Merton Music Foundation

01/10/2026

It was the first session of the new term for the Merton Youth Jazz Orchestra, and preparations are already in full swing for Harlem Renaissance, their upcoming concert in collaboration with Guildhall School of Music & Drama.

With Guildhall’s Matt Skelton at the helm, MYJO launched into the music with energy and enthusiasm — and they were already sounding brilliant!

Getting to perform alongside Guildhall students will be really inspiring, and we can’t wait to see this talented young ensemble bring the spirit, creativity and vibrant sounds of the Harlem Renaissance to the stage at Milton Court Concert Hall.

01/10/2026

Congratulations to MMF Ambassador, and alumnus, Louise Alder. We're rooting for you!

I am thrilled to be nominated for Female Singer of the Year at the 2026 International Opera Awards.

What a lovely bit of news to receive! Very happy to find myself amongst such brilliant company.

📸 Will Alder

30/09/2026

🇧🇪 Belgium Youth Music Tour 2027

Do you want to be part of MMF’s next international music tour?

We’re heading to Leuven in Belgium from 26–30 July 2027, with opportunities to perform, explore a new country and make music and memories with friends.

Places are filling fast, so don’t miss your chance to join us.

Please note that financial support is available.

Sign up by 5 October 2026.

Find out more and register at mmf.org.uk/belgium-2027

30/09/2026

We’re delighted to have teamed up with Wimbledon BookFest to offer special ticket prices for MMF members and Merton schoolchildren at two fantastic events on Saturday 24 October.

5pm - Kadiatu & Braimah Kanneh-Mason: Young, Gifted & Black
Rutherford Theatre, Wimbledon High School
Recommended age 12+
£10 tickets

6.30pm - Chineke! LIVE:
Young, Gifted & Black Concert
Festival Auditorium, Wimbledon High School
Recommended age 10+
£5 tickets

Both events celebrate Black creativity, music and identity, with live performances from exceptional musicians.

Limited availability. To take advantage of the special MMF offer, email [email protected].

A big thank you to Wimbledon BookFest for making these offers available to our community.

26/09/2026

We came across Jason Kelce talking about what playing the saxophone taught him about practice, and it got us talking in the office about the things we’re still learning, practising and getting better at as adults, outside of music.

One of our team could barely run for two minutes when they started running. They’ve since completed two marathons. Another is learning a new language and experiencing that same feeling of slowly getting better.

Different challenges, but the same thing applies: practice really does lead to progress.

So now we’re curious…

What are you learning, practising or getting better at right now? We’d love to know.

22/09/2026

Get ready for 12 hours of non-stop drumming at Studio in Morden on Saturday 7 November, as we team up with them and Metronome Coffee House to raise money for MMF’s TEMPO Fund.

Last year, more than 50 musicians came together to keep the beat going for 12 hours, raising over £1,000 in the process.

This year, we’re inviting drummers and bands of all ages and abilities to get involved.

This is a sponsored event, so participants will be expected to get sponsorship to help raise money for the TEMPO Fund, which helps make music education more accessible.

📅 Saturday 7 November 2026
📍 Crown Lane Studio, Morden

And you can bring your supporters along! Drumathon will be live streamed onto the big screen at Metronome Coffee House, so friends, family and fellow musicians can watch the action, grab a coffee and cheer you on.

Want to be part of it? Sign up now to secure your space!

Find out more and register at MMF.org.uk/drumathon-2026

Tag any local drummers/bands in the comments below 👇

16/09/2026

A day of learning, sharing ideas and making music together at today’s MMF Tutor Conference at .

And what better way to get everyone involved than a bit of body percussion? Lulu had the room making music in no time!

A brilliant day with our tutors, picking up new ideas and inspiration to take back into lessons this term.

16/09/2026

Our practice diaries are ready for the new term!

A big thank you to Sushil and the team at Stag Print - Print & Packaging for bringing them to life. The quality is fantastic and they’re always so helpful, especially when we’re working to tight deadlines.

We couldn’t do it without you!

15/09/2026

Learning an instrument is about more than just learning to play. It’s about the confidence that grows, the friendships you make, the excitement of performing and being part of something with other people.

And often, it’s where a lifelong love of music begins.

Surely that’s a story worth telling?