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 75th 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 2022 saw the 70th GYSMA Festival of Carols at the new venue of 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). Many people were amazed and pleased by the venue and how the evening went. Congratulations to all involved. (see Gallery for photos)

Sounds4Christmas (for Ks1) took place in the same week, also at the Drill Hall. Again, feedback on the new venue 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 at St Andrew’s Annexe, Gorleston and will hold a concert in the summer to show 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 2022, returning enthusiastically to inspire live musical performances by children in the Great Yarmouth area.
In the summer 22, we held our Infant / Ks1 ‘Sounds4Summer’ concert at another new venue of the Ocean Room. All of our concerts are enjoyed by full audiences. Sounds4Summer 2023 is planned and will be at the Drill Hall, Great Yarmouth. See Events page for dates and information.
Our GYSMA Ks1 Singing Days 2022 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! We hope to be able to offer this again, possibly in 2024.
There was also a ‘Summer Celebration’ (usually ‘Spring’ Celebration), which gives opportunity for soloists and small groups to perform, both vocal and instrumental.
In the past, as part of its varied role, GYSMA has worked with the Salvation Army and performed Harvest Concerts at the Citadel in Great Yarmouth and some of our schools have sung in the Great Yarmouth Market Place at Christmas and in association with the Salvation Army’s ‘Toys & Tins’ Appeal.

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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