CREATIVE PROJECT
Monday 9 & Tuesday 10 November 2026, Royal Albert Hall
Be part of the Music for Youth Proms with BBC Ten Pieces
BOOKINGS NOW FULL - WAITING LIST OPEN
BOOKINGS NOW FULL - WAITING LIST OPEN
Don’t miss your chance to be a part of it
Inspire your young musicians and experience the thrill of performing at the iconic Royal Albert Hall alongside 3000 young singers and instrumentalists, by being part of the Music for Youth Creative Project - an extraordinary creative collaboration between Music for Youth, BBC Ten Pieces, ABRSM and the Royal Albert Hall.
As part of the event, your group will:
Perform 3 musical works including a brand-new BBC Ten Pieces commission
Be part of the MFY Proms grand finale
Be inspired by exceptional youth music-making on one of the world’s most famous stages
Watch a night of fantastic performances by young musicians from across the country
If you’re looking for an opportunity to excite, motivate, and inspire your young musicians, this is one they’ll never forget!
“Being able to give the students not only the experience of watching incredible young people making music in such diverse ways but them actually being part of the performance [was] so inspirational and potentially life changing.”
What will you perform?
The 2026 Creative Project features our biggest and boldest programme yet with three special works selected to engage and inspire young people from across the musical spectrum.
At the heart of this year’s Creative project is a special new work by James B. Wilson celebrating human ambition and innovation, inspired by NASA Artemis missions to orbit the moon for the first time since the Apollo missions in 1969. The piece is commissioned in partnership with the BBC, ABRSM and the Royal Albert Hall as part of the BBC Ten Pieces project.
Also new for 2026 we are delighted to be working with BBC Get Singing - a new resource to get 11-14 year olds singing together in and out of the classroom. As part of this, participants will perform a special arrangement of Something Heavy by Jacob Collier; ambassador and advocate for the BBC Get Singing programme initiative.
Completing the programme is a reimagined version of Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra by Charlotte Harding. Originally commissioned for the 2026 BBC Proms with BBC National Orchestra of Wales and National Open Youth Orchestra, this version has been specially adapted for younger performers at the Music for Youth Proms.
What to expect
Here you can find a video showing highlights from the 2025 Creative Project where participants performed Kerry Andrews’ No Place Like, Leonard Bernstein’s Mambo, and Causeway composed by Aileen Sweeney with lyrics by poet Iona Lee. Inspired by the folklore of the Giant’s Causeway. This piece was created in partnership with BBC Ten Pieces, ABRSM, and the Royal Albert Hall.
“We LOVED exploring ‘Causeway’ which was brilliantly designed for different abilities and such an embracing, inclusive theme .”
What else do I need to know?
-
This opportunity is open to groups of young people aged 21 and under, at any level of experience. From first-note learners to advanced players, everyone is welcome.
Specially arranged parts will be provided for:
Upper, middle and lower voices
Instrumentalists from beginner through to Grade 8
Accessible and adapted instrumentation as required
-
For only £8 per ticket, your young people will have the experience of a lifetime, including a full day of music-making and creative collaboration, watching and participating in exceptional performances with musicians from across the whole of the UK, and the once-in-a-lifetime chance to perform at the Royal Albert Hall.
After signing up, an invoice for the number of tickets you have requested, will be sent to your email address. Please check your spam and junk inboxes. Once this payment has been processed, you will receive a private link to your Creative Project Participant Page.
Every young person and adult must have an allocated ticket.
There is a small subsidy available to help with the ticket price, for those who are in genuine need of support. Please do get in touch with the team by emailing programmes@mfy.org.uk
-
It is easy to sign up and be part of the Music for Youth Creative Project 2026 featuring BBC Ten Pieces and BBC Get Singing:
Complete the sign-up form - detailing the numbers and instrumental make-up of your group. This will help us know where to seat you within the Royal Albert Hall (please note that because of the performance area allocated to the Creative Project, unfortunately we are not able to accommodate amplified instruments, pianos or keyboards, any extremely large instruments which require seats such as Harps, only handheld percussion can be accommodated).
Confirmation email and invoice - after signing up, Music for Youth will send a confirmation email and an invoice. Please note that tickets are not inclusive of VAT and this will be added to your invoice.
Make the payment
Receive your private link to the Creative Project participant page – which includes all key information (including how to book audience tickets and an early bird discount code), and links and downloads for music you need to learn
Download your music – we will provide mixed ability parts for you to self-select, based on your individual group, to make sure every young musician gets the most from the experience. Please note that this will be available to download from the MFY Proms Creative Project participant page from September 2026.
Rehearse – base your rehearsals and music lessons around learning the music provided. You even have the chance to attend CPD sessions with the composer themselves.
Perform at the Music for Youth Proms 2026 at the Royal Albert Hall
-
Group Leader contact details (name, email, phone number)
Alternative Group Leader contact details (name, email, phone number)
Preferred day to attend (Monday 9th or Tuesday 10th November)
Number of performers and accompanying adults
Ages of performers (youngest and oldest ages)
Group location (town, county)
Recorded Media Consent permission (more information about recorded media consent can be found here
Access requirements
Biography of group
Instrumentation you will bring
Invoicing details (name/organisation, email address, address and PO number if applicable)
-
Below is an overview schedule of how each day of the Music for Youth Proms is put together. A more detailed and personalised schedule will be sent to you with your final information, but the below will give you a sense of what to expect in the meantime.
c.12:00 Creative Project participants start to arrive
13:20 Full rehearsal for Creative Project
16:00 Creative Project Break
(All groups must clear the Royal Albert Hall at this time. We recommend going to the Science Museum/Victoria & Albert Museum to eat your dinner. They are happy for groups of this size to visit. They do however require each group to complete a visitor’s form, so please contact them directly to make arrangements for a visit).
17:45 Creative Project participants return to their seats
18:15 RAH Doors open to public
19:00 Concert begins
c. 21:30 Concert ends
-
Booking into the Creative Project will not affect the way we programme the MFY Proms in November. If your group has signed up to be a part of the Creative Project we will still consider your group for a mainstage performance slot at our Proms; we consider all groups that perform at the National Festival (whether on the mainstage or a Fringe stage).
If we offer your group a performance slot and you accept, your Creative Project tickets will be offered to another group.
Click below to see our Creative Project FAQs for more detailed information about what to expect. If you can’t find the answer here, please contact the team by emailing programmes@mfy.org.uk.
Have more questions?
Sign up to the waiting list today!
BOOKINGS NOW FULL - WAITING LIST OPEN
BOOKINGS NOW FULL - WAITING LIST OPEN
Our first round of allocations for Creative Project spaces have been completed, so any new applications will be placed on the waiting list automatically. If you are interested in the project, we encourage you to sign up to the waiting list as we anticipate more spaces may become available closer to the event.
Please note: We have a limited number of spaces left for vocalists across both nights. Please sign up and the MFY team will be in touch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here you can find more detailed information about what to expect. If you can’t find the answer here, please contact the team by emailing programmes@mfy.org.uk.
-
No – either Monday 9th November or Tuesday 10th November. Choose the one day that suits you best.
-
Below is an overview schedule of how each day of the Music for Youth Proms is put together. A more detailed and personalised schedule will be sent to you with your final information, but the below will give you a sense of what to expect in the meantime.
c.12:00 Creative Project participants start to arrive
13:20 Full rehearsal for Creative Project
16:00 Creative Project Tea Break
(All groups must clear the RAH at this time. We recommend going to the Science Museum/Victoria & Albert Museum to eat your dinner. They are happy for groups of this size to visit. They do however require each group to complete a visitor’s form, so please contact them directly to make arrangements for a visit).
17:45 Creative Project participants return to their seats
18:15 RAH Doors open to public
19:00 Concert begins
c. 21:30 Concert ends
-
At the heart of this year’s Creative project is a special new work by James B. Wilson celebrating human ambition and innovation, inspired by NASA Artemis missions to orbit the moon for the first time since the Apollo missions in 1969. The piece is commissioned in partnership with the BBC, ABRSM and the Royal Albert Hall as part of the BBC Ten Pieces project.
Also new for 2026 we are delighted to be working with BBC Get Singing - a new resource to get 11-14 year olds singing together in and out of the classroom. As part of this, participants will perform a special arrangement of Something Heavy by Jacob Collier; ambassador and advocate for the BBC Get Singing programme initiative.
Completing the programme is a reimagined version of Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra by Charlotte Harding. Originally commissioned for the 2026 BBC Proms with BBC National Orchestra of Wales and National Open Youth Orchestra, this version has been specially adapted for younger performers at the Music for Youth Proms.
-
The Creative Project is a massed ensemble featuring up to 1000 musicians per night. As a member of that massed ensemble you will perform from the seats in the stalls, choir stalls, or arena.
This will allow you to watch the whole concert and participate alongside the other members of the Creative Project.
All members of the same group will be sat together regardless of instrumentation.
-
Yes – see ‘How will the day run?’
The Creative Project rehearsal will include lighting, stage and sound engineers working with us to help prepare for the evening performance.
The way we have programmed the concert means some parts of the performance will run straight from one group into another with no presenter link. There will be time to rehearse these links and cues on the day to make sure that performers are confident.
-
You will need to purchase a Creative Project place for all members of your group: adults and children, performing or chaperoning.
Music for Youth will make arrangements for all performers, conductors and designated adult helpers to watch the concert from your performance location so there is no need to buy audience tickets for them.
-
Directions to the Royal Albert Hall can be found at: Getting Here | Royal Albert Hall — Royal Albert Hall
Please instruct coaches to drop off at your designated coach stop (to be confirmed in your Final Information). These will all be situated near the Royal Albert Hall. Please note that Music for Youth does not have any parking reserved at the Royal Albert Hall.
Once your coach has dropped you off the driver will need to arrange parking away from the venue.
Similarly, at the end of the concert, please instruct coaches to pick your group up from your designated coach stop (to be confirmed in your Final Information) to ensure traffic flow and young people’s safety.
-
No, please see ‘How will the day run?’ for the day’s timings.
However, some groups may choose to stay overnight. Music for Youth is unable to recommend a specific company, however you may find these useful:
Study Experiences
www.studyexperiences.co.uk |020 8335 4455
Rayburn Tours
www.rayburntours.co.uk | 01332 347828
Youth Hostel Accommodation
-
Yes - We can accommodate any musician’s regardless of ability.
All parts have been arranged to cater for all stages of learning, from total beginner up to professional standard. Just select the correct level parts from the folders on the participant portal.
-
Because of the performance area allocated to the Creative Project, unfortunately we are not able to accommodate:
Amplified instruments
Pianos or keyboards
Any extremely large instruments which require seats such as Harps
only handheld percussion can be accommodated.
Those instrumentalists are still very welcome to perform by either singing or playing handheld percussion/ another smaller instrument that fits these guidelines.
-
Music for Youth will provide music stands for a ratio of 1 to every 2 musician. If you require 1 per musician, we kindly ask that you bring your own music stands beyond what we provide.
-
Groups should bring their own instruments and beaters where applicable.
We also urge all group leaders to make sure that every young person has a bottle of water and packed food for each participant’s evening meal.
More information will be sent out by MFY about what to bring on the day.
-
If we are able to resell your tickets, we will happily arrange a refund on the ticket cost.
If we are unable / it is too late to resell the tickets, unfortunately we won't be able to refund the cost.
-
Booking into the Creative Project will not affect the way we programme the MFY Proms in November. If your group has signed up to be a part of the Creative Project we will still consider your group for a mainstage performance slot at our Proms; we consider all groups that perform at the National Festival (whether on the mainstage or a Fringe stage).
If we offer your group a performance slot and you accept, your Creative Project tickets will be offered to another group.
Programme Partners
