The Mayor of Winchester joined other guests along with former and current Peter Symonds College staff to attend the Hampshire Specialist Music Course 50th Anniversary Chamber Ensemble at the College. Performed by students past and present, this year marks the 50th anniversary of the course, originally based at the Winchester School of Art, it moved to its present home at Peter Symonds in 1980. The course continues to thrive at the College, offering outstanding musical opportunities to 24 students.

Head of Music at Peter Symonds, Rachel Platt said, "The Music Department was delighted to welcome so many esteemed guests, past and present staff and former students to our celebration of 50 years of the Hampshire Specialist Music Course. We are especially grateful to all those who played in the concert, particularly to David Scott, our guest conductor and Roger Owens, who organised the event and was soloist in Mozart's Piano Concerto no 23."

The Hampshire Specialist Music Course offers a unique opportunity to take A level Music plus a wider programme of performance coaching, recitals and master classes, preparing students for entrance to conservatoire or university to study Music.