New Cronton Soundhouse Opens to Inspire the Next Generation of Music Talent

Cronton Sixth Form College has officially unveiled the Cronton Soundhouse, a brand-new hub of music facilities designed to provide students with access to industry-standard recording, production and performance environments.

The Cronton Soundhouse was officially opened on 6th November 2026 during a special launch event attended by guests, employers, staff and students, marking a major milestone in the continued development of the college’s renowned Centre of Excellence for Performing Arts.

Developed with input from industry specialists, the Cronton Soundhouse brings recording, teaching and live performance opportunities together under one roof, providing an inspiring and professional environment for the next generation of musicians, producers and performers.

Guests were welcomed by Principal Mary Murphy, OBE, before an official opening address from Lucy Myers, Programme Area Leader for Performing Arts. Visitors were then invited to tour the new facilities, experience a programme of performances from talented performing arts students throughout the day, and also enjoy refreshments prepared by the Centre of Excellence in Catering and Hospitality at Riverside College.

The Soundhouse features a professional recording studio, connected to three dedicated live rooms, allowing for flexible recording sessions and collaborative projects. Students also benefit from specialist digital music classrooms featuring workstations for music production, composition, mixing and mastering, alongside industry-relevant project work.

At the heart of the facility is an industry-standard performance and teaching space, complete with a mixing console and professional stage lighting, enabling students to gain hands-on experience in live sound, production and performance.

The Soundhouse joins an already exceptional range of performing arts facilities at Cronton Sixth Form, including the Cronton Playhouse, a modern 320-seat theatre with orchestra pit, and a large professional dance studio featuring a fully sprung Harlequin floor.

Principal Mary Murphy, OBE, said, “The Cronton Soundhouse represents an exciting new chapter for performing arts education at Cronton Sixth Form. We are committed to providing our students with outstanding learning environments that reflect professional standards, helping them to develop the skills, creativity and confidence needed to succeed in their future careers.

This investment demonstrates our ambition to offer some of the very best performing arts facilities in the region, and we are delighted to officially open the Soundhouse and showcase the incredible talent of our students.”

Lucy Myers, Programme Area Leader for Performing Arts, added, “The Soundhouse gives our students access to facilities and technology that mirror those used throughout the music and creative industries. Whether they are recording original tracks, developing production skills, performing live or exploring technical roles behind the scenes, they now have a dedicated space where they can learn, create and collaborate at the highest level. We are incredibly excited about what the future holds and the opportunities this fantastic new facility will create for our students.”