What an absolutely incredible day! On Wednesday, July 8th, the Connexin Live Arena was filled with the brilliant sounds and bright smiles of young musicians for our Whole Class Ensemble Tuition (WCET) Summer Festival. The sun was shining on Hull, and inside the arena, the atmosphere was electric.
We are beyond proud to share that 2,606 students from 48 different schools across the city came together to perform. The sheer scale of the event was breathtaking. Our young performers showcased their hard work from this past year, playing 11 different instruments spanning 4 distinct instrument families—from violins and cellos to trumpets, trombones, recorders, clarinets, glockenspiels, and even Pbuzz!
A massive highlight of the festival was a special guest performance by the brilliant opera baritone Phil Wilcox (from the Royal Ballet and Opera), who absolutely wowed the crowd with a thrilling rendition of the famous Toreador Song from Carmen.
An event of this scale is a massive team effort, and it ran incredibly smoothly from start to finish. We want to extend a huge, heartfelt THANK YOU to:
Our wonderful students for their focus, energy, and beautiful music-making.
Our dedicated local schools and teachers for preparing the children and coordinating such a smooth arrival and departure.
The supportive parents, carers, and families who packed out the arena seats to share in this celebration.
Thank you all for making the WCET Summer Festival 2026 an unforgettable milestone in our city’s musical journey. Here’s to the next one!
