South London Community Music is a charity that brings people together through music. We aim to:

1. support our ensembles
2. engage our community
3. promote inclusion

We provide resources and governance for three existing community groups:

• South London Jazz Orchestra (SLJO) - a jazz big band
• South London Symphonic Winds (SLSW) - a wind orchestra
• Geeky Beats - a videogame music big band

We’ve been operating in South London for 20+ years.

We’re based at Mostyn Road Methodist Church, near Brixton.

We are looking for a new ensemble to join our community.

What We’re Looking For

You’re an existing ensemble, or you have a firm plan to form one. You’re one of the following:

• Instrumental ensemble (e.g. brass band, string orchestra)
• Community Choir (Rock/Gospel/Chamber)
• Music education group/collective
• Other music-related thing, let’s discuss!

You’re formed of your local community, and don’t operate for profit. Your aims align with ours: you provide a safe, inclusive, and encouraging space where people take joy in music together.

Long-Term Benefits of SLCM Membership

• Regular rehearsal space (with plenty of storage), reasonable rates
• Charitable status
• Governance framework
• Gear - drums, percussion, and recording and amplification equipment (subject to specific arrangement)
• Connection with ~180 other community musicians. Dep musician networks and enthusiastic audiences.

About The Space

We have a longstanding relationship with the church.

The main hall regularly hosts rehearsals with 50 seated big band players, including a full rhythm section. You’d probably be able to fit 100 seated singers.

The church has comfortable chairs and plenty of storage space for gear and music. There’s a storage cupboard and separate library.

You’d be provided with keys, letting yourselves in and securing the building after you leave.

You’d be expected to take on one slot per week. Mondays are available, 5-10pm, flexibly. Let’s talk about timings.

What We Need From You

To get the conversation started we need to know:

• Who you are and what do you do? What music do you make?
• What makes your group a good fit for our values?
• An explanation of how you (plan to) engage with the community.

Long-term the payment structure for shared costs like hall hire depends on the size of your ensemble and your resources, but you’d expect to be contributing in the region of £300 per month for space, storage, and insurance. If you’re not established we can be flexible with costs while you grow your membership. This is considered on a case-by-case basis.

This isn’t an intermittent one-off deal, we’re looking for a long-term engagement. The new ensemble(s) ideally join SLCM as full members, including assigning a trustee to the board. In our last ensemble onboarding this process took twelve months.

Send us an email with those details and we’ll be in touch!

Applications are considered on a rolling basis, but we’re aiming to onboard as soon as possible.