At SLYO we set course dates during the major school holidays according to when the majority of pupils from South London are able to attend. We take into consideration term dates from all local boroughs and private schools, along with planned maintenance at JAGS before publishing dates a year in advance. If you would like to attend SLYO but our dates clash with your weekday school, do get in touch as we are happy to write a letter to support your application to us. This has been very successful in the past!

Each SLYO orchestra registers at JAGS from 9.30am daily, with rehearsals starting at 9.45am. 
SLYO 4 signs out at 4.15pm daily, with SLYO 1, 2, 3, Concert Band and Cello Choir signing out between 4.15 - 4.30pm.

The last day of each course has slightly different finish times, depending on the concert time.

Spring and Summer courses generally run for four days, whilst Winter courses run for three days. The exceptions to this are SLYO 1 strings (who are always called for an extra day of rehearsal before wind, brass and percussion arrive) and Cello Choir and Concert Band (who have 3 days courses).

Spring 2025 – Four Day Course for SLYO 2, 3 and 4. Three Day Course for Cello Choir and Concert Band.
SLYO 2: Monday 7 April - Thursday 10 April, concert 5.30pm in the VWA on the last day of the course.
SLYO 3: Tuesday 8 April - Friday 11 April, concert 4.30pm in the VWA on the last day of the course.
SLYO 4: Tuesday 8 April - Friday 11 April, concert 3.30pm in the VWA on the last day of the course
Cello Choir: Wednesday 9 - Friday 11 April, concert 5.30pm in the Holst Hall on the last day of the course.
CONCERT BAND: Monday 7 April - Wednesday 9 April, concert 5.30pm in the VWA on the last day of the course.

Summer 2025 – Four Day Course for SLYO 1, 2, 3, 4 and Three Day Course for Cello Choir
SLYO 1 STRINGS: Sunday 17 August - Thursday 21 August, concert at 7.30pm in the VWA on the last day of the course. 
SLYO 1 WIND/BRASS/PERCUSSION: Monday 18 August - Thursday 21 August, concert at 7.30pm in the VWA on the last day of the course. 
SLYO 2: Monday 18 August - Thursday 21 August, concert at 5.30pm in the VWA on the last day of the course.
SLYO 3: Tuesday 19 August - Friday 22 August, concert at 4.30pm in the VWA on the last day of the course.
SLYO 4: Tuesday 19 August - Friday 22 August, concert at 3.30pm in the VWA on the last day of the course.
Cello Choir: Wednesday 20 August - Friday 22 August, concert at 5.30pm in the Holst Hall on the last day of the course.
CONCERT BAND: Wednesday 13 August - Friday 15 August, concert at 5.30pm in the VWA on the last day of the course.

Winter 2025 – Provisional - Three Day Course for SLYO 1, 2, 3, 4 and Cello Choir
SLYO 1:Friday 19 December- Sunday 21 December, concert at 7.30pm in the VWA on the last day of the course. (No extra strings day)
SLYO 2: Friday 19 December- Sunday 21 December, concert at 5.30pm in the VWA on the last day of the course.
SLYO 3: Saturday 20 December - Monday 22 December, concert at 4.30pm in the VWA on the last day of the course.
SLYO 4: Saturday 20 December - Monday 22 December, concert at 3.30pm in the VWA on the last day of the course.
Cello Choir: Saturday 20 December - Monday 22 December, concert at 5.30pm in the Holst Hall on the last day of the course.

Spring 2026 – Provisional - Four Day Course for SLYO 2, 3 and 4. Three Day Course for Cello Choir and Concert Band.
SLYO 2: Tuesday 7 April - Friday 10 April, concert 5.30pm in the VWA on the last day of the course.
SLYO 3: Wednesday 8 April  - Saturday 11 April, concert 4.30pm in the VWA on the last day of the course.
SLYO 4: Wednesday 8 April  - Saturday 11 April, concert 3.30pm in the VWA on the last day of the course
Cello Choir: Wednesday 8 April  - Saturday 11 April, concert 5.30pm in the Holst Hall on the last day of the course.
CONCERT BAND: Tuesday 7 April - Thursday 11 April, concert 5.30pm in the VWA on the last day of the course.

Summer 2026 – Four Day Course for SLYO 1, 2, 3, 4 and Three Day Course for Cello Choir and Concert Band.
SLYO 1 STRINGS: Sunday 16 August - Thursday 20 August, concert at 7.30pm in the VWA on the last day of the course. 
SLYO 1 WIND/BRASS/PERCUSSION: Monday 17 August - Thursday 20 August, concert at 7.30pm in the VWA on the last day of the course. 
SLYO 2: Monday 17 August - Thursday 20 August, concert at 5.30pm in the VWA on the last day of the course.
SLYO 3: Tuesday 18 August - Friday 21 August, concert at 4.30pm in the VWA on the last day of the course.
SLYO 4: Tuesday 18 August - Friday 21 August, concert at 3.30pm in the VWA on the last day of the course.
Cello Choir: Wednesday 19 August - Friday 21 August, concert at 5.30pm in the Holst Hall on the last day of the course.
CONCERT BAND: Wednesday 12 August - Friday 14 August, concert at 5.30pm in the VWA on the last day of the course.

SLYO Enquiry

To register interest in SLYO please complete our registration form.
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Wherever we have spaces, new pupils will be offered a place with us. It may take us a while to get back to you after your initial enquiry to confirm availability, but this is because we are a very small team. 

Please note, we only accept applications for the next course after the previous course has finished, eg after our spring course has finished, we open applications for our summer course; after our summer course has finished, we open applications for our winter course. 

After the completion of each course, current members are given approximately two weeks to enrol for the next course. Past members and new students can book a place a couple of weeks later. All applications and enquiries will be processed in date and time order and we hold waiting lists for all orchestras and ensembles.