Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra’s next generation training scheme, BSO Young Associates, enters its third year as three aspiring community music leaders join its award-winning team.

Harry Bassett, Sophia Benton and Charlotte Foley join the Orchestra to work on community projects throughout the South West as part of the 7-month bursary-supported training scheme.

Launched in 2022, BSO Young Associates was created with the aim of increasing diversity and opportunity in the classical music sector — offering musicians aged 18-26 a career springboard through practical experience, training and mentoring

The BSO Young Associates programme is supported by Lark Music

 

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra’s training scheme — BSO Young Associates — celebrates its third year as it welcomes its latest cohort of aspiring community music leaders to unite with the BSO’s musicians in projects across the region.

Musicians Harry Bassett, Sophia Benton and Charlotte Foley, will work across Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra’s range of community music projects, delivering workshops in a variety of health and education settings.

Harry Bassett is a trumpet player, musical director, composer and member of the Paraorchestra, who brings experience of facilitating the creation of inclusive music and theatre. Harry has also performed musician-actor roles on touring shows with companies such as Extraordinary Bodies and Frozen Light.

Sophia Benton was the first person to graduate as a left-hand alone pianist from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. A Benedetti Foundation Instrumental Teaching Ambassador, Sophia is dedicated to accessibility and representation in the industry.

Charlotte Foley is a singer-songwriter who has co-led creative learning projects with Bath Philharmonia, after first accessing the scheme herself through the organisation’s work with young carers. Charlotte is passionate about working with people and creating new music.

This year’s cohort follow in the footsteps of Ed Lee, Àánú Sodipe and Tamara Sullivan, who graduated from the scheme earlier this year – and Sehyogue Aulakh and Lila Bhattacherjee, who began in 2022.

Bea Hankey, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra’s Joint Head of Participate, said: “We’re really excited to welcome Charlotte, Harry and Sophia to the Orchestra as our third cohort of BSO Young Associates — they each bring such passion and energy for the life-empowering impact of community music-making here in the South West. We’re looking forward to helping them explore their practice and develop over the coming seven months as they carve an enriching career as brilliant practitioners.”

Harry Bassett, BSO Young Associate Musician said: “Through my work in SEND schools and community theatre, I’ve found great joy in being able to provide people of all ages and abilities a platform with which to access music. I’m really looking forward to working with the BSO to expand my musical toolkit and explore the relationship between common instruments and assistive technologies.”

Sophia Benton, BSO Young Associate Musician said “Whilst training in left-hand alone piano performance, I discovered joy and fulfilment through school-based community music work during my studies at Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. I’m excited to explore working in a wide range of community settings as a BSO Young Associate Musician, as well as developing as a music facilitator and pianist beyond the stage.”

Charlotte Foley, BSO Young Associate Musician said “Growing up, music has always been a big part of my life. My most recent work alongside Bath Philharmonia has opened my eyes to the world of community music leading and creative learning. Improvising and experimenting with different techniques and instruments to suit different peoples’ needs is something I’m very passionate about — ensuring that music making is inclusive for everyone.”

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NOTES TO EDITORS

For more information please contact: Heidi O’Neill| honeill@bsorchestra.co.uk| 07858 365036 Claire Rawles | crawles@bsorchestra.co.uk | 07860 776646