Our partners

Two types of partner make up The Mix. Delivery partners are organisations in Luton that deliver activities for children and young people as part of the hub’s work. Strategic partners sit on The Mix Board, which sets the strategy and overall direction for the hub, ie making decisions about what the hub does and why. Some, but not all, also deliver activities for children and young people as part of the hub’s work.

DELIVERY PARTNERS

Luton Music Service – services for schools and young people, and the lead organisation for The Mix
The local authority music service, which provides whole class and small group instrumental tuition to schools; singing activities; weekly orchestras, bands and ensembles for young people out of school hours and related performance opportunities; and low cost instrument hire.

Hub Accredited Tutors (HATs) – 1-1 and small group music tuition
These are music tutors who are partners in, and quality-assured by, The Mix through annual lesson observations, CPD opportunities, DBS and safeguarding policy and practice checks. Their students benefit from low-cost instrument hire from Luton Music Service, discounted rates for Luton Music Service groups and centres and opportunities to perform through The Mix and Luton Music Service.

Luton Music – classical music performances and appearances in schools
Luton Music Club arranges and promotes weekly small scale classical music concerts at Luton’s Library Theatre and other Luton venues. It is run by Richard Sisson of Kit and the Widow fame. Richard works with The Mix to offer talks, masterclasses and workshops from some of its visiting performers, as well as offering young people free tickets for performances.

Friends of Luton Youth Music (FLYM) – fundraising and support from parents of young musicians in Luton
FLYM is a charity set up by parents of young musicians who are members of Luton Music Service’s youth groups and ensembles. The parents run fundraising events and apply to charitable foundations and trusts to raise funds to support the work of The Mix.

Inspiring Music is the music service for Central Bedfordshire, created to deliver and develop excellent musical opportunities for children, young people and adults. It is also the lead partner in the Inspiring Music Hub for the Central Bedfordshire Area.

Music for Bedford Borough is the music service for the Borough of Bedford.

Bedfordshire Music Trust (BMT) – holiday courses and groups for young people
BMT runs holiday courses and groups for young people, including orchestras, wind and concert bands, string groups, chamber groups, a choir, and a Youth Opera production. These benefit many young people from Luton.

The Friends of Bedfordshire Youth Music – fundraising and support for BMT
The Friends raises funds for Bedfordshire Music Trust from individuals, companies and charities.

Charanga – online support for the music curriculum
Charanga provides curriculum-based online music education resources and schemes of work for schools, including many in Luton. These resources are used daily by Luton Music Service staff to support their teaching.

Next Generation Youth Theatre (NGYT) –  performance opportunities
NGYT provides affordable and inclusive performing arts classes and opportunities to young people in Luton, including NGYT Musical Theatre.

Sinfonia Verdi – education and outreach work
A Luton-based ensemble made up of musicians with international reputations as soloists who record, give concerts, and work in education settings.

Osagyefo Theatre Company – education and outreach work
Osagyefo Theatre Company is an African arts-in-education non-profit making organisation based in Luton that organises workshops, seminars, lectures and performances.

Stage 1 – performance opportunities
Stage 1 is a Luton-based youth theatre company run by volunteers, that presents performance opportunities for young people including an annual pantomime.

CHUMS – Child Bereavement, Trauma and Emotional Well-being Service

Luton Roma Trust is a non-profit making organisation, which follows the principles of the Christian
Gospel and works holistically to enhance the lives of the Roma community of Luton.

Sing Up – Complete digital singing package

Sing Up places singing at the heart of education by providing a complete singing package through a digital music platform, termly Magazine and training.

With over ten years’ experience at the forefront of music education, Sing Up has created Membership packages that are flexible and well-loved by teachers and vocal leaders across the world. Whether you are a classroom teacher, freelance music educator, music service or a Music Education Hub, Sing Up will enable you to create a strong singing culture in your school with healthy, happy and confident students.

 Membership includes access to over 850 fantastic songs, from pop to classical, arranged to promote good vocal health in young voices. Sing Up’s resources are designed to help you use singing for cross-curricular learning in the classroom or to act as a complete foundation for musical learning across the school with early years to age 18 and beyond.

STRATEGIC PARTNERS

Luton Council is the body with ultimate responsibility for Mix funding and outcomes. Luton Music Service is part of the Council and is the lead partner in The Mix.

Luton High Schools, Junior and Primary Schools, and Special Schools are partners in The Mix.

Luton Sixth Form College provides the majority of post-16 music education in the town, offering Music AS/A level, Music Practice (Performing) BTEC Level 3 and Music Technology AS/A level. Most students aged 16 or over, who are interested in pursuing music as a career, attend the college.

Luton Culture is an independent charity that looks after cultural provision in Luton, managing 20 venues including libraries and community centres, and providing cultural services across Luton and the surrounding area, ranging from workshops to events management.

UK Centre for Carnival Arts is a creative space offering courses, workshops, seminars, exhibitions, showcases, galas and events dedicated to all forms of carnival arts including music.

Orchestras Live is a national music charity that brings orchestral music to thousands of people in under-served areas across England. It has run several projects involving schools in Luton – First Time Live, First Time Live II, Aiming Higher, Side by Side and The Wish. Schools work with composer, John K Miles, to create, perform or listen to pieces of music, which they sometimes perform alongside the City of London Sinfonia.

Watch the videos and find out the impact our recent work with Orchestras Live has had: First Time Live II Evaluation Report

Royal Opera House Bridge works to ‘connect children and young people with great art and culture’. Through research, advocacy and co-investment, it nurtures networks, shares learning and fosters innovation within the education, arts and culture sector – particularly in communities where there is limited local provision or experience. ROH Bridge is funded by Arts Council England and is part of a national network of ten ‘bridge’ organisations.