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Open rehearsals for schools

麻豆社 Philharmonic Orchestra Open Rehearsals for Schools

The 麻豆社 Philharmonic Orchestra welcomes KS4 and A Level school groups to its studio at MediaCityUK to watch selected rehearsals during our 2025 - 2026 season.

Students will be able to see and hear at very close range how a world-class orchestra prepares for a performance. They will be able to observe the different types of communication between conductor and musicians, and witness the detail that goes into the preparation of the live music.

Students will have the opportunity to chat to some of the musicians before the rehearsal, and in most cases, be able to chat to the conductor after the rehearsal.

Due to greater demand than availability, we will unfortunately not be able to accommodate every school that applies.

Schools will need to:

  • Provide their own transport to and from MediaCityUK
  • Communicate in a timely manner with the administration team (if you do not reply to emails, we will withdraw the offer and invite a different school in your place)
  • Have an appropriate ratio of adults:children
  • Ensure that the group is well-behaved and able to concentrate quietly for up to 1 hour and 45 minutes (this is the maximum duration of the session, during which the orchestra will need to concentrate on their rehearsal)
  • Agree to the 麻豆社's Safeguarding Guidelines for Visiting Schools which will be sent to you if you are successful in being allocated a rehearsal
  • Bring no more than 49 people in total
DATES - 2026 TIMES REPERTOIRE MAY INCLUDE
Tuesday 13 January 09:30 - 11:45 BOULANGER D'un matin de printemps, SAARIAHO Ciel d'hiver, GREIG In Autumn
Thursday 22 January 09:30 - 11:45 BOULANGER D'un soir triste, KOD脕LY Dances of Gal谩nta, BART脫K Bluebeard's Castle
Thursday 5 February 09:30 - 11:45 ROSSINI William Tell: Overture, TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 5
Thursday 12 March 09:30 - 11:45 WAGNER Tristan und Isolde: Prelude, BAX Tintagel
Wednesday 25 March 09:30 - 11:45 DEBUSSY Pr茅lude 脿 l'apr猫s-midi d'un faune, MOZART Symphony No. 38 (Prague)
Friday 24 April 09:30 - 11:45 BERLIOZ Symphonie fantastique
Wednesday 6 May 09:30 - 11:45 BRAHMS Double Concerto (violin and cello), BJARNASON I want to be Alive
Wednesday 20 May 09:30 - 11:45 STRAVINSKY The Rite of Spring

How to apply

We welcome applications from schools in the Greater Manchester and Blackburn with Darwen Music Hub local authority areas (see list below).

COMPLETE THIS FORM to register your interest in attending an open rehearsal

Local Authority Areas

To be eligible to visit a 麻豆社 Philharmonic Open Rehearsal, your school must be in one of the following Local Authority areas:

Bolton
Bury
Blackburn with Darwen
Manchester
Oldham
Rochdale
Salford
Stockport
Tameside
Trafford
Wigan