The concert, Time Entwined: Mason, Wilson, Birtwistle, was the final event in the London Sinfonietta’s 2025–26 season. It brought together past, present and future in a programme designed to blur the lines between performer and audience. At the heart of it was something very special: the world premiere of These Sounds Don’t Belong Here by James B. Wilson, performed by a large mixed ensemble of professional musicians, conservatoire students and teenage players.

This project, Playing the Future, is exactly what we mean when we say #WeMakeMusic. It’s about bringing people together, across different stages of their musical journeys, to create something new.

A shared stage

The London Sinfonietta is one of the UK’s leading contemporary music ensembles. Founded in 1968, they’ve spent decades championing new music and supporting living composers. They are now based just up the road from us in Camden, at Theatro Technis on Crowndale Road, which makes this partnership feel all the more meaningful.

Over the past few months, students from Camden have been rehearsing alongside peers from neighbouring boroughs. The structure was simple but powerful: local rehearsals in each borough, a combined rehearsal with London Sinfonietta players and Royal College of Music students, and then at the Southbank Centre leading into the evening performance.

For many of the young people involved, this was their first time working at this level. The music itself wasn’t easy. Contemporary classical music rarely is. But that’s part of the point. Projects like this stretch students, build confidence and open up new ways of thinking about what music can be.

As our students Jasper and Ruby put it afterwards:

“It was an amazing opportunity and a great experience to perform with professional musicians. But what made it extra special was that we were performing a new composition for the first time. I really enjoyed playing the music.”

“Playing with Sinfonietta was inspiring and fun.  I liked playing with a senior orchestra at such a great venue.”

Why this matters

At Camden Music, we talk a lot about progression. Not in a narrow, exam-focused way, but in the sense of giving young people meaningful next steps, whatever their starting point.

Playing the Future sits at an important point on that journey. It’s aimed at students around Grade 5 and above, often those who are beginning to think more seriously about music and what it could mean for them. For some, this will be a one-off highlight. For others, it might be the moment they realise they want to keep going, maybe even aim for a career in music.

It also brings contemporary music into focus. Too often, young musicians only experience repertoire from the past. Here, they were part of creating something brand new, working directly with the sound world of a living composer. That’s a different kind of learning. It asks for curiosity, flexibility and a willingness to take risks.

The project also reflects a bigger aim: widening the pipeline. By connecting school-age musicians with conservatoire students and professional players, it becomes easier to see how the different pieces of the music world fit together. It becomes more real and more attainable.

Camden and the London Sinfonietta

We’re especially pleased that the London Sinfonietta now calls Camden home. Having an internationally respected ensembles based locally opens up real opportunities for our students, not just for one-off projects but for sustained collaboration.

Playing the Future is a great example of what that can look like: ambitious, inclusive and rooted in genuine partnership. It’s not about parachuting something in for a day. It’s about building relationships, sharing expertise and creating experiences that stay with young people long after the final note.

Projects like this don’t happen in isolation. They are part of a much wider picture of music-making across Camden.

If your child is inspired by this and wants to get involved, there are lots of ways to get started or take the next step. We run a wide range of groups and ensembles, including brass bands, jazz bands, concert bands, choirs and orchestras.

Here’s a simple guide to our orchestral pathway:

Training Orchestra (Ages 10–13 | Beginner to Grade 2)
A friendly and supportive introduction to playing in an orchestra. Ideal for young musicians who have recently started learning, whether in school or through lessons.

Junior Orchestra (Ages 11–14 | Grade 2 to Grade 4)
A friendly and supportive orchestra for players grade 2 to 4 level. Musicians build confidence while playing a wide range of music. The group helps pupils grow ensemble skills and experience the thrill of performing in a full orchestra.

Camden Philharmonic Orchestra (Ages 14+ | Grade 4+)
For more advanced players ready for a challenge. This orchestra works on a rich range of repertoire and performs at a high standard, including appearances at venues like the Royal Albert Hall as part of the Camden Music Schools’ Festival.

And alongside these, there are plenty of other opportunities to explore different styles and genres.

#WeMakeMusic