FAQs

1. My child was accepted to play in 2020. Do I need to apply again?
A. Yes. Anyone wishing to participate in the 2023 Gala/Playtogether must apply.

2. Can my registration fee from 2020 be applied to 2023?
A. No. We very much appreciate those who donated their registration fee to the BSMA; this allowed us to partially cover the costs incurred for the cancelled 2020 concert. 

3. I don't know my BSMA number. Can you send it to me?
A. An email was sent to all BSMA members with their numbers on 20 September. If you did not receive it, please email [email protected]. Only applicants based in the United Kingdom need to provide a number; others can simply put in the country where they hold their Suzuki membership.

4. Can my child participate in both the Playtogether and the Gala?
A. No. The Playtogether happens at the same time as the Gala rehearsals, so it is not possible to do both.

5. When do I need to pay?
A. Everyone will be informed of the place they were allocated and sent a link in mid-late November to complete registration and pay the registration fee.

6. How many audience tickets can I purchase to the Gala?
A. Gala ticketing is handled by the Royal Albert Hall. At least one audience ticket must be purchased for each Gala registration, but otherwise all ticket numbers are limited only by the capacity at the RAH. Playtogethers are held at the Royal College of Music on Saturday and do not require a ticket.

7. Is there financial assistance available?
A. Due to the generosity of a legacy from Jean Middlemiss, a limited amount of bursaries are available to assist with the registration fee for BSMA members. Please see the BSMA website for information. Other countries should check with their Suzuki organisation to see if similar bursaries are available.

8. What is the closing date for applications?
A. All applications need to be with us by 21 October 2022 at noon BST.

9. When do I get to know if I can play in the Gala concert?
A. Everyone will be informed of the outcome of their application by late November 2023, and invited to register for the place they were allocated at that point.

10. What happens if I don't get into the Gala concert?
A. We expect to be able to arrange Playtogethers for anyone not in the Gala concert, to be held at the Royal College of Music on Saturday 08 April.

11. Can I play more than one instrument in the concert?
A. No, due to the complex nature of the rehearsals, as well as the concert on the day, each performer can only play one instrument.

12. I didn't receive a confirmation email. Have you received my application?
A. The system does not send out confirmation emails. You will have a message on your screen with a green tick thanking you for your submission. You can also log in again to your application at https://bsma.fmbetterforms.com/#/login and look at what information you have supplied.

13. What is the cancellation policy/terms & conditions?
A. The registration fee is non-refundable for any reason, including but not limited to sickness, event cancellation or travel restrictions. The event organisers have encouraged the purchase of travel insurance for your protection. The BSMA cannot be held liable for any losses incurred.

14. It says tickets are not on sale at the Royal Albert Hall!
A. Please see your registration letter, which has a code (starting with BSG). This code needs to go in the 'promotional code' box on the ticketing page.