Concerts for Kids Spring 26
Happy new year! This term’s newsletter is packed full of variety and lots of musical joy. There is some really special stuff in here, and hopefully this timely arrival will give you a chance to filter through and get some bookings in before the madness restarts.
I wanted to take this moment to also highlight that while on the Roundhouse website I came across their Workshops and Drop-ins page and there’s lots of really good stuff on there you might like to take advantage of (producing/circus skills/theatre/dj etc). Definitely worth a look if you’re reasonably local!
I write this for free because I am passionate about increasing ease of access for young people to London’s incredible live music scene, but if you’d like to support my work, you can do so below.
Anything and everything is appreciated.
January
12/01/26, 19.30 - Barbican Hall
London Schools Symphony Orchestra and Aaron Azunda Akugbo (trumpet) bring us a brilliant, vibrant programme of music inspired by life in modern London. This concert has a good few short pieces before the interval, including new commissions from students in each of the 4 major London conservatoires. After the interval, the orchestra presents selections from Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet. This will be a great concert, especially good for trumpet players. (2hr run time, including an interval)
17/01/26, 18.30 - Royal Festival Hall
The LPO plays Stravinsky’s Firebird, a contemporary orchestral heavyweight. This is quite out there in terms of harmony, but if you have an open mind it’s an amazingly descriptive and poetic work, and could bear great fruit for kids with a big imagination. Here is an excellent resource with an introduction and activity sheet for the piece so you have something to grab on to if you go. The programme also features an excellent overture by Korsakov and a new piano concerto by Gustavo Diaz-Jerez but as always, feel no shame if you want to skip all or some of the first half! (1hr 50min runtime with interval, arrive around 19.30 to just catch the Stravinsky) ((bonus video of someone being very surprised by the big bang after a long quiet section which always makes me laugh))
23/01/26, 19.30 - Barbican Hall
BBC Symphony Orchestra plays a new work surrounding the climate crisis and Copland’s Appalachian Spring. This will be an interesting and stirring concert, featuring an appearance from the Finchley Children’s Music Group and projections of scenic design on a large circular screen. (no run time specified, but the Copland is before the interval and about 30 mins long)
31/01/26, 19.30 - Royal Festival Hall
A whole concert of game music by the BBC Symphony Orchestra. This is sure to be a winner right? Video game music is epic, and this concert, featuring music from Fallout, Assassin’s Creed, Ori and Far Cry, is bound to be a hit for any music keen gamers. (2hrs 10min run time, ages 7+ only, “recommended for 12+”)
February
03/02/26, 19.30 - Royal Festival Hall
Some of the world’s biggest classical music heavyweights are on for this concert, with Benjamin Grosvenor at the piano and Vasily Petrenko leading the orchestra. Beethoven piano concertos are universally loved (although not my thing per se) and the second half features what is, in my opinion, one of the most fun symphonies of all time - Shostakovich 10 (introduction here). It’s an absolute banger and really delivers on excellent moments for all members of the orchestra. This comes highly recommended from me. (2hrs 30 mins with interval, arrive around 20.30 for the Shostakovich)
07/02/26, 19.00 - Barbican Hall
This looks to be an incredible feast of Indian classical excellence, with virtuoso sitar, mridangam and tabla. Bring any children who might like to see and hear something new. This will be very special! (approx end time 22.30, but there’s an interval and you could sit near the back in case you feel the need to slip out)
08/02/26, 15.00 - Royal Festival Hall
Marin Alsop conducts music that needs no introduction - Star Wars and The Planets are always a hit for kids learning an orchestral instrument (and this programme has some excellent classical guitar in the middle for some variety too). I feel there’s very little that needs to be said here, this will be great fun and Marin Alsop is fantastic. Here is a little worksheet on the Holst if you want to learn more before you go! (2hrs with interval)
18/02/26, 19.30 - Barbican Hall
Jóhann Jóhannsson's Cinematic Suites celebrates the sweeping musical landscapes of the late Icelandic film composer. The creator of soundtracks for The Theory of Everything and Arrival, this concert and multimedia performance promises beautiful orchestral textures and colours whilst being outside the stereotypical “film music” scope. (no run time available)
28/02/26, 19.00 - Purcell Room (Southbank Centre)
London Sinfonietta plays Toru Takemitsu - a Japanese composer who deeply valued space in music. This concert promises to be a journey into mindful listening, with varied repertoire and live visuals to enhance the experience. (especially great for woodwind players, 1hr 45 min run time with interval)
March
08/03/26, 14.30 - Barbican Hall
London Symphony Orchestra’s family concert gives an opportunity to families to learn about the instruments of the orchestra, with free workshops beforehand and audience participation encouraged during the concert. Programme is to be confirmed, but this will be a lovely, laid back way to start exploring the orchestra. (~1hr 15mins)
16/03/26, 18.30 (doors 17.30) - Ronnie Scott’s
The National Youth Jazz Orchestra is a superb collection of some of the UK’s finest young jazz musicians. This evening at Ronnies’s, in collaboration with Sam Eastmond, will present the work of John Zorn’s Masada. UK Jazz News says “The music was fiery, dramatic and very exciting” (2hr run time)
20+21/03/26, various times - Royal Albert Hall
The Massed Bands of His Majesty’s Royal Marines are some of the best military musicians in the world, and this concert at the RAH showcases them in a completely different setting so that their musicianship is centre stage. The programme will feature things like the marches that you might expect, as well as film music and solo repertoire. This is amazing if your smaller musician plays a woodwind or brass instrument. (no run time available, go for a seat in the gallery if you’d like to have a bit of space to run around, draw or eat a snack!)
21/03/26, 17.30 - Milton Court Concert Hall
Junior Guildhall Wind and Brass is guaranteed to be a high energy watch. These are some of the best young musicians in the country and there’s nothing quite like watching their youthful enthusiasm and dedication in real time. (great for woodwind and brass, no run time specified)
25/03/26, 18.30 - Barbican Hall
The “Half Six Fix” series by the London Symphony Orchestra aims to give audiences a low commitment way to experience a symphony in a one-shot setting. This is a great one if you want to get home early and still see some of the world’s best orchestral playing! This evening’s concert features Dvorak’s 9th symphony which, although admittedly long at 60 minutes, you could definitely watch some of and leave! Here is the BBC Ten Pieces page about the piece, including a 6 minute video which might be of interest ahead of the gig. (one hour run time)
31/03/26, 19.30 (doors 18.45) - Royal Albert Hall
Ichiko Aoba is a Japanese singer, songwriter, composer, and multi-instrumentalist, and her sweeping vocals and guitar playing is being paired with orchestra for a stunning musical evening with the fabulous string group 12 Ensemble. (no run time available, go for a seat in the gallery if you’d like to have a bit of space to run around, draw or eat a snack!)
April
01/04/26, 19.30 - Royal Festival Hall
Pictures at an Exhibition is another favourite piece of mine and is a brilliant one for kids as there are lots of smaller movements, all of which are very descriptive and evocative. Here is an interesting set of programme notes about it which you could go through beforehand, and be sure to bring colouring pencils and try to do a picture for each movement if you like to draw! The first half of this concert might be a bit out there for younger listeners, so as always feel free to just show up for the second half (great for kids learning an orchestral instrument, 2hrs 15mins with interval, first half should end around 20.15)
04/04/26, 19.30 - Barbican Hall
Madrid Philharmonic Orchestra and DJ Symphonic play selections from the likes of Aviici, ABBA and Queen. This will be mega fun, especially if you’re looking to experience an orchestra in a different setting where you can jump around a bit and have loads of fun. This is definitely going in my diary. (No run time available)
04+05/04/26, various time - Royal Albert Hall
Interstellar live with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra requires very little explanation, only that the film is 12a, so bear that in mind if you have small ones! (2hr 49min movie run time, go for a seat in the gallery if you’d like to have a bit of space to run around, draw or eat a snack!)
08/04/26, 19.30 - Roundhouse Camden
The Philharmonia return to Roundhouse, joined by internationally celebrated cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason for an evening of varied music including everything from Henry Purcell to Laura Mvula, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor to classics by The Beatles. This will be really fun for all ages, and a different take and setting from where we would normally get to see The Philharmonia! (1hr 15mins no interval)
15/04/26, 18.30 - Barbican Hall
Another in the Half Six Fix series, the London Symphony Orchestra plays Shostakovich’s 5th symphony with an introduction from the conductor. At under an hour start to finish and one of my favourite symphonies, this is a heavy hitter of a gig. (one hour run time)
15/04/26, 19.30 - Queen Elizabeth Hall (Southbank Centre)
LPO plays Dvorak 7th Symphony and Carnival of the Animals with new animations by Sandra Albukrek. Dvorak’s music is always epic and is highly recommended for brass players, but at 40 minutes for the first half the whole programme may be overly ambitious for younger audience members. The second half however brings a world premier of a new piano concerto as well as a much loved family favourite by Saint-Saens, brought to life with new animations which will be really fun to watch (and visual input is always helpful if focus is a struggle!) (2hrs 15mins with interval, first half should finish around 20.15)
22/04/26, 19.30 - Royal Festival Hall
“Heavy Metal Orchestrated” sounds like it can only be fun right? Wagner’s Ride Of The Valkyries is the only currently specified piece in this programme, but I’m sure it will be great if you have kids that like loud music. (1hr 30 min run time, no interval currently specified)
26/04/26, 19.00 - Barbican Hall
“A new dance work by Mthuthuzeli November channels the deep spirituality of South Africa with music by Abel Selaocoe, Nduduzo Makhathini and Mbuso Khoza.”. This will be a beautiful musical exploration, with live dance and music by some truly incredible artists. (1hr 30mins with no interval)
30/04/26-09/05/26, various times - Royal Albert Hall
Lord of The Rings - the Fellowship of the Ring live in concert preceeds the Two Towers and Return of The King in the following days, so if you want to really go for it here you can. It’s worth noting that the London Philharmonic Orchestra will perform and they are the orchestra that originally recorded the soundtrack, so this is a pretty cool thing to see! (2hrs 58mins film run time, go for a seat in the gallery if you’d like to have a bit of space to run around, draw or eat a snack!)
