Christmas Blow Out 2025
We look forward to playing our seasonal set at The Alex Children’s Hospital in Brighton this Christmas, entertaining and raising money for the Rockinghorse appeal. Our harmonauts will play on Monday 22nd December 2025 in the Outpatients Waiting Area (Atrium) on the Ground Floor level. Owing to an unprecedented level of interest this year, we will run two 45 minute sessions as follows:
Blow Out 1 – 10:00-10:45
Goldstone Primary
Peter Gladwin Primary
Eastbrook Primary Academy
Stanford Junior School
St Nic & St Mary’s Primary (Shoreham)
Swiss Gardens Primary
Blow Out 2 – 11:00-11:45
Saltdean Primary
St Nic’s CE Primary (Portslade)
How to join in
To apply, please click the Gold Harmonica on our home page and complete your online registration selecting ‘The Alex’ option. Please include the name of any pieces you’d like to play. Places are allocated on a first come first served basis. As each allocation fills, we will keep additional names on a waiting list in order of application. If your application is successful but your plans change (eg. illness) please let us know so that another child can take your place. In the meantime start practising Jingle Bells and When The Saints at home for our grand finale (you’ll these in the Key Stage Music Libraries here on our website).
What to bring
Harmonauts need a harmonica in C Major, lots of breath and a big smile. We will provide sheet music, stands and backing tracks. We’d be grateful if grown-ups could bring cash contributions for our Rockinghorse Appeal charity box too.
Who will we be playing to?
Hospital staff and children who are well enough will make every effort to watch us, but many children will be unable to leave their ward. Either way, the sound of our music can be heard throughout the wing and is greatly appreciated by everyone at The Alex. We will also be on view to members of the public.
Rockinghorse charity appeal
We would invite participants and grown ups to bring a cash contribution for the hospital’s Rockinghorse charity appeal. Donations can also be made online by clicking the logo here.
What to prepare
We will play items we’ve been learning in the Autumn Term, with an emphasis on Christmas tunes. There is scope for longer serving harmonauts to play their favourite pieces too. Simply list the items you’d like to play when you register.
Dress Code
Fancy dress is not mandatory, however we would encourage harmonauts to wear something seasonal (e.g. Seasonal Jumper/Santa Hat).
Refreshments & WC
There is a café with toilet facilities to the side of the waiting area.
Transport
Owing to the number of schools involved, travel arrangements to and from the venue will be your own responsibility. There are numerous bus routes that stop at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, including the 1, 1A, 7, 14, 14C, 23, 27, 27, 71, N7, 37, 37B, 47, 271,and 272. If you are driving, perhaps share the journey with a friend, and please leave plenty of time for parking. There is limited parking in the hospital car park, but metered parking bays can often be found in streets between the hospital and seafront.
Filming & Photography
We will be taking representative video footage and some still photography of this event for future publicity purposes. Any such publicity material will be for Harp Academy purposes only and will not be shared with, or sold to, any third parties. We will assume from your participation and attendance that you are happy for us to do so. If this is not the case, please contact our Managing Director, Richard Taylor.