West Wiltshire young Musicians was established in 1980 by the County Council
In partnership with parents and supporters to create the bands and orchestras
in the Central Division of Wiltshire. Professional staff of the County Council’s
Music Service coach and conduct the twelve structured playing groups, which are:

Advanced
West Wiltshire Concert Band

West Wiltshire Youth Orchestra

Intermediate
West Wiltshire Wind Band

Devizes & District Wind Band
West Wiltshire String Ensemble

Devizes & District String Ensemble

West Wiltshire Percussion Ensemble

Junior
West Wiltshire Junior Wind

Chippenham Junior Wind
Chippenham Junior Strings

Devizes Junior Strings

Trowbridge Junior Strings
Warminster Junior Strings

West Wiltshire Young Singers

The aim of WWYM is to provide facilities on a weekly basis during term-time for young musicians from both primary and secondary schools to experience high quality music making. When ready, the young musicians are carefully guided to a suitable band or orchestra. Currently we have 500 children on register and the pupils join WWYM from across all ten towns which form the Central Division of Wiltshire, viz Bradford on Avon, Calne, Chippenham, Corsham, Devizes, Lavington, Melksham, Trowbridge, Warminster and Westbury. Because our pupils come from across the ten towns, great efforts are made to distribute performing opportunities.

Activities include both one day and residential courses. There is also a commitment to regional and national festivals – musicians in the Junior Strings groups, Youth Orchestra and Concert Band have all played in London’s Royal Festival Hall . Concert tours abroad are organised for the senior groups, and these have included trips to Italy, France, Norway, Holland and Spain.

Each group will normally give at least three public performances during the course of a year.  We encourage all young musicians whatever their ability to join and enhance their musical education.

We are funded mainly by a subscription from each child (except where there is real hardship); on top of this we receive a small amount from the local authority and charitable trusts and grants, individual patrons, donations and of course fund raising. One of our most popular fund raisers is the ‘sponsored 'play' where several groups each play for 30-40 minutes and the children obtain sponsorship for this.

We celebrated our 21st Birthday in 2001 by holding a series of concerts in The Forum, in Bath (the only place large enough to hold us all at the same time!).

WWYM is a Registered Charity 1000 800.