Camden Schools shine bright at spectacular Royal Albert Hall Festival
Last night, (30 April 2025), the iconic Royal Albert Hall played host to a spectacular showcase of talent as over 1,800 children and young people from across Camden’s primary, secondary, and special schools took part in the Camden Schools’ Music Festival.
The event, a highlight in the borough’s cultural calendar, brought together pupils, their families, dedicated teachers, inspiring music tutors, talented musicians, and composers for a joyous evening of musical celebration.
Camden's young musicians captivated audiences, with performances by the Camden Concert Band, Camden Youth Orchestra, Camden Youth Jazz Band, and school choirs. The diverse programme offered something for every musical taste, ranging from classical, jazz, folk and pop to beloved musical theatre hits.
The concert also featured collaborations with the Khiyo Band, Showmi Das, and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, alongside a newly commissioned version of Kerry Andrew's 'No Place Like’, originally written for BBC Ten Pieces.
Once again, the Camden Schools Music Festival has been a huge success in showcasing the passion and skill of our borough’s children and young people.
Events like this remind us of music's vital role in schools and life - fostering dedication, collaboration, and responsibility in our students, whilst boosting their overall achievement, self-esteem and wellbeing.
The invaluable benefits go beyond the stage and that’s why we're providing subsidised music lessons for children who receive Free School Meals and ensuring quality music education for all young people.
Congratulations to all the talented performers and everyone who made this evening possible.
The event was organised by Camden Music with the support of the Camden Music Trust, Camden Learning, Camden Council, Arts Council England, and the London Music Fund.
Part of Camden Learning, Camden Music works closely with the borough’s schools, supporting school-based music and offering instrumental and vocal lessons. Music activities are also available for children and young people at weekends and in the school holidays. With the help of funding raised through the Camden Music Trust, Camden Music aims to make their musical offering as accessible as possible, supporting with subsidies and bursaries.
This year’s concert marked the fourteenth Camden Schools Music Festival since its launch in 1998, continuing a proud tradition of celebrating music in the borough. The Camden Schools’ Music Festival is just one of many of the events organised by Camden Music for young people to share their skills.
Gareth Gay, Head of Camden Music, said:
"I am incredibly proud to be Head of Music Service in Camden and to contribute to this wonderful event that has been running for over 25 years. Congratulations to all the pupils, their school music tutors, and the Camden Music tutors who have worked tirelessly to support this fantastic occasion.
"Performing at the world-famous Royal Albert Hall is a unique opportunity for many of our pupils, and I know they will cherish this experience for the rest of their lives.”
Returning to compere this year’s concert was renowned journalist and TV presenter Nelufar Hedayat. A former student of Rhyl Community Primary and Haverstock School, Hedayat brought a unique and engaging presence to the stage, marking the accomplishments of the young musicians.
The evening was once again livestreamed to enable parents, carers, family, and friends who could not attend in person to share in the magic of the evening. You can watch the livestream on Camden Music’s YouTube channel and the British Sign Language interpreted livestream here.
The 2025 Camden Schools Music Festival featured:
- 16 pieces of music
- 51 schools
- Over 1,800 singers and musicians, alongside dedicated teachers, tutors, and classroom assistants.
Camden Music Trust charity works closely with Camden Music, helping to fund music projects that ensure all Camden’s children can be involved in music making – regardless of their circumstances. They rely on donations to help continue their work making music education inclusive.
Visit the Camden Music Trust website to make a donation here.