Our story

Our story began 25 years, with an ambition to deliver high quality music experiences

Wiltshire Music Centre is a professional 300 seat concert hall in Bradford on Avon. In the heart of rural Wiltshire, we provide high quality music performance and participation opportunities in our unique and contemporary architect-designed building. Known for our state of the art auditorium, we bring the most exciting live performances to the area.

Recognised nationally, we’ve been priviledged to host world-renowned performers from across the classical, world, contemporary, jazz and folk genres, including trumpeter Alison Balsom, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, folk artist Kathryn Tickell and jazz legend Courtney Pine. We have a busy programme of events with over 150 concerts a year, involving more than 1,000 professional, community and young musicians.

But we’re more than just that. Over the past 25 years, we’ve built up a passionate community of music aficionados, players, aspiring young musicians, and amateur musicians. Our Centre provides a permanent home for local orchestras, choirs and music groups. Working extensively with young people locally, we deliver an exciting Creative Learning programme in Wiltshire and beyond with 30 projects for over 5,000 young people every year – concerts, education and community work for all ages, abilities and backgrounds.   And over 800 young musicians rehearse here weekly, with 55,000 people using the Centre each year.

Founding Artistic Director Keith Nimmo retired in 2013 and handed the baton to current Chief Executive and Artistic Director James Slater.

Our Vision
To maximise the opportunities for live music to inspire, enrich and transform people’s lives.

Our Mission
To be a beacon of excellence and innovation enabling a wide range of people to enjoy and participate in live music across different genres.

History

25 years ago, a group of visionary local people recognised the lack of musical provision in the area. An ambition to bring performances, rehearsal facilities  to the community  and provide rehearsal facilities in the area for the community was realised.

Since then, Wiltshire Music Centre’s  has built an enviable reputation as a professional concert hall of exceptional quality rooted in community participation and involvement.

The Centre was built with one of the first Arts Council awarded National Lottery grants for capital projects and is widely recognised as a fine performance venue with superb acoustic quality.

Founding Artistic Director Keith Nimmo retired in 2013 and handed the baton to current Chief Executive and Artistic Director James Slater.

Wiltshire Music Centre Trust Ltd is a registered charity with charity registration number 1026160, and a registered company with a registration number 2661682.