Sehyogue Aulakh and Lila Bhattacherjee will work with community groups in education, health and care settings throughout the South West during their time within the BSO’s award-winning Participate team.

Sehyogue Aulakh is a percussionist from Devon who is currently completing her studies at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. She joins London-born flautist Lila Bhattacherjee — a postgraduate student at Cardiff’s Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama — in becoming a BSO Young Associate.

Sehyogue Aulakh, BSO Young Associate musician, said, “I feel lucky to have been exposed to a rich mix of music whilst growing up, thanks to Plymouth Music Zone, which helped me develop an interest in orchestral music alongside my love of North Indian classical music. I’m really looking forward to exploring how music can have a positive impact on people’s lives, whilst developing my tool kit as a musician.”

Lila Bhattacherjee, BSO Young Associate musician, said, “Since discovering the world of community music through my first graduate job, I’ve developed a deep interest and appreciation for the field. I can’t wait to develop my skills as a facilitator further and connect musically and socially with people across the South West as a BSO Young Associate.”

Every year we lead hundreds of community and participation events across the region, delivering award-winning work in health and care settings, and forming partnerships with schools and Music Education Hubs. The BSO has a global reputation for championing the role of culture in people’s lives, and in 2019, received the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Impact Award for improving opportunities for disabled musicians.

The BSO Young Associates programme was made possible thanks to a large number of generous donations through the Big Give Christmas Challenge. The programme was launched at the start of 2022, with the aim of increasing diversity and opportunity within the classical music sector. It offers the next generation of community leaders a career springboard through practical experience, training and mentorship.

Bea Hankey, Head of BSO Participate, said, “We’re proud that coming out of the pandemic — at a time when the empowering impact of music has never been needed more — the BSO has been able to create these opportunities for the next generation of community music leaders. We’re grateful to our loyal philanthropic community, who helped fund the programme through the Big Give campaign, and for additional support from Allianz Musical Insurance. I know that Sehyogue and Lila will bring a fresh insight and energy to the brilliant work of BSO Participate — we can’t wait to begin.”

Hear more from Sehyogue and Lila in these videos:

To read the full press release click here.

Allianz Musical Insurance is a Supporting Partner of the BSO Young Associates programme. Hear from Wynne Hamilton, Head of Musical Insurance at Allianz Musical Insurance below… (Audio in video performed by the Recovery Orchestra in partnership with Bristol Drugs Project).