The island’s largest music school has announced it will be relocating to a new purpose-built home later this year.
The School of Popular Music is opening a new flagship campus at Château Vermont this summer, creating a dedicated base centred around “community, creativity and real progression”.
Husband-and-wife team Phoebe and Harrison Collins, the joint managers who head up the Jersey branch, say the opening of a new campus in the island marks a significant step not just for the school, but for the wider creative scene.
“We couldn’t be more grateful”
The pair met while studying Professional Musicianship, specialising in songwriting at the Brighton Institute of Modern Music.
“We connected over our shared passion for words,” explained Phoebe.
“Lyricism is an art that is often overlooked in our opinion, so finding another person equally engaged with that love brought us together.”
Between them, they spent years writing and recording with multiple bands and solo artists before a “swift turn of fate” brought them back to Jersey – Harrison’s home island.
“We never intended to move back,” they said. “But after almost a decade of reflection, we couldn’t be more grateful.”
Life may now revolve around managing the island’s largest music school and raising their young son, but the songwriting hasn’t stopped.
Last weekend, Phoebe performed original work for ArtHouse Jersey at the Barracks at Grève de Lecq – her first live performance since becoming a mother, which she described as “somewhat of a rebirth” for herself.
“I sing about my faith and my family now, and I’ve never felt more free,” she said.
Rising demand across the island
The duo explained that the decision to move to Château Vermont comes amid rising demand from families and students across the island.
“Guitar, singing and piano are always the go-to instruments, although we have a ton of great drummers and bassists,” they said.
“They might not be the most glamorous instruments, but they’re the heartbeat of any successful band.”
The couple also said that they have seen a notable rise in adult learners.
“I personally teach 12 adult students,” explained Harrison. “It’s really rewarding; you can get into the nitty-gritty of music theory, and they really put the effort in outside lessons.”
The music school’s student base ranges from four-year-olds to musicians aged 70.
“It’s never too late, if anyone is thinking that!” said Phoebe and Harrison.
“Having everything under one roof is a game-changer”
Until now, School of Popular Music has relied on external venues for group classes in Jersey, including a working partnership with the Salvation Army.
Having a permanent, purpose-built home for the school will allow all of its programmes to operate under one roof – from the “minis” (aged four to seven) through to the academy, which supports young bands up to 18 and beyond with tutor-led rehearsals, gig opportunities and recording sessions.
“Having everything under one roof is going to be a game-changer for us,” the couple said.
“Being able to do this in industry-standard, purpose-built rehearsal and recording studios is something we are beyond excited about.”
The new campus will include a commercial-grade recording studio open to island bands, multiple rehearsal studios, a Mac suite for production teaching, and dedicated one-to-one teaching rooms.
“The idea is to build what we always wanted as songwriters and musicians – somewhere in Jersey that rivals studios you’d otherwise have to travel to use,” said Phoebe and Harrison.
They added that giving students these opportunities will “ensure that when they eventually head off into being working musicians, they are leaps ahead of their competition”.
“The building is going to be alive around every corner”
Phoebe and Harrison explained that they have seen first hand how a central creative hub can transform a local music scene, pointing to the success of the School of Popular Music’s Guernsey branch.
“You can really see the fruits of that when visiting the island and listening to the young talent that they have is part of their bustling music scene,” they said.
“It’s not just about musicians. You see videographers, photographers, artists – all working together and building relationships that carry them through their working lives.”
The Jersey branch managers believe the move will help foster the same ecosystem in the larger island, while also offering practical benefits – including free parking, being walking distance from schools and town, instrument sales with tutor advice, and offering welcoming spaces for families.
“The building is going to be alive around every corner,” the couple said. “A young Harrison and Phoebe would be in dreamland having access to these facilities!
“Let’s be honest, we still very much are. Literally children in a toy store… and we have the keys!”
“There is no switching off from the school”
For the team, Château Vermont felt like the natural fit.
“We’ve been outgrowing our current building for years,” explained Phoebe. “The office-block model isn’t ideal – we’re always conscious of being noisy!”
When they heard the historic building could become available, they were immediately interested.
“The building has had music blessing its rooms and hallways for what seems like forever, and to carry that legacy forward is a true blessing,” the couple said.
Managing the music school is more than a job for Phoebe and Harrison.
They describe being entrusted by families – and by School of Popular Music founder Tyler Edmunds, who launched the organisation from his bedroom 12 years ago – as a “real honour.”
“For us to be able to grow such a beautiful thing as this school together as a family and for our son to grow alongside it is an immeasurable blessing for us,” the couple said.
“Our son already has hundreds of friends and people who care for him as a result of our school.
“Knowing first hand that School of Popular Music Jersey is an environment like that makes us both most grateful.”
They added: “If a few of our students end up gracing the biggest stages in the world – amazing. But what matters most are the life skills they learn and the relationships they build.
“As we are not just managing a business together, but are also married with a young son, this really is our lives from morning to night. There is no switching off from the school.”
“You’d think that might be a lot to juggle, and it is, but we’d really have it no other way.”
“We can’t wait to hear the music that will be written here”
The first programme to take place at Château Vermont will be the 2026 summer school.
Open to all young musicians aged 10 to 18 years old – not just existing students – the programme guides participants from forming bands and designing logos to rehearsing a 15-minute set for a live performance.
“With everything in-house and the stunning grounds to use, it’s going to be amazing,” said Phoebe and Harrison.
As for their own musical projects, the duo say there is no shortage of material waiting to be recorded.
“There’s certainly a backlog of written songs in our household,” they said.
With industry-standard studios, rehearsal spaces and a growing community of creatives under one roof, they believe the island is on the cusp of something special.
“We can’t wait to hear the music that will be written here. It’s going to be amazing.”