Around 120 people filled the room at Bradford-on-Avon Library, with people attending from across the ages – from young children to care home residents.

The performance was a culmination of our SEND schools’ summer tour, which saw the group perform together at Cornerstone Academy and Victoria School in Poole under the baton of Enyi Okpara, and St Georges and Medina House in Newport on the Isle of Wight under the baton of Tom Fetherstonhaugh.

The magical programme of music was inspired by work earlier in the year with KS1 children in Somerset, charting a nighttime journey from ‘Dusk to Dawn’. Musicians and audience members travelled through the musical midnight sky together, before ultimately arriving at a joyous dawn chorus. Music featured Davenport’s In the Night Garden, Sherman’s Hushabye Mountain, Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty: Waltz, Brown’s Singing in the Rain: Good Morning, and many more.

NOYO is a disabled-led youth ensemble that brings together talented young disabled and non-disabled musicians, while BSO Resound is the world’s first disabled-led ensemble as part of a professional orchestra’s core activities. Over the last two years, BSO has supported three NOYO alumni to play as part of the ensemble, playing side by side with BSO players and Resound, as part of our commitment to extending pathways for pre-professional disabled musicians into the industry,

Presented by BSO Associate Musician Sam Mason, and conducted by Tom Fetherstonhaugh, the music was met with an overwhelmingly positive response from audience members.

Pamela Bement said, “Absolutely exquisite, what a lovely thing […] I only came in to do the jigsaw!”

Claire Yeoman said, “I’m a bit emotional. I suffer from pain and don’t travel far so being able to walk to the library and immerse myself in such wonderful sounds was such a treat.”

“What an incredible way to use the library in an inclusive way for so many Wiltshire residents: children, adults all enjoyed the delightful programme of music.  More events like this please!” said another attendee.

In partnership with Wiltshire Music Centre, and thanks to Bradford-on-Avon Library.

Learn more about the Bournemouth NOYO centre here – and come along to one of the group’s upcoming rehearsals. Keep an eye on our What’s On page for more events like this.