The aim of the Great Yarmouth Schools’ Music Association (GYSMA), a registered charity, is to enable all local schools to join together, and for pupils to share in the enjoyment and experience of live music-making. GYSMA, which started at Great Yarmouth Town Hall in 1948, is in its 76th year and is still committed to providing opportunities for the pupils of Great Yarmouth to experience playing, singing and performing live music together.

Our biggest event of each year is our Festival of Carols. Christmas 2023 saw the 71st GYSMA Festival of Carols at the Drill Hall, Great Yarmouth, with plenty of space, great acoustics, good views of the children performing and specially reduced tickets (at this difficult time for so many). Again many people were amazed and pleased by the venue and how the evening went. Congratulations to all involved. (See Gallery for photos). Plans are already underway for the 72nd!

Sounds4Christmas (for Ks1) took place in the same week, also at the Drill Hall. Feedback on the event was positive, with parents easily able to see their children performing, great sound and culminating in a visit from Father Christmas, who presented the schools with certificates for taking part.

GYSMOKeys (Keyboard Orchestra) is now meeting monthly, in ever larger numbers, at St Andrew’s Annexe, Gorleston and will hold another concert in the summer to showcase their work.

Class in Action provides class instruments by GYSMA – please see individual headings within website for more details.

GYSMA has had several events in 2023, returning enthusiastically to inspire live musical performances by children in the Great Yarmouth area.

In the summer 23, we held a combined Infant/Ks2 ‘Summer Celebration’ concert in the Minster. All of our concerts are enjoyed by large audiences. This year, another joint Summer Celebration is planned with an arrangement of Take That’s ‘Never Forget’ as the joint finale song.
See Events page for dates and information.

Our GYSMA Ks1 Singing Days 2023 were led brilliantly by composer Lin Marsh (linmarshmusic.co.uk) at the Drill Hall, Great Yarmouth. A fantastic time with nearly 250 children from 5 schools over 2 days. The children learnt and performed up to 5 songs and 2 soundscapes – with actions – a super achievement and great fun!

This year, 2024, those schools who entered the Summer Celebration 23 have been offered the opportunity for Singing Days 2024 within their school in July. This will mean over 650 children will be given this wonderful experience with Lin Marsh.

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Please visit the Events page for details of our forthcoming concerts and information regarding ticket booking.

The GYSMA current officers are:

CHAIR: Valerie Miller
VICE-CHAIR: Carol Clayton
SECRETARY: Rachel Salton
TREASURER: Andrea Carter