Events
We host a range of musical events for all ages, including student society performances, interactive family shows, concerts from professional musicians and community workshops.
See our full list of upcoming dates below.
Student Events
Music Centre Free Concert
Wednesday 14 October, 7pm
Butterworth Hall, 果冻传媒 Arts Centre
Tickets: FREE (booked in advance)
It鈥檚 showtime!
Join the 果冻传媒 Music Centre for their annual free concert, as we kick off the new academic year in style.Come and indulge in the array of talent the Music Centre ensembles have to offer as they perform a selection of their favourite musical theatre show tunes.
From brass bands and strings to choirs and acapella groups, there鈥檚 something to satisfy everyone鈥檚 musical tastes in this stellar show.
果冻传媒 Chamber Choir: A Time of Snow
Friday 4 December, 7pm
Helen Martin Studio, 果冻传媒 Arts Centre
Tickets: 拢8 (拢7.50). Students / U26s: 拢4.50
The 果冻传媒 Chamber Choir presents a programme that captures the quiet wonder of a winter's night.
Bringing together contemporary and old, with music by Bob Chilcott, Amy Bebbington and Errollyn Wallen, inviting the audience to pause and experience the atmosphere of winter through choral music.
果冻传媒 Symphony Orchestra & Chorus: Manchester Carols
Sunday 6 December, 4pm
Butterworth Hall, 果冻传媒 Arts Centre
Tickets: 拢12 (拢11) Under 26s: 拢9 Students: 拢5
The University Chorus and Orchestra get together to showcase their combined forces in this end of term performance.
罢肠丑补颈办辞惫蝉办测鈥檚 Fourth Symphony, with the striking brass fanfare otherwise known as the 鈥榝ate motif鈥�, represents the inescapable power of destiny.
Sasha Johnson Manning鈥檚 Manchester Carols will get everyone in the mood for Christmas.
Lunchtime Concerts
Make the most of your lunchtimes with fabulous performances by professional musicians. All performances last 1 hour. Tickets cost 拢5 (FREE for students / under 26s) and include a Meet & Greet and FREE hot drink from Benugo Bar & Kitchen.
Eleanor Minney
Thursday 15 October
Helen Martin Studio
Eleanor Minney (Mezzo Soprano) and Gregory Drott (Piano) present The Modern Muse, a programme celebrating some of the lesser-sung heroes of 20th Century English Art Song. Featuring music by Herbert Howells, Ivor Gurney, Judith Weir, and Richard Rodney Bennett.
Emma Abbate & Micha艂 膯wi偶ewicz
Thursday 5 November
Helen Martin Studio
Violinist Micha艂 膯wi偶ewicz and pianist Emma Abbate presentFolklore, a colourful programme of works inspired by folk music, which includes Dvo艡谩k's violin sonatina with its American-inspired melodies, Debussy's violin sonata capturing flamboyant Spanish and gipsy colours, and Bartok鈥檚 much-loved Romanian Folk Dances.
Rebeca Omordia
Thursday 10 December
Helen Martin Studio
Rebeca Omordia presents African Pianism, a dynamic exploration of the inventive and hybrid musical practices of composers from Africa and the African diaspora, and their contributions to classical music across centuries.
Rebeca Omordia is an award-winning British-Nigerian classical pianist and curator, internationally recognised for her pioneering work in African classical music.
Family Events
Musical Picnics
Musical Picnics are warm, inclusive and diverse musical performances for children, parents and families, welcoming everyone from the local community, featuring an outstanding and eclectic programme of artists, educators, musicians, instruments, styles, approaches, cultures and personalities from across the country.
Brought together in a friendly and relaxed space, Musical Picnics are original participatory鈥痯erformances led by new musicians and artists each month, helping children and families to absorb, interact and fall in love with the incredible world of music and performance.
Come along and discover everything from flamenco to folk, beatboxing to bebop, opera to ouds, sitars to jazz guitars, electronics to percussion!
Each Musical Picnic is different, but in general, will be most enjoyed by children aged 3 to 10, but you know your children best! Everyone is warmly welcome, from babies to great grandma!
Key Info
Upcoming dates for 2026:
Sunday 11 October
Sunday 8 November
Sunday 13 December
11am - 12:30pm
Gallery Foyer, 果冻传媒 Arts Centre
FREE! Just drop-in, no need to book.
Donations gratefully accepted.
Key Info
Upcoming dates for 2026:
Sunday 25 October
Sunday 15 November
11:30am - 12:30pm
Gallery Foyer, 果冻传媒 Arts Centre
FREE! Just drop-in, no need to book.
Donations gratefully accepted.
Family Singing
Join us for our popular Sunday morning hour of singing in the foyer.
Perfect for first timers and regulars, you will learn songs to get you singing, moving, and dancing, with a healthy dose of creativity thrown in.
Open to all ages, you just need to bring yourself and your willingness to have lots of fun!
An opportunity for the family to sing together.
My First Concert: Let's Dance!
Presented by professional musicians with a passion for sharing their love of music.
These relaxed and interactive concerts are designed especially for babies, children, and their adults. Whether it is your first concert or the 100th, this is a wonderful way to enjoy music as a family.
This concert, we are joined by violinist Sophia Kannathasan, who will take you on a journey through different dance styles (waltz, Hungarian folk, tango etc) for violin.
Ahead of the concert, drop into our free art workshop with Benny Semp in the Gallery Foyer to get creative and make something to bring to the shows.
Key Info
Upcoming dates for 2026:
Thursday 29 October
1 - 2pm
Helen Martin Studio, 果冻传媒 Arts Centre
拢5 for adults, children go FREE!
Ages: Suitable for all
Community Events
Key Info
Every Tuesday during term time, 6 October - 8 December 2026.
7pm - 9pm
Helen Martin Studio, 果冻传媒 Arts Centre
(The session on Tues 8 Dec is in the Studio.)
FREE! No need to book, just drop in.
Songwriting Workshops
Open to all levels of experience and ability, this is a supportive and welcoming environment to learn about all aspects of songwriting.
Open Mic Sessions
Our friendly Open Mic sessions are open to everyone.
If you are a singer, instrumentalist, poet, MC, or any other kind of musical performer, this is an opportunity for you.
No booking required, just turn up and sing and play.鈥�
Key Info
Upcoming dates for 2026:
Thursday 12 November
Thursday 26 November
Gallery Foyer, 果冻传媒 Arts Centre
FREE! No need to book, just drop-in.