- New Music Competition Winner Announced
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Date Posted: Sat, 20 Dec 2025
On Sunday 16th November 2025 a small but mighty YLSS ensemble spent the day getting to know the four shortlisted submissions in the latest round of the New Music Competition. It was an inspiring and challenging day culminating in the announcement that Max Knight had won the 2025 - 2026 competition with his piece, A Madman’s Mirror Is Between Us.
In the presence of the four composers and guest advisor Andrew Toovey, conductor Stuart Hazelton, along with our tutor Jo Claire, guided us through the technical and musical challenges of each piece. At the end of the day the orchestra shared their thoughts and the panel met to decide the winner. Balancing everything up, the panel felt Max's atmospheric piece will give us opportunities to think beyond the notes to further develop our musicianship and provde a challenge that we can rise to for a great performance in July 2026. We begin rehesrsing the piece in January and are very much looking forward to working with Max as we prepare for the premier. in the summer.
Read more about Max and his piece here: https://www.ylss.org/NewMusic25For more information, see: ylss.org/NewMusic25
- New term starting January 10th 2026
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Date Posted: Sat, 20 Dec 2025
Prospective Members: Please email Simon: ylss.orchestra@gmail.com to find out about joining.
- By Royal Invitation
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Date Posted: Sun, 6 Apr 2025
Thursday 3rd April 2025, Windsor Castle
We were astounded and delighted in about equal measure when we learned that YLSS had been invited to attend a reception at Windsor Castle hosted by His Majesty King Charles III to recognise and celebrate music making in communities across the UK, an event also attended by the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
Three of our Trustees, Sue, Steve and Simon, were among the 350 guests who together represented a diverse range of organisations and included leaders of community music groups and music-related projects.
It was a huge honour and privilege for us to represent YLSS and, more broadly, all Late Starters groups that provide adults with a friendly and supportive space to take up an instrument later in life or return to playing after a break, perhaps due to establishing a career or raising a family, and we hope we might have made a small contribution to raising awareness of these groups and their importance in providing opportunities for adults to make music together fostering a sense of belonging and improving mental wellbeing.
We did invite the King to attend a rehearsal should he ever find himself in Leeds on a Saturday morning, but he said he hadn’t had much time to practice the cello lately - no problem we said!
