Join a Cornwall Music Service Trust Ensemble today
Cornwall Music Service Trust offers a wide range of ensembles across Cornwall for young musicians of all levels and instruments. Whether you play brass, strings, woodwind, percussion, or even ukulele, there’s a group for you!
Joining an ensemble is an incredible way to develop your musicianship, gain performance experience, and make new friends who share your passion for music.
Cornwall Youth Brass Ensemble (CYBE) £165 per year
Are you a brass player eager to join an ensemble that celebrates musical excellence and camaraderie? Look no further than the Cornwall Youth Brass Ensemble! Joining this esteemed group offers young musicians the opportunity to refine their skills under expert guidance while performing alongside talented peers. Whether you’re passionate about trumpets, trombones, tubas, or french horns, the Cornwall Youth Brass Ensemble welcomes brass players of all levels to join their ranks. Embark on a journey of musical growth, friendship, and unforgettable performances by joining the Cornwall Youth Brass Ensemble today!
Rehearsals: Truro High School for Girls
Dates: Sep 6 | Oct 11 | Nov 8 | Dec 13 | Jan 17 + 31 | Feb 28 | Mar 7 | Apr 25 | May 9
Cornwall Youth Jazz Orchestra (CYJO) £165 per year
Looking for an exciting opportunity to take your music to the next level? The Cornwall Youth Jazz Orchestra (CYJO) is the perfect place for secondary school musicians to shine! CYJO explores the rich world of jazz, from swing and bebop to contemporary styles and performs at all kinds of events—village halls, charity gigs, festivals, and beyond. It offers an incredible experience filled with music, camaraderie, and unforgettable performances.
Rehearsals: Truro High School for Girls
Dates: Sep 7 | Oct 5 | Nov 9 | Dec 7 | Jan 11 | Feb 1 | Mar 1 | May 17 | Jun 7 | Jul 5
Cornwall Youth Wind Orchestra (CYWO) £200 per year
Are you a young musician eager to elevate your musical journey? Joining the Cornwall Youth Wind Orchestra (CYWO) could be your gateway to an unforgettable musical experience. As a member of CYWO, you'll have the opportunity to collaborate with talented peers, receive expert guidance from seasoned professionals, and perform exhilarating repertoire in prestigious venues across Cornwall and beyond. Whether you're a brass, woodwind, or percussion player, CYWO offers a supportive and inspiring environment where you can refine your skills, expand your musical horizons, and create lifelong memories. Embrace the thrill of ensemble playing and take your musical talents to new heights with the Cornwall Youth Wind Orchestra!
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Sax Is Our Business £165 per year
Join this dynamic ensemble, Sax is our Business, dedicated to intermediate and advanced saxophone players in Truro! Be part of a vibrant group where you'll fine-tune your skills, collaborate with like-minded musicians, and explore an exciting repertoire. From thrilling performances to diverse gigs throughout the year, this is your chance to elevate your saxophone prowess while having a blast making music together. Don't miss the chance to be part of this fantastic saxophone ensemble!
Rehearsals: Truro High School for Girls
Dates: Sep 6 | Oct 11 | Nov 8 | Dec 13 | Jan 17 + 31 | Feb 28 | Mar 7 | Apr 25 | May 9
St. Austell Chamber Orchestra (SACO) £30 per term
A friendly group of young string players who love making music together! SACO rehearses weekly during term time, performing a wide range of music and building both musical skills and friendships.
Rehearsals: Penrice Academy
Day/Time: Thursdays, 4:30 – 5:30 pm (term time only)
Truro Junior String Orchestra (TJSO) £30 per term
This ensemble is a fantastic opportunity for string players of all levels to come together and make music in a supportive and collaborative environment. Whether you're a seasoned player or just starting out, we welcome musicians of all abilities. Members have the chance to enhance their skills, expand their repertoire, and enjoy the thrill of performing together. TJSO not only offers a platform to showcase your musical talents but also provides a sense of community and camaraderie among fellow string enthusiasts.
Rehearsals: Truro High School
Day/Time: Wednesdays, 4:30 – 5:30 pm (term time only)
Triggshire String Orchestra £30 per term
We are an ensemble for string players from anywhere in North Cornwall area. We welcome all standards and can prepare parts to suit individual ability so even beginners can enjoy playing. It’s a great start in ensemble and orchestral playing. We play traditional and folk based, pop, rock and classical music. We work to improve our ensemble playing whilst supporting each other and most importantly having a great time making music and friends!
Rehearsals: St Thomas Church, Camelford
Day/Time: Wednesdays, 5 – 6 pm (weekly)
Restormel Junior Strings £30 per term
Restormel Junior Strings have been meeting for a number of years. We welcome string players from both primary and secondary schools from near beginner to grade 2/3 standard. Although a Cornwall Music Trust organisation, everyone is welcome to join whether they receive lessons through CMST or privately.
Repertoire includes, folk, classical and contemporary music and the are frequent opportunities to perform including St Austell Music Festival.
Rehearsals: Penrice Academy, PL25 3NR
Day/Time: Mondays, 4:15 – 5:15 pm (term time only)
Carrick Strings (Falmouth) £34 per term
Formed in October 2022, Carrick Strings was created in response to the closure of the much-loved Fal River Strings, ensuring that players who were left without an ensemble could continue making music together. Ensemble playing is a vital and inspiring part of learning an instrument — helping young musicians develop listening and ensemble skills, build confidence, and enjoy the social side of making music as a team. Carrick Strings offers a varied repertoire spanning Classical, Film, Pop, Jazz, and Cornish music, welcoming players of all ages and abilities and adapting parts to suit individual levels.
Rehearsals: Falmouth School
Day/Time: Thursdays (term time only), 4:30 – 5:30 pm
SuperStrings (Truro)
SuperStrings is CMST’s dynamic countywide string supergroup, uniting violin, viola, cello and double bass players of all abilities to create a powerful large-scale ensemble. Each term, smaller groups from across Cornwall come together to form an exciting orchestral experience, often joined by brass, woodwind and percussion for vibrant, full-ensemble performances. Guided by CMST teachers, SuperStrings offers young musicians the chance to develop their skills, build confidence and enjoy the thrill of making music as part of a big, energetic orchestra.
Rehearsals: (Varies by term — details provided through CMST)
Triggshire Wind Orchestra £30 per term
Triggshire Wind Orchestra is based in North Cornwall and provides woodwind, brass and percussion players the opportunity to play together in a large ensemble. It has a very welcoming, friendly atmosphere and plays a wide range of music including contemporary wind orchestra repertoire, classical, film and pop/rock. The orchestra has performed at large scale concerts and has toured in the UK and Europe. Players of any age are welcome from grade 3 onwards.
Rehearsals: St John’s Church, Delabole
Day/Time: Wednesdays, 5 – 6:30 pm
Carrick Breeze (Truro) £30 per term
Perfect for beginner to intermediate woodwind, brass, and percussion players, Carrick Breeze offers a welcoming and supportive environment to start or continue your musical journey. Members come together to build confidence, develop their ensemble skills, and enjoy playing a fun and varied repertoire alongside peers. With exciting performance opportunities throughout the year, Carrick Breeze provides a fantastic foundation for young musicians to learn, grow, and experience the joy of making music as part of a team.
Rehearsals: Kensey Building, Truro School
Day/Time: Mondays, 6:00 – 7:15 pm
Carrick Winds (Truro) £30 per term
Designed for intermediate and advanced woodwind, brass, and percussion players, Carrick Winds offers an exciting opportunity to develop your musicianship in a dynamic and supportive ensemble. Players come together to explore a diverse and engaging repertoire while building confidence, refining technique, and preparing for performance opportunities throughout the year. Whether you’re aiming to expand your skills or simply enjoy making music with others, Carrick Winds provides a fantastic platform to take your playing to the next level.
Rehearsals: Kensey Building, Truro School
Day/Time: Mondays, 7:00 – 8:15 pm
Recorders Rule! £15 per term
Ready to join the premier recorder ensemble in Cornwall? Look no further than Recorders Rule! Whether you're an experienced player or just starting out, all recorder enthusiasts are welcome to join this vibrant and talented group. Sign up today to be part of an exciting musical journey filled with camaraderie, learning, and unforgettable performances. Don't miss your chance to be part of something special – join Recorders Rule now!
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We Are Music (WAM) £30 per term
We are a very friendly group who love playing and learning about music together. We welcome anyone, from ages 7 -70 and beyond, who has an interest in music and plays any instrument from beginner to Grade 4 standard. We meet on Tuesdays from 4-4.45pm at Looe Academy and perform locally; a highlight for us is the chance to play at the Polperro Festival every year. We look forward to seeing you!
Rehearsals: Looe Academy
Day/Time: Tuesdays, 4 – 4:45 pm
Contact: sbutlin@cornwallmusicservicetrust.org
Kerrier Ukuleles £30 per term
Kerrier Ukuleles is for complete beginners and for those who are already learning and know a few chords. We enjoy learning to play & sing a variety of songs including Cornish songs, sea shanties & contemporary songs, in a relaxed friendly environment.
Rehearsals: Parc Eglos School, Helston
Day/Time: Saturdays (fortnightly), 10:30 am – 12 pm
Ages: 6 and up, including adults
Play West £30 per term
Play West, a vibrant children's music ensemble based in West Cornwall convenes weekly rehearsals at Newlyn Primary School in Penzance every Monday from 4 to 5 pm. The ensemble prides itself on being an inclusive space, welcoming children of all skill levels and proficient on any instrument. The group currently comprises of enthusiastic participants ranging from year 3 to year 8, showcasing their talents on guitar, cello, violin, flute, and keyboard. The group is always welcoming to new musicians.
Rehearsals: Newlyn Primary School, Penzance
Day/Time: Mondays, 4 – 5 pm
Triggetty £30 per term
Triggetty is a beginner wind, brass and string ensemble. The ensemble meets weekly, exploring different pieces and giving young players an opportunity to play together at an early stage in their learning. Players need to know at least the first 5 notes on their instrument and are supported by more experienced players as mentors as they explore and experience ensemble playing together.
Rehearsals: Marhamchurch C of E Academy
Day/Time: Mondays, 3:45 – 4:30 pm
Tros an Helys £30 per term
Tros an Helys is a multi-instrument ensemble, which welcomes all instruments and players of any standards from beginner to advanced. Players explore the magic of music through the classical masterpieces of Mozart, delve into the captivating world of jazz, rock to popular tunes and immerse themselves in the enchanting melodies of show tunes, Players experience playing different styles and expand their musical horizons.
Rehearsals: Parc Eglos School, Helston
Day/Time: Saturdays (fortnightly), 10:30 am – 12 pm
Choirs
Cornwall Youth Chamber Choir (Truro) £40 per term
The Cornwall Youth Chamber Choir (CYCC), founded in 2008, brings together singers of all ages and abilities to enjoy high-quality choral music in a friendly and supportive setting. Directed by Christine Judge, the choir performs a wide range of repertoire — from classical works by Handel, Mozart and Haydn to modern pieces by Eric Whitacre and John Rutter, as well as lighter songs and traditional folk tunes. CYCC regularly performs at major Cornish venues, earning praise for their engaging and polished performances, and also takes part in workshops and community events.
Rehearsals: Old Cathedral School, Truro
Day/Time: Thursdays (term time), 6:30 – 8:00 pm
Cornwall Junior Choir (Truro) £40 per term
Founded in 2001 to promote singing in primary schools across the county, the Cornwall Junior Choir brings together young singers from all over Cornwall to enjoy high-quality music-making in a fun, supportive environment. The choir has performed in a wide range of venues — from Truro Cathedral and Tate St Ives to Gwennap Pit, the National Maritime Museum, and cathedrals in Gloucester, Exeter and Scilly — and has even taken part in a Children in Need concert and performed with Aled Jones. Now overseen by the Cornwall Music Service Trust, the choir continues to help young singers grow in skill, confidence and musical enjoyment, with open rehearsals each term for new members to come and try it out.
Rehearsals: Old Cathedral School, Truro
Day/Time: Saturdays, 10:00 – 11:30 am
Ready to Join?
If you’re ready to take your music-making to the next level, join one of our ensembles today!
Apply to join an Area or County Ensemble via:
All Our Ensembles
County Level (HUB Subsidised)*
Cornwall Youth Brass Ensemble (Truro) £165 per year
Cornwall Youth Jazz Orchestra (Truro) £165 per year
Cornwall Youth Wind Orchestra (Truro) £200 per year
Sax is our Business (Truro) £165 per year
Area Level (HUB Subsidised)*
Strings Ensembles
Restormel Junior Strings (St Austell) £30 per term
St Austell Chamber Orchestra (St Austell) £30 per term
Triggshire Strings (Camelford) £30 per term
Truro Junior String Orchestra (Truro) £30 per term
Wind
Carrick Breeze (Truro) £30 per term
Carrick Winds (Truro) £30 per term
Recorders Rule (Truro) £15 per term
Triggshire Winds (Camelford) £30 per term
Triggety (Marhamchurch) £30 per term
Multi-Instrumental
Play West (Penzance) £30 per term
Tros an Hellys (Helston) £30 per term
Ukulele
Kerrier Ukulele (Helston) £30 per term
County Level (not HUB Subsidised)*
Choirs
Cornwall Youth Chamber Choir (Truro) £40 per term
Cornwall Junior Choir (Truro) £40 per term
Ensembles
Area Level (not HUB Subsidised)*
Strings
Carrick Strings (Falmouth) £34 per term
* Area level ensembles invite members of all abilities, as opposed to county level ensembles that are normally of Grade 5 (or equivalent) and above. If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact us at office@cmst.co.uk.