The sounds of revolution

The debut performance of the National Open Youth Orchestra is the first move in changing what an orchestra can look and sound like, says Musical Director Doug Bott.

Photo by Paul Blakemore

Photo by Paul Blakemore

When the National Open Youth Orchestra takes to the stage, it will be a landmark concert that organisers hope will be the start of something much bigger.

‘What we’re aiming to do is create opportunities for a more diverse range of musicians, specifically getting talented young disabled musicians out there, influencing the music of the future and getting them performing, progressing and being creative. But it’s also about developing role models to inspire the next generation of musicians coming through’
Doug Bott

Barbican Guildhall Creative Learning is a key partner of the orchestra, and we were looking forward to hosting the orchestra’s first concert this month. But with the Centre closed due to the government advice on coronavirus, it’s being rearranged. Instead, musicians will be coming together virtually on the day the concert was due to take place for a special moment to connect and make music together.

The National Open Youth Orchestra musicians. Photo by Paul Blakemore

The National Open Youth Orchestra musicians. Photo by Paul Blakemore

When they do perform at the Guildhall School’s Milton Court Concert Hall, they’ll be debuting some exciting new music composed for a wide range of instruments, both traditional and electronic, including the Clarion, which can be played with the movement of a musician’s eyes.

Photo by Steven Burnett

Photo by Paul Blakemore

Photo by Steven Burnett

Photo by Paul Blakemore

Among the works will be Alexander Campkin’s What Fear We Then?, written in collaboration with the orchestra. It’s in a ‘modular’ format, meaning it can be adapted for any number of musicians on a wide variety of instruments, evolving through different versions for each ensemble.

'Music written in this way removes barriers for disabled musicians'
Doug Bott

‘Music written in this way removes barriers for disabled musicians,’ says Bott. ‘For many people, having fixed and immovable structures can be a problem because they may not be in a position to perform and represent existing music in the same way that it’s always been done. The ‘modular’ piece Alexander has created not only solves a problem in terms of making music more accessible, but it’s also very creatively exciting. It’s possible you’ll never hear What Fear We Then? played the same way twice when performed by different ensembles, and we think other orchestras will find this interesting too.’

Bott is looking forward to the first London performance as ‘the beginning of something’. ‘Ultimately if this work realises its potential, this could be the start of redefining what the orchestra represents in the 21st century. It means we’re looking again at who plays in an orchestra, what they play, what the music sounds like, and who the audience is.’

Doug Bott

Doug Bott

'It isn’t about having a disability, it’s about being a musician!'

Photo by Steven Burnett

Photo by Steven Burnett

So, what’s it like being a member of the National Open Youth Orchestra? We spoke to one of the musicians to find out.

Hi! Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

My name is Georgina. I’ve been studying Music Performance at the University of Huddersfield and I am in my final year. My musical journey started playing tenor horn in a local brass band in Lincolnshire when I was seven years old. I moved onto French Horn when I went to secondary school because I wanted to play in an orchestra. Throughout secondary school I played with the Lincolnshire Music Service and went on tour with the Lincolnshire Youth Symphony Orchestra and Lincolnshire Youth Wind Orchestra to Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia, Germany and Spain.

Why did you apply to be a member of the National Open Youth Orchestra?

I was diagnosed with autism when I was 16 and I always felt excluded and isolated from the mainstream. I applied to be part of the National Open Youth Orchestra because I hoped that the people involved would understand my disability. I also wanted the opportunity to meet people like myself, while playing music that I love.

National Open Youth Orchestra rehearsal. Photo by Paul Blakemore

National Open Youth Orchestra rehearsal. Photo by Paul Blakemore

What do you enjoy about being a member of the orchestra?

I very much feel included in the orchestra and I feel that I belong. The music is innovative. The people involved are great and I have really developed my skills as a musician particularly in improvisation, which isn’t something I had done before.

What do you enjoy being a member of an orchestra such as this, which brings together disabled and non-disabled musicians?

Disability in the National Youth Orchestra is not a barrier it’s an opportunity to be heard. In the orchestra we are all equal and disabled musicians and non-disabled musicians play together equally. It isn’t about having a disability, it’s about being a musician!

National Open Youth Orchestra rehearsal. Photo by Paul Blakemore

National Open Youth Orchestra rehearsal. Photo by Paul Blakemore

National Open Youth Orchestra rehearsal. Photo by Paul Blakemore

National Open Youth Orchestra rehearsal. Photo by Paul Blakemore

Do you have any favourite composers or pieces of music?

My favourite composer is Mozart because he wrote beautiful music for the horn and it is thought that he may have had autism himself.

The National Open Youth Orchestra is currently recruiting new members aged 11-25 to join them from September 2020. Head to our website for more details.

Photo by Steven Burnett