, headteacher of Filton Avenue Primary School, also reflected on the significance of the occasion:

‘Seeing our choir perform at the Amplify Education All Together Now concert for the first time was a truly proud and uplifting experience. It was a genuinely inspiring event and seeing the pupils perform with confidence, joy and a real sense of togetherness, embodied everything we strive to nurture in our school community.

Watching them share the stage with so many other schools, united through music, was a powerful reminder of how the arts can bring young people together, build self-belief and create memories that will stay with them long after the final note. The atmosphere at the event was vibrant, warm and wonderfully inclusive. The hall was filled with energy and joy, with the sound of young voices blending together, creating a powerful sense of unity.’

As Nick Rees, Primary Music Coordinator at Amplify, explains:

‘It was a pleasure and privilege to support primary schools in rehearsing this year’s diverse and engaging repertoire. The enthusiasm for, and commitment to, co-curricular music making opportunities across Amplify’s primary schools was exciting. Championed by dedicated Music Leads, 240 primary singers from across Bristol shone in rehearsal and excelled on stage. It was an incredible opportunity for them to sing in a world-class music venue as a mass choir, and alongside secondary pupils, whilst accompanied by a big band and orchestra.’

The event also welcomed guest conductor Peter Smalley, Chair of Music Mark, who added:

‘It was a huge honour and pleasure to direct the massed forces of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire LEAP Ensemble and the musicians and young performers from Amplify Trust, in All Together Now at Bristol Beacon last week. This was truly a night to remember for all involved, especially those performing, and those whose musical ideas were incorporated in the specially composed Finale – Connect.’

As the event concluded at Bristol Beacon, participants and attendees alike experienced a strong sense of community and achievement. The ‘All Together Now!’ concert provided students from across the trust an opportunity to collaborate and perform for a wider audience. Such events highlight the role of arts education in fostering connection and personal growth among young people.

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