Musicians Ed Lee, Àánú Sodipe and Tamara Sullivan join the Orchestra for a 7-month placement to work in communities across the South West, gaining the skills to deliver life-empowering projects with people of all ages.

Designed to increase diversity in the sector, these placements offer the next generation a career springboard through practical experience, training and mentoring.

Working across the range of Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra’s participatory work their work will involve delivering music in partnership with education providers and across a wide breadth of health care settings.

Àánú Sodipe and Tamara Sullivan Ed Lee working with children at a local school

Ed Lee is a guitarist and saxophonist who brings song writing experience to the role, he has worked in SEND schools and is known for creating accessible and inclusive music.  He joins Àánú Sodipe — a singer, violinist, and pianist who composes afro-classical music and performs with the Chineke! Orchestra — and Tamara Sullivan, who trained as an oboist at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, is an Instrumental Ambassador for the Benedetti Foundation and is a participant on the LSO Pathways scheme.

BSO Young Associate Ed Lee said: “I specialised in the research and study of SEND music education and since graduating have worked in schools in the Bournemouth area. I’m a self-confessed ‘metal head’ but I also grew up attending BSO concerts: I’m looking forward to fusing these passions as I join the organisation as a BSO Young Associate. I look forward to developing my skills as a music leader, which I hope to transfer into my work in education.”

BSO Young Associate Àánú Sodipe said: “I was attracted to the community approach of the Young Associates programme. I love interacting with people and using music as a vehicle for togetherness and community fun. I’m a professional violinist from Hackney, east London; from a young age I was constantly surrounded by music at home and at church. I can’t wait to begin and hope to develop my leadership and communication skills during the programme.”

BSO Young Associate Tamara Sullivan said: “I’d heard great things about the programme from a former BSO Young Associate, and this encouraged me to apply. I hope to develop my skills as a music leader, in particular arranging, conducting, and co-creating projects, whilst building my ability as a presenter. I grew up in Dorset before studying in Cardiff; I’ve been busy as a performer and teacher and am looking forward to this new challenge.”

Bea Hankey, Joint Head of BSO Participate, said: “We’re thrilled to extend the BSO Young Associates programme for another year, working with these brilliant musicians to share and develop their skills in our communities when the empowering impact of collective music-making has never been needed more. We’re grateful to our Supporting Partner Allianz Musical Insurance for their ongoing belief in our community-based work, and look forward to building on the success of last year’s programme as we begin to work across the South West with Ed, Àánú, and Tamara.”

To read the full press release click here. For more information about the work of BSO Participate click here.