On Tuesday 10 March, 1,500 young singers and instrumentalists from across the borough performed at the iconic Royal Albert Hall for Music is for Life 2026: Lookin’ Up.

Bringing together pupils from Merton schools alongside MMF ensembles, the concert celebrated the creativity, dedication and musical talent being nurtured through our programmes.

The evening featured a wide range of performances, including collaborations with professional musicians and a special guest appearance from MMF TEMPO Ambassador Derek Paravicini.

The concert culminated in Lookin’ Up, an uplifting suite of specially commissioned work by Pete Churchill performed by the full forces of a massed choir and MMF instrumentalists.

This ambitious project has been two years in the making, and MMF would like to thank its funders and supporters whose generosity helped make the concert possible:

Arts Council England | London Borough of Merton | Clarion Futures | Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment | Wimbledon International Music Festival | The Jack Lonergan Foundation | London Music Fund – Signatur | Friends of Merton’s Young Musicians | Charity Dalek Squad

The evening was a joyful celebration of music, collaboration and young people – and a night the performers and audience will remember for years to come.

Photos by Rebecca Cresta