IMG_9378_edited.jpg	Welcome to Southport Piano Academy - where learning the piano is fun!	Welcome to Southport Piano Academy - enquire about your first piano lesson today!
Welcome to Southport Piano Academy - your child's musical journey starts here!

Southport Piano Academy now incorporating Southport Music Academy

southportmusicacademy@gmail.com

Welcome to our website!
Please scroll down for our latest newsletters.

Here is a list of the instruments and services that we offer:

Piano
Jazz piano
Organ
Keyboard
Voice
Guitar (acoustic)
Bass Guitar
Electric Guitar
Ukelele
Banjo
Drums
Violin
Clarinet
Saxophone
Flute
Recorder
Didgeridoo
Trumpet
Trombone
French Horn
Tuba
Children’s’ Singing
Street Dance
Beatboxing
ABRSM Music Theory Exams Grades 1-8
Advanced grades (including diploma)
GCSE music help
ABRSM Practical exams
ABRSM video performance exams
LCM & Trinity exams
Rock School exams
Improvisation lessons
Composition lessons

Claire Kelly C.E.O (S.P.A / S.M.A) DipLCM M.I.S.M

Newsletters:

Exciting News Update! April - August 2025

We have created 'Southport Young Musicians Competition' which is being launched on Friday 25th of April.

Let’s encourage the next generation of Southport musicians to let their light shine. Whether you’re a singer, pianist, instrumentalist, rapper, or composer - we want to hear from you!

We are looking for the brightest and most talented youngsters in Southport!

Entry Period:

Friday 25th April – 31st May 2025

Audition Dates (All at The Temperance Institute, 4–6 PM):

• Sunday 1st June
• Sunday 15th June
• Sunday 29th June
• Sunday 13th July
• Sunday 27th July

The highest scorers in each category of each age group have the chance to go through to 'The Young Musicians Awards' where trophies will be awarded and it will also be a showcase, with performances from the top scorers!

The Final & Awards evening is to be held at The Grand, Lord Street and will be attended by the Mayor of Sefton, Southport's MP and hosted by Claire Simmo.

This event will coincide and be part of 'The Southport Arts Festival', a new initiative for Southport this years
Tickets will be available for the Awards event shortly!

Please go to our website page (Southport Young Musicians Competition) for more information on categories, age brackets and rules. You can also access the entry form there.

Good Luck!

Claire Kelly DipLCM, MISM
Principal

Update April 2025

We are pleased to announce that we are participating in the new Southport Arts Festival beginning in Summer 2025.

Our Principal of Southport Piano Academy, Claire Kelly, is heading up the music section of the arts - organising a ‘ Young Musicians Competition’ which will be open to ALL local music schools and pupils from private music tuition.

The competition will take place over a series of months with a Grand Final in August , to coincide with The Arts Festival each year.

We have a Facebook page for the event, which will be yearly.

Please FOLLOW the page to keep up to date with what’s happening -
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573586085385

Perhaps YOU may have a friend or relative who could enter!

🎶🎵🎼🎹🎤

From the Teaching Team

We are hosting the first stage of the competition at 'Southport Temperance Institute', with a grand finale showcase, hosted by Claire Simmo in The Grand, Southport.

This event will be the highest scorers to the competition, to perform and trophies and awards will be given.

The event will be attended by The Mayor of Sefton and The MP for Southport."

More details of dates and how to enter to be announced shortly !

An Exciting Announcement - March 2025

We are thrilled to announce that Sue Dexter is the new Patron of Southport Piano Academy.

As our Patron, Sue will champion our Academy and our mission, celebrate the achievements of our students, speak at our concerts and generally support our work in nurturing musical talent within the community. Sue is an excellent, enthusiastic speaker and we believe will a big encouragement to the students.

Sue has a rich history in the local music scene, having spent 23 years teaching Performing Arts at Meols Cop High, before taking over the Southport Music Festival upon her retirement. Her passion for the arts and commitment to providing young people with opportunities to develop their talents made this role the perfect fit. Sue is also the ‘Young Arts secretary and Community Outreach for Southport Arts Society’.

When the Southport Music Festival sadly came to an end in 2022, Sue continued her dedication to music by becoming Chair of ‘Sing for Sefton.’

Sue has expressed her delight and honour at being invited to be Patron of Southport Piano Academy, praising the Academy’s reputation for excellence, its talented students, and the wide range of instruments taught.

As acting Chair of the Southport Music Festival, Sue has previously attended several of our concerts and even delivered an inspirational speech at our 10th anniversary concert, where the Mayor and MP were also in attendance. Sue recalls how wonderful it was to see former festival winners perform at our concerts - some of whom have now gone on to Chetham’s or become teachers at the academy, passing on their expertise to the next generation.

“Being taught by such dedicated and talented musicians is a privilege,” says Sue. “When they perform in your concerts, they provide truly aspirational experiences. The Southport Piano Academy’s twice-yearly charity concerts not only entertain but also raise valuable funds for important causes, making a real difference in the community. It’s impressive how Claire, her team and students have together raised over £15k for local charities over the last 12 years.”

We are absolutely delighted to have Sue’s support and look forward to welcoming her in her new role as ‘Patron’ at our Summer Concert this year!

Claire Kelly, Principal
DipLCM, MISM, Grade 8 DIST, ABRSM,

Distinction in Music Performance (LCM)

January 2025 update,

Dear parents and students,

We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. We had two successful piano concerts raising £800 for music for dementia!

At the concerts, we enjoyed everything from singing songs from ‘Wicked’ to ‘Wagner’ on piano and from ‘Cold Play’ to Christmas clarinet and classical violin. It was truly a great variety and two very successful concerts with raffles and refreshments.

We are working torwards many performance and theory exams in January - March 2025 and also some local nursing home recitals. We will also be taking fresh pupils on in all instruments as we start the new year of 2025.

We wish you a ‘Happy New Year’ from all of the teaching team!

Claire Kelly DipLCM, MISM, CEO, ABRSM teacher (Principal)

Winter 2024 Update

As we come towards the end of another musical year, we are thrilled to announce that our annual Xmas Concerts will take place on December the 7th at 2pm (beginners) and 4pm (advanced) at Lord Street West Methodist Church.

These will be charity concerts in aid of music therapy services for dementia and autism.

Tickets are available by texting - 07775332909

Many students have received excellent music exam results in piano, guitar, singing and theory over the last month. Congratulations to all!

We would also like to take this opportunity to wish you and your families a very happy festive season!

The Southport Piano Academy teaching team

September 2024

Dear parents & students,

It's a new school term again and we have got off to a great start with exceptional results in ABRSM exams - Distinctions in Grade 5 Music Theory and Distinctions in Grade 5 Singing.

This month we are hosting a musical family bingo night to raise funds for our developing music therapy department.

We have 22 teachers currently on the team, many of whom also perform their instruments professionally. We always aim to nurture performance ability in our students and we are currently working towards our annual December concert.

We are taking on new pupils in all instruments at the moment.

Please don't hesitate to contact us for information!

Claire Kelly DipLCM, MISM, CEO, ABRSM teacher (Principal)

Statement Following Yesterday's Incident (29/07/2024)

We are in shock that such a horrific attack could take place on our beloved children in our normally happy and safe, seaside town.
We cannot express the depth of our sadness, in words, for the victims and young casualties of this horrendous and evil incident, nor imagine the extent of the pain that the families and loved ones are going through.

With our thoughts and love.

All of the team at
Southport Piano Academy

Summer Update 2024

Dear parents / students

We have just performed our yearly Summer charity concert. We are delighted to announce that this year, through ticket sales and a raffle, we have raised £400 tor S.W.A.C.A. (Sefton Women's and Children's Aid.)

There were different musical disciplines showcased, through students and with four of our teachers also performing - Stewart Hankinson on vocal, Joe Bloom & Jon Taylor on piano and Katie Lang on trumpet and cornet.

Abrsm exams have been continuing across the board of our 22 teachers, with great results, such as Distinctions in Grade 5 Theory and Distinctions in singing and piano exams.

We have a number of new student teachers joining the team this month too.

As the long Summer holiday approaches we remind you to not forget about piano practice!

Have a lovely summer

Claire Kelly DipLCM, MISM, CEO
Principal

Spring 2024 Update:

Dear parents / students

Now spring is upon us and we have been busy with ABRSM exams.

Our lessons are all going really well, with the addition of our new brass instruments in demand too.

We have another student who we are preparing for a Chetham’s audition, after Joshua Gadsby’s success.

We are also planning our summer music variety concert, which will take place on Saturday June the 22nd at Lord Street West United church.

Claire Kelly DipLCM, MISM, CEO

Principal

January 2024 update:

Happy New Year & Welcome

Now almost at the end of January, we have started 2024 with some great news: Another of our piano students has been awarded a place at ‘Chetham’s Music School!’ Congratulations to Joshua Gadsby, age 13, who will enrol in September!

https://www.qlocal.co.uk/southport/news_list/Southport_Student_Accepted_into_Chetham%E2%80%99s_Music_School%21-55069039.htm

We have also been preparing for ABRSM exams, adding more brass instruments to our teaching list and looking forward to our next charity concert.

May I take this opportunity to wish all our new students and families who have joined us for lessons this year, a very warm welcome!

We now teach trumpet, trombone, tuba and French horn!

Claire Kelly DipLCM, MISM, CEO

(Principal)

December 2023 update:

Dear Parents and Students

We have just hosted our two Winter Concerts with 32 of our students performing. We had piano, organ, clarinet, singing and duets.

https://www.qlocal.co.uk/southport/news_list/Southport_Piano_Academy_Raises_%C2%A3600_for_Southport_MacMillan-55067485.htm

Our charity this year was ‘Southport Macmillan Information & Support Centre’ and we are thrilled to have raised £600 for them.

In other news, one of our very talented piano students, Heidi Wilkinson, has been awarded a place at L.M.A after auditioning with a piano piece.

We have continued with exams and have also been invited to perform in some local rest homes in the New Year.

May we take this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones a very merry Christmas x

SPA teaching team

Winter Term 2023 update:

Dear parents and students

Principal, Claire Kelly met with the very famous Italian pianist and composer, Ludovico Einaudi, this month, after his Liverpool concert. Einaudi gave a very special and personal message of encouragement to all of our students here at the Academy! Click the link to see the video message!

September 2023 update:

We have had a great return to lessons in September and many received music exam results back from the Summer. (Everyone passed!) One of our adult learners even got full marks ( distinction) for her first theory exam! We have also taken a lot of newcomers to lessons. Our team of 20 teachers work hard to accommodate everyone and we would like to welcome all to The Academy.

We continue to be involved in the community however we can:

In September, one of our teaching team, the talented Joe Bloom, was honoured to play for Princess Anne at the Monument ten year anniversary ceremony.

Another of our team, Jon Taylor, also is now the resident pianist at the prestigious Grand Hotel on Lord Street . You can hear him play there every Sunday afternoon.

One of our talented students, Joshua Gadsby, is also preparing with us for his entry to Cheetham's music school (full time) with piano as his first instrument and voice as second, and training with our highly qualified and experienced vocal coach, Stewart Hankinson.

We are now preparing for our Christmas concert which will take place at Lord Street West church on the 2nd of December.

Claire Kelly DipLCM, MISM, CEO
Principal

10th Anniversary Concert Press Release

May 2023 update:

Dear parents & students

The summer is almost upon us and we are so excited that we are getting ready to present our summer showcase concert on July the 9th to celebrate ten years of The Academy!

The Mayor of Sefton, our MP and the chairman of The Southport Music Festival will all be in attendance. We will be using The Bijou cinema for the showcase as we will be sharing some videos of our journey and growth as a music academy, alongside live student and teacher performances.

The show will incorporate two new areas- dance and drama as these will be part of our summer workshops due to take place in August.

We have other events we are participating in also including performances in Sandpipers and St Patrick’s summer fair.

We have had a great term of exams with Abrsm which included a distinction for Joshua Gadsby at Grade 4 and a merit for Shane Fonseka at Grade 5.

Claire Kelly DipLCM, MISM, CEO
Principal

January 2023 update:

Firstly , happy new year to all our families and students!

Congratulations to all who took part in our two winter concerts.

We had a beginners concert and an advanced one. The standard was amazing and we raised £500 for 'Music For Dementia'.

Our piano course book is almost ready to be published throughout the UK so other teachers and music schools can try out our fun and successful methods.

We have already had some exams this year and had results of merits in grade 5.

In order to manage the demand for lessons we have also taken on more talented staff for the team.

We continue to work closely with our local community to bring music into the forefront and in keeping with this our teachers have performed many places locally, including The Grand - as regular pianists, various functions over Christmas.

Next month one of our teachers will be playing piano in a local restaurant for Valentines night.

We are working towards our showcase summer concert as we endeavour to find a worthy local charity to raise for.

If you would like to put one forward please tag or comment and share.

Claire Kelly
Dip LCM ISM CEO
ABRSM teacher

Annual Staff Meal

This year was held at "The Thatch & Thistle" hosted by the lovely owner Vicki Bradshaw, courtesy of Southport Piano Academy.

Winter Term 2022 update:

Dear parents & students

We hope you have had a great autumn term. We have been very busy booking and scheduling in new pupils:

In September we had a students sponsored practice in aid of a local Southport lady for urgent cancer treatment overseas. The students worked so hard and managed to raise £350!!

In October we took part in the Southport Music Festival at Greenbank High School. Our students were awarded four First places in piano solos- under 12s, 14s and 16 and one of teachers,Joe Bloom, won overall with a £250 cash prize for his piano composition.

This was an amazing start to our term following our performance in the new, prestigious ‘Grand’ on Lord Street for our local MP. We were also in the papers for our end of year finale summer concert, which was a musical variety show in aid of Churchtown Botanic Gardens which raised £800, making our charity raising total now £14k!

We are now preparing for our winter concert, which will be in aid of our music therapy department, reaching out to dementia in the community and music for special needs.

As always, our A.B.R.S.M performance exams continue this year with MERITS and some DISTINCTIONS awarded.

Our studio in Churchtown is fully operating with many lessons taking place there, including piano, singing and drums.

Our teaching team continues to grow with 20 teachers now offering ukelele, mobile guitar, cornet, trumpet, violin, beatboxing, jazz piano and saxophone as new instruments this year. Our other 200+ weekly lessons are at our teachers’ home music studios or mobile; travelling to students’ homes.

We are continuing to expand as we gradually morph into Southport ‘Music’ Academy, rather than just ‘Piano’ Academy.

Last year we launched a dementia music school in conjunction with local care homes. We will be performing in dementia home Abbey Lodge in Sept 2022.

Additionally, the exclusive Southport Piano Academy Music music course book is almost complete. The course is an excellent beginners piano book like nothing else available, incorporating original music, modern ideas and traditional songs with a contemporary twist, appealing to the whole family in a very thorough, systemic learning style.