NYJO Learning: Woolwich Works Songbirds

September 12, 2025

NYJO and Woolwich Works are delighted to announce the next dates for our Songbirds Singing Group!

This group is for adults aged 50+ who would like the opportunity to come together to sing, chat, and meet new people. It is a fun, inclusive learning environment suitable for beginners or those who have been singing for years.

The group is totally free to attend – come along and bring your friends, or make new ones here!

Location: Woolwich Works
Timings: Wednesdays, 14:00 – 16:00

 

 

 

The Woolwich Works Songbirds is led by four of our NYJO Emerging Professional musicians – Daisy Houlder, Myra Brownbridge, Amelia Wilding, and Rebecca Kent – who have received specialist training and support to develop their delivery skills as project-leaders in a community setting that is very different to our usual offer.

I wanted to widen my teaching experience age-wise as I’ve always worked with younger people. Working with older people has been a great learning curve for me.

Amelia Wilding, NYJO Emerging Professional Musician

 

Being the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, we don’t often get the chance to share the social and emotional benefits of our approach to music-making with older people! This project is a fantastic opportunity to further embed ourselves in the community around our Woolwich Works home, extending our offer beyond its usual reach, whilst also providing this opportunity for our Emerging Professional musicians to gain experience running a project in a completely new setting.

 

Feedback from participants has been incredibly positive:

“This group lifts my spirit!”

“Taking part in this group has helped improve my memory which has benefitted different aspects of my work.”

 

 

Our Singing Group has 3 x 8-week terms per year.

Please find our Autumn Term Dates below:

22 October
29 October
5 November
12 November
19 November
26 November
3 December
10 December

 

If you are interested in attending the sessions, please complete our online registration form to let us know that you’d like to come along!

If you have any questions, please contact NYJO’s Learning Programmes Producer, Beth Ismay, at [email protected].

Lucy-Anne (EP quote)

“Since joining NYJO, I’m so much more confident as a performer. Especially in terms of being able to entertain and keep the crowd engaged with you. It’s really nice to be able to feel that difference.” 

Lucy-Anne, NYJO Emerging Professional (Vocals)

Georgia (EP quote)

“It’s hard to just learn this music in the practice room but being immersed in the music at NYJO is a great environment to really push my playing. ” 

Georgia Ayew, NYJO Emerging Professional (Drums)

Sam Eastmond (MD quote)

"Giving them space to create whatever they wanted, without setting parameters of idiom or style helped them to conceptualise how they could bring these new concepts into their work without scaring them off, or mystifying the process."

Sam Eastmond, NYJO Educator

Jazzwise quote

"NYJO has never been conformist, never hewing to one particular line, never known for fawning replications and very deliberately these days a vehicle for new possibilities."

Jazzwise Magazine

Lydia (EP quote)

"The past year has been an absolutely incredible experience, pushing me way out of my comfort zone into playing with some of the greatest young jazz players of my generation and getting to call them my colleagues and friends has been beyond inspiring, and also an obscene amount of fun!"

Lydia Cochrane, NYJO Emerging Professional (Saxophone)

Anna (Learning national quote)

"[The NYJO residential in Cumbria] helped me to make friends with other young musicians. I enjoy playing a lot more and I’m quite proud of what I’ve accomplished. I feel more confident now. I have learnt different ways of coming up with solid melodies and also a little bit on harmonies. I think it’s been one of the best experiences I’ve ever had."

Anna, NYJO Learning Widening Access participant

Briony (Learning U18s quote)

"I’ve felt very fortunate to be surrounded by amazing musicians, and I think that the environment at NYJO – which has fostered creativity and improvisation – has allowed my confidence and musical ideas to grow."

Briony, NYJO Under 18s

Oscar (Learning U18s quote)

"I think I’ve progressed a lot in my piano-playing. NYJO has helped me to flourish and really enjoy it. I’ve really enjoyed being engrossed in a high level of playing and learning things in a hands-on-way. I also like the diversity of perspectives and abilities of all the players and teachers which enables me to try things I might not normally."

Oscar, NYJO Under 18s

Jennie (Learning U18s quote)

"NYJO has got me listening to more jazz and learning more changes. It has also helped with working as a band. I’ve really enjoyed the free jazz, learning by ear, the people, and the atmosphere."

Jennie, NYJO Under 18s

Leah-Anais (Learning U18s quote)

"I love the people at NYJO. Everyone here is so encouraging and lovely and it makes the experience worthwhile. Though I have fun I’m still learning on the way which makes me feel productive too."

Leah-Anais, NYJO Under 18s

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