More than 1,400 young people from across the borough took part in a once-in-a-lifetime concert at the Royal Albert Hall last month.

The event, Ealing Together – Harmony in Diversity, brought together pupils from 40 schools, local bands and orchestras, and dancers for a special one-night performance at the historic venue.

The concert featured a choir of more than 1,200 children from local schools, and around 200 young instrumentalists from the Ealing Youth Orchestra, Ealing Youth Jazz Orchestra, and Cadenza – a programme run by Ealing Music Service (EMS) that supports aspiring performers across the borough.

They were accompanied by musicians from the Ealing Symphony Orchestra, including several who began their musical journeys in EMS groups and returned to perform in this milestone event.

A proud performance

Lee Marchant, acting head of EMS, said: “The event could not have gone better. The whole day was amazing, and the performance brought together musicians and dancers from across the borough in an epic event Ealing can be really proud of.”

Councillor Josh Blacker, the council’s cabinet member for a fairer start, added: “This shows what’s possible when we invest in inclusive, high-quality music education. It’s about giving every child the chance to take part, to grow in confidence, and to experience something new – regardless of their background. Opportunities like this help young people broaden their horizons and discover what they’re capable of.”

The concert included the premiere of Ada in Ealing, a new piece by composer Laura Rossi with lyrics by Michael Rosen, as well as music by Ealing-born composers Hannah Kendall and Liz Sharma.