About us

Our core values are to ‘inspire, nurture and excel’ and to provide the young people of Northamptonshire with musical and artistic opportunities.

What we offer

We offer a range of enrichment programmes for schools and individuals of all ages around the county. Our highly talented team of teachers are able to provide teaching on musical instruments at every school in the county. We offer a full range of instruments and musical styles and currently teach 15,000 students in ‘First Access’ – whole class instrumental lessons or small groups.

There are 12 Saturday Music and Performing Arts Centres, (plus one on a Thursday evening) and 4 NMPAT Contemporary Centres​ at venues around the county. The centres are open to everybody and exist to provide an educational and fun environment for any young person interested in the Arts.

We run a programme of residential courses for young musicians and some of the county groups. We also have an extensive programme of concerts and events throughout the year, including many regular fixtures in our calendar.

Northamptonshire is renowned for the high standard of its ensembles, with over 1,000 young musicians involved in our award winning County Music and Drama Groups.

We are also the biggest providers of instrumental music lessons to individuals in the county. Lessons take place at our Kettering Road Music and Arts Centre in Northampton and at a variety of venues around Northamptonshire. Kettering Road is also the home for our Youth Theatre, Northampton Rock and Early Years Music classes.

About the trust

In April 2012 the Northamptonshire Music and Performing Arts Trust was established as an Independent Charitable Company after 40 years trading as the former Local Authority Music Service.

Shortly afterwards NMPAT was appointed the lead partner in the new Northamptonshire Music Education Hub (NMEH) and in September 2013 was invited to take over the lead role in the Rutland Music Education Hub, Rutland Music, now established as a subsidiary charity. Working with other local Music and Arts groups the Hubs will oversee the local delivery of the government’s National Music Plan.