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Young Sounds UK bring Discover training to Aberdeen
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Get Together with National Children’s Orchestras at Stoller Hall
On Sunday 8 June 2025, young musicians from our Connect programme came together for an afternoon of learning and music-making at Stoller Hall in Manchester.
Working together
Get Togethers are an exciting part of the Connect programme, expanding the musical world of the young people we support. Through these events they’re introduced to new musical genres and experiences, alongside other programme participants. Our Connectors look to find creative ways to deliver these opportunities; this includes collaborating with neighbouring music services on the programme and other music organisations sharing our vision for a fairer music education sector.
This event brought together young people supported by Young Sounds from Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire Music Hubs and was delivered as part of National Children’s Orchestras’ (NCO)’s Summer Orchestral Weekends. NCO has an expanding programme of non-auditioned activities, and Connect young people were invited to attend the NCO North event in the stunning surroundings of Chetham’s Music School.
Bodies, Brains and Breathing
The afternoon began with a fun and engaging Bodies, Brains and Breathing Workshop. Led by NCO’s Guest Artist Katy Jones, Principal Trombonist of the Hallé Orchestra, the young musicians explored the mechanics of the human body and its relationship to musicality. Through exercises Katy showed the young musicians how to breathe and stand like a professional musician! They were also treated to stories and insights through a Q & A session with NCO young musicians, giving them a glimpse into a career in music.
To demonstrate some of the techniques Katy was supported by musicians from the National Youth Orchestra (NYO) who were on hand to help our Connect pupils. This is part of our mentoring project through which NYO musicians are being trained by Young Sounds to become role models for young people on the Connect programme across the country. This partnership is part of the DfE’s Music Opportunities Pilot.
Rehearsals and performance
At the end of their orchestral weekends, NCO young musicians always play a range of music to share with their families. This time, our Connect pupils joined in for a body percussion performance written specifically for the event – a piece called ‘Rethink’ by Greg Beardsell about caring for the environment. They then watched NCO perform several well-known pieces from film and tv, conducted by Helen Harrison and featuring Katy Jones on the trombone!
The event was a great example of collaboration and a shared commitment for creating musical opportunities. Some NCO musicians are also supported by Young Sounds and an inspiring connection was made when we discovered that both NYO musicians had previously been in NCO too – and were therefore returning to support an event with an organisation they had once participated in.
We’d like to thank our Connect staff and pupils at One Education, Bolton Music Service and Bradford Music Education Hub, the brilliant teams at National Children’s Orchestras and the National Youth Orchestra, their young people and the fantastic Katy Jones and Helen Harrison for facilitating the activities.
The Connect programme is supported by public funding from the Department for Education’s Music Opportunities Pilot and Arts Council England, plus a range of other private funders.