Photographs © Nosa Malcolm

How to apply

Interested? Apply by Monday 25 November at 12pm by completing this simple form.

If you would prefer to have this information in a non-written format please email Frankie McCormick.

There is also an opportunity to apply in a non-written format. You could create a video or voice note application (5-8 mins), or submit your application in any form that you choose. There is more information about this on the application form.

Summer Family Day 2024 was an absolute hit with both kids and parents alike! In anticipation of upcoming family events like Winter Family Day (Sunday 24 November), our Concert Promotions Intern, Megan Harrison takes a look back to July to show you what amazing family events are held here at Turner Sims…

On Sunday 30 June I got the amazing opportunity to help out on Summer Family Day and see the event first hand! Turner Sims and the nearby outside areas of Highfield campus were full of liveliness, music, and delicious food stalls. The day was filled with fun activities, music and performances that, together, created a day of musical family fun!

Throughout the day, the Turner Sims foyer was busy with face painting and crafts. Paper artist Nathan Ward ran an all-day drop-in workshop where children could create their own unique bugs. The face painting and crafts were extremely popular, and I saw lots of happy children with uniquely painted faces and others carrying around the paper bugs they had made.

In the afternoon, another show in the concert hall called JUMP was on. Following the creepy-crawly theme of this Family Day, JUMP, composed by Karen Wimhurst, combined field recordings of insects and amphibians with clarinet music.

The Puppetry and Conducting Workshop was held under the marquee. The workshop began with the puppet Pythagoras conducting for an accordion player, showing how his movements influenced her playing. After this, newspaper and tape were held out and the kids and grown-ups created their own puppets to conduct with! As someone who’s taken conducting classes, I think this was a really clever and engaging way of introducing conducting to children.

The final event of the day was Creative Beats Workshop, which ended summer Family Day on a high note. Led by Yetta and Emma, members of YES! Creative Beats from the Isle of Wight, kids and grownups played boom-whackers and hand percussion in time with recorded tunes. The energy from Yetta and Emma was amazing and kept everyone engaged, so much so that even the Arts at University of Southampton Student Ambassadors were joining in!

There was lovely positive audience feedback and families had an amazing time. The atmosphere the entire day was so vibrant and cheerful that I couldn’t help but enjoy myself!

Check out our Autumn 2024 season brochure here.

Will Gregory Moog Ensemble – Bouyancy Theory

The combination of quirky sounds from analogue synths and orchestral recordings from the BBC National Orchestra of Wales create a unique tune. Like the name suggests, the song has a floaty and lively quality to it, with moments of urgency and tension.

Angeline Morrison – Go Home

‘Of all The Sorrow Songs, this is the only one that is not specifically rooted in a particular time, place or individual’s story.  This song is for all the people who have ever been made to feel unwelcome in the place they have chosen to call home.’ Angeline Morrison

The Sorrow Songs: Folk Songs of Black British Experience is an amazing album that turns the (previously) unsung stories of black ancestors living in the UK into traditional folk songs. Angeline Morrison’s deeply beautiful voice combined with the melancholic, brooding tone of this song portrays both past and current experiences of prejudice.

Welsh National Opera Orchestra – Josef Strauss Delirien (Delirium) Waltz

With an opening full of dramatic suspense that turns to a lighter mood once the waltz is introduced, Strauss’ Delirien Waltz will bring excitement to the new year with Welsh National Opera’s Performance of this stunning piece. My favourite moment is the playful yet graceful flute solo towards the beginning that segues perfectly into a grandiose tutti orchestra.

Natalie Clein – Brahms: Cello Sonata No. 1 in E Minor, Op. 38: I. Allegro non troppo

I was hard pressed to not include one of Brahms’ most beautiful sonatas. This expressive yet moody, haunting yet romantic piece is captured by the richness of Natalie Clein’s playing.

Future Producers is a partnership project between Turner Sims and the University of Southampton Department of Music, giving a unique opportunity to a group of music students to programme concerts at Turner Sims and community venues. These students get the opportunity to work alongside industry professionals to learn new skills and gain experience planning, producing and delivering live music events.

Who are we?

Our 2024 team of Future Producers are the FRAZ Collective – Frankie, Ralph, Angelo and Zephyr. Brought together by a shared passion for music and experimentation, we are a team of four first year music students looking to bring new ideas and styles of music to Turner Sims. With a shared love for electronic and jazz music, we are hoping to bring a vibrant, youthful audience to Turner Sims with two upcoming concerts.

What are our aims?

We want Turner Sims to be at the forefront of an engaging music scene in Southampton and entice a new demographic of young people to discover the progressive and experimental musicians that Turner Sims showcases. One of our most important aims is to serve the community in Southampton – which is why one of our two concerts is in collaboration with Friends of St James’ Park’s Summer Festival on the 15 June. Turner Sims will have a one hour takeover at this event with the seven piece jazz and funk band Side Eye and alternative rock band Zero Saints bringing amazing live music to the community.

How will we achieve this?

In both of our concerts, we will be booking what we believe to be on trend and current. By putting on interesting and engaging musical performances that stand out from the crowd, we hope to create a buzz around what we are showcasing. We’ve got some amazing music in store that we’re thrilled to share, so stay tuned and watch this space!

Frankie, Ralph, Angelo, Zephyr (FRAZ Collective)

Turn It Up is a new development opportunity for musicians from Southampton and SO postcodes. It was launched by University of Southampton music venue, Turner Sims, earlier this year in association with SoCo Music Project.

Supported by funding from Arts Council England, the programme aims to help local musicians turn up the volume on their creative projects.

Pegasuses blew the selection panel away with an acoustic performance to secure their place as this year’s Turn It Up artists.

The Indie-Folk duo will benefit from industry mentoring, funding, and a headline slot at Turner Sims’ Summer Festival in June.

Through Turn It Up, Pegasuses are scaling up their usual duo to a full band featuring fellow Sotonians, including Russell Marsden (Band of Skulls), who they have spent the past two years recording their debut album with in his Southampton studio. The band will perform the album in full for the first time at Turner Sims’ Summer Festival on Friday 28 June 2024 before embarking on a small tour, which will take them beyond their usual Southampton stomping ground.

Pegasuses describe their music as folk-based with various influences from folk, Americana and alternative genres.

David Hurlock Box Office Assistant

My first pick is Olivia Chaney. One of our Front of House Managers, Maggie created some season playlist CDs to play in the foyer. I was listening to Circus of Desire and fell in love with her vocals.

Our chosen artists joined co-composition and creation days in London and Southampton under the guidance of highly experienced composer and music leader, Peter Wiegold, for cross-genre creative conversations with The Third Orchestra.