The BSO is proud to run the Bournemouth centre of the National Open Youth Orchestra (NOYO). Launched by Open Up Music in 2018, NOYO is the world’s first disabled-led national youth ensemble – a pioneering inclusive orchestra where talented young disabled and non-disabled musicians aged 11-25 rehearse and perform together.

This year we’re thrilled to announce that a BBT Communities grant from the Borletti-Buitoni Trust, and generous funding from The Pointer Family Trust, will allow us to add an extra flourish to the programme in 2023/4. As well as supporting a year’s worth of music lessons and rehearsals at the Bournemouth NOYO Centre, and our contribution to NOYO’s national residential and performance programme, the funding will enable us to involve NOYO musicians in planning and piloting a brand-new ‘Inclusive Symphony in a Day’ project.

The BSO has been running Symphony in a Day events for years: they give keen amateur musicians the chance to tackle large-scale symphonic repertoire alongside professional BSO musicians. Over the coming year, we want to work out how to make these events accessible and welcoming for disabled musicians – from removing physical access barriers, to creating music for electronic instruments such as the LinnStrument and Clarion. NOYO musicians will be at the heart of the process, planning and testing the new format!

We can’t wait to roll out our Inclusive Symphony in a Day pilot, creating a blueprint for making community orchestras more inclusive, and opening up exciting opportunities for young disabled musicians.

Click here to find out more.