Our 2014-15 schools programme is now under way in eight primary schools in Hackney and Tower Hamlets, with a further twelve schools starting in January in Haringey, Waltham Forest and Camden. We will be working with 1000 children this year. We always welcome enquiries from new schools, with more places available for 2015-16.

We are still buzzing from the experience of working with AMP Patron Sir Simon Rattle, who conducted the orchestra in a magical reading of Ravel's complete Mother Goose Ballet. The evening raised the profile of Apollo Music Projects, and funds to support our expansion into more schools this year. Simon gave a wonderful supporters to supporters and guests after the concert, describing AMP as "a national treasure".

Click below to see slideshows of wonderful new photos of this year's Apollo project by Andrew Aitchison of MoAna Multimedia:Slideshow 1Slideshow 2

The Apollo Music Projects schools concert at Hackney Empire on Tuesday 8 July was an amazing occasion. Over 750 children from Primary and Special schools in Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Camden, Haringey and Islington enjoyed a programme featuring Beethoven's "Pastoral" Symphony. The concentration and excitement was extraordinary, and the event was a fitting end to a fantastic year.

The Daily Mail and Telegraph have both published excellent articles in response to the Institute of Education's  evaluation of Apollo Music Projects. Full articles can be read here:Daily Telegraph: Beethoven and Mozart can boost children's concentrationDaily Mail: Playing classical music to your child can improve their listening skills later on in life

We have launched a Support a School programme, inviting supporters or groups of supporters to match the schools' contribution of £1000 per school. We have already matched four schools, and are hoping to find supporters to match the remaining schools. For more information and a list of schools click here.

We are please to announce our first schools in Camden, Islington and Haringey as part of our 2013-14 schools programme. We will be working with Carlton Primary (Camden), St. John's, Highbury Vale (Islington) and Seven Sisters Primary (Haringey), along with Rushmore, St. Matthias, Nightingale, Orchard, Shacklewell, Southwold and Springfield primary schools in Hackney and Columbia and Harry Gosling Primary schools in Tower Hamlets, as well as Stormont House Special School in Hackney

Professor Susan Hallam of The Institute of Education has completed an evaluation of Apollo Music Projects, which will be launched at a special event at Shoreditch Town Hall on 21 January. Copies of this excellent report will be available at the event, and we will publish the report online after the launch. Please contact us for more information.

Click here for photos of the Haydn marathon at great new venue The Dentist, Chatsworth Road E5 Photos