South London Community Music is a community music 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 networks and enthusiastic audiences.

About The Space

We have a longstanding relationship with the church. Here are some photos of the space:

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.

You get chairs, the library looks like this, you’re welcome to put your music there. We have a printer. You’re provided with keys and are expected to secure the building.

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

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 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 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.