FAQs
We know that choosing a residential course for your child involves more than looking at the music. Below you’ll find practical information about the Summer School, including accommodation, supervision, safeguarding, travel and participant welfare. If there is anything you would like to discuss before booking, please get in touch.
(produce 4 acordions with the following titles):
1. About the Summer School
Who is the Youth Summer School for?
Do I need to audition?
When and where is the Summer School?
What sort of music will we sing?
Will music be sent out beforehand?
What performances are included?
Can parents attend the performances?
What happens at the end of the course?
What happens outside rehearsals?
2. Residential & Non-Residential Places
Can I attend as a non-residential participant?
How much is a residential place?
How much is a non-residential place?
Where will residential participants stay?
How do payments work?
3. Safeguarding, Welfare & Life on the Course
Who will be looking after the young people?
Is there supervision overnight?
What safeguarding arrangements are in place?
Is the Summer School phone-free?
What happens if my child is homesick or struggling?
What happens if my child becomes ill?
What about medication, allergies and dietary requirements?
How will travel during the Summer School work?
What happens in an emergency?
4. Before You Come
What information will parents receive before the course?
What happens if I need to cancel?
1. About the Summer School
Who is the Youth Summer School for?
The Summer School is for young singers aged 13–17 at the start of the course, broadly those entering Years 9–13 in September 2027.
Previous choral experience is desirable, and participants should be comfortable reading music or willing to prepare their music carefully in advance.
We are looking for young people who enjoy singing, want to develop as musicians and are excited by the opportunity to make music with other committed young singers.
Do I need to audition?
There is no formal audition for the Summer School.
Places are offered following a short application. We will ask about each singer’s musical and choral experience so that we can get to know them, plan the choir appropriately and make sure that the Summer School is the right fit for each participant.
Successful applicants will be sent an offer of a place and details of how to complete their booking. A 10% non-refundable deposit will then secure the place.
When and where is the Summer School?
The 2027 Broadside Youth Summer School runs from Sunday 25 July to Friday 30 July 2027.
The Summer School will be based at Langley School in Norfolk, where residential participants will stay and the majority of our rehearsals and activities will take place.
The week will also include Choral Evensong at Salle Church and a final public concert at Norwich Cathedral.
What sort of music will we sing?
Our 2027 theme is From Byrd to Britten: The English Choral Tradition.
The repertoire will explore several centuries of English choral music, giving singers the opportunity to encounter music from the Renaissance through to the twentieth century.
Full repertoire will be announced nearer the course.
Will music be sent out beforehand?
Yes. Music and information about any preparation required will be sent to participants in advance.
We want to spend the Summer School developing the music together rather than simply learning notes, so participants will be expected to prepare their music carefully before arriving where requested.
What performances are included?
The choir will sing Choral Evensong at Salle Church during the week and give a final public concert at Norwich Cathedral on Friday afternoon.
Both performances will give participants the opportunity to sing in exceptional settings and share the music they have been working on during the week.
Can parents attend the performances?
Absolutely. Families and friends will be very welcome at Choral Evensong at Salle Church and at our final concert at Norwich Cathedral.
Further information about both performances will be sent nearer the time.
What happens at the end of the course?
The Summer School will culminate in our final public concert at Norwich Cathedral on Friday 30 July, from 16:00–17:00.
Families and friends are warmly invited to attend, with a drinks reception following the concert. Participants will then depart from Norwich Cathedral with their parents or carers rather than returning to Langley School.
Full details about luggage, collection arrangements and timings will be provided before the course.
What happens outside rehearsals?
There will be plenty of time away from the rehearsal room to relax, spend time together and enjoy the surroundings.
The residential experience is an important part of the Summer School. We want young people to leave having developed not only as singers, but having made new friendships with others who share their enthusiasm for music.
The week will also include time away from Langley, including our day at Salle and an evening on the Norfolk coast.
2. Residential & Non-Residential Places
Can I attend as a non-residential participant?
Yes. Residential and non-residential places are available.
Non-residential singers will take part fully in the musical and social life of the Summer School, including rehearsals, performances and activities away from Langley.
Clear daily arrival and collection arrangements will be provided before the course.
A residential place costs £1,095.
A 10% Early Booking Discount is available to successful applicants who accept their offer and secure their place by 31 January 2027, reducing the residential fee to £985.50.
The fee is all-inclusive and covers:
six days of tuition and music-making;
accommodation at Langley School;
all meals throughout the Summer School;
organised travel during the course, including to Salle Church and Norwich Cathedral;
all activities included as part of the Summer School.
There should be no additional costs for participants during the course, other than any personal spending money they choose to bring.
How much is a non-residential place?
A non-residential place costs £545.
A 10% Early Booking Discount is available to successful applicants who accept their offer and secure their place by 31 January 2027, reducing the non-residential fee to £490.50.
The fee includes:
six days of tuition and music-making;
lunch each day;
organised travel from Langley School to off-site venues and activities;
all activities included as part of the Summer School.
Non-residential participants will take part fully in the musical and social life of the course. Detailed arrival and collection arrangements will be provided before the Summer School.
Where will residential participants stay?
Residential participants will stay in boarding accommodation at Langley School, which will also be our main rehearsal base for the week.
Boys and girls will be accommodated in separate bedrooms and, wherever the accommodation allows, separate boarding areas. Broadside staff will be accommodated nearby, with clear arrangements for supervision and overnight support.
Parents or carers are welcome to contact us confidentially before booking if their child has particular accommodation, privacy or welfare needs.
How do payments work?
If you are offered a place, a 10% non-refundable deposit is required to accept your offer and secure your place.
The remaining balance is payable in three equal instalments on 1 February, 1 April and 1 June 2027.
For places secured by 31 January 2027, the 10% Early Booking Discount will be applied before the deposit and remaining instalments are calculated.
For applications received later in the year, the payment schedule provided with your offer will reflect any instalment dates that have already passed.
3. Safeguarding, Welfare & Life on the Course
Who will be looking after the young people?
The Summer School will be led by Harry Castle and Hatty Ekbery, supported by a team of experienced music teachers and professional musicians.
Appropriate safeguarding checks will be undertaken according to each person’s role, and all staff will receive safeguarding information and induction before the course.
The Summer School will have a Designated Safeguarding Lead and Deputy DSL. Their details will be provided to participants and parents before the course.
Our staffing is planned around approximately one adult for every ten young people, with the team increased if participant numbers require it.
Is there supervision overnight?
Yes. Appropriate adult supervision will be available throughout the night.
Participants will know which members of staff they can contact if they are unwell, distressed or need help overnight. Members of the residential team will have clearly defined overnight and on-call responsibilities.
What safeguarding arrangements are in place?
The safety and wellbeing of every young person taking part is fundamental to the way the Summer School is run.
Our safeguarding arrangements cover the whole course, including rehearsals, boarding accommodation, meals, social activities, organised travel and performances away from Langley.
The Summer School will have a Designated Safeguarding Lead and Deputy DSL, and clear procedures will be in place for reporting and responding to concerns.
Full details can be found on our Youth Summer School: Safeguarding & Welfare page.
Is the Summer School phone-free?
Yes. The Youth Summer School will be a phone-free course.
We want participants to be fully present in the week: making music, spending time together, enjoying their surroundings and building friendships without the constant distraction of phones and social media.
Phones will be kept securely during the course, with allocated supervised time when participants can access them. Exceptions can of course be made where there is a particular medical, welfare or practical need, and parents or carers are welcome to discuss this with us in advance.
Parents and carers will receive a daily update from Broadside during the Summer School and will be given contact details for the course team should they need to reach their child urgently.
We hope that having some genuine time away from phones will contribute positively to participants’ wellbeing and help create the sense of community and musical immersion at the heart of the Summer School.
What happens if my child is homesick or struggling during the week?
We recognise that a residential course can be exciting but also demanding, particularly for young people who may not have spent much time away from home.
Participants will be encouraged to speak to a member of staff if they are worried, homesick or need support. We will respond sensitively and involve parents or carers where appropriate.
Our aim is to create a warm, supportive environment in which young people feel comfortable asking for help.
What happens if my child becomes ill?
Appropriate first aid arrangements will be in place throughout the Summer School.
If a participant becomes ill or injured, we will provide appropriate support and contact their parent or carer where necessary. Emergency medical assistance will be sought when required.
Parents and carers will need to remain contactable during the course. If a participant becomes too unwell to remain safely at the Summer School, we may ask for them to be collected.
What about medication, allergies and dietary requirements?
Before the course, parents or carers will be asked to provide relevant information about medical conditions, allergies, dietary requirements, medication, accessibility and any additional needs.
Arrangements for medication will be agreed in advance, and relevant dietary and allergy information will be shared appropriately with those responsible for catering.
If your child has a significant medical condition, allergy or additional need, we encourage you to contact us before booking so that we can discuss how we can best support them.
How will travel during the Summer School work?
Broadside Music will organise transport for planned activities away from Langley School, including our visit to Salle Church and the final concert at Norwich Cathedral.
Participants will remain under Broadside’s supervision during organised travel and off-site activities, with registers and headcounts taken at appropriate points.
Parents and carers will receive detailed travel, arrival and collection arrangements before the course.
What happens in an emergency?
Broadside Music will hold emergency contact and relevant medical information for each participant during the course.
Clear procedures will be in place for medical emergencies, fire and evacuation, safeguarding concerns and other significant incidents. We will work with Langley School and our other venues where their own emergency procedures apply.
Parents or carers will be contacted promptly where an incident materially affects their child.
4. Booking & Before You Come
What information will parents receive before the course?
Parents and participants will receive detailed joining information before the Summer School.
This will include arrival and collection arrangements, accommodation, what to bring, the final timetable, staff and safeguarding contacts, medical and medication arrangements, travel during the week and information about our performances at Salle Church and Norwich Cathedral.
What happens if I need to cancel?
Bookings are subject to our Youth Summer School Terms & Conditions.
The booking deposit is non-refundable. Full details of payment arrangements, cancellations and any applicable refunds are set out in the Terms & Conditions available when booking.