live concert

‘Sounds of Change’: Immerse yourself in live music at National Orchestra for All’s summer concert!

Don’t miss it.

The inspiring young musicians of National Orchestra for All (NOFA) are delighted to invite you to their final concert of the season: ‘Sounds of Change’.

Taking place on Thursday 1 August 2024 from 3-5pm at Birmingham’s CBSO Centre, this special event is relaxed, family-friendly and promises to be an unforgettable experience for performers and attendees alike.

Following two years of powerful group music-making at arts venues nationwide, NOFA is ready to showcase the hard work and incredible achievements of its inclusive ensemble through a diverse programme of live music.

Chosen in collaboration with the young people OFA works with, audience members can expect to hear pieces such as ‘Hornet’ and ‘Reflection’, taken from Christopher Larkin’s gripping soundtrack for video game, Hollow Knight, arranged for NOFA by Emily Lim. Watch the video above to see NOFA’s rendition of ‘Hornet’ at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in the spring.

Pianist Noah said: “NOFA is a second home for me – a second family, a safe space. I can't recall any moment here that I haven't enjoyed. I feel respected and heard and it’s here I’ve made some of my closest friends. The music is catchy and the staff are absolutely amazing! I feel so proud to be part of this organisation.”

Read more: Orchestras for All announces its headquarters relocation to Sheffield >

Pictured: National Orchestra for All receive a round of applause at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.

Pictured: National Orchestra for All receive a round of applause at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.

Music often mirrors the social, political and cultural shifts occurring in society, so some of the repertoire chosen under NOFA’s artistic theme, ‘Sounds of Change’, is intended to highlight times of significant change or movement. NOFA will therefore be celebrating the Midlands and its fascinating history by playing James Brady’s haunting arrangement of ‘Ghost Town’, written by Jerry Dammers in 1981 and made famous by British two-tone band, The Specials.

Our programme also includes the ‘Allegro’ movement of Symphony No. 1 in E minor – a sonorous, lyrical work penned by American classical composer, Florence Price, which has been arranged for OFA by Simon Tong. 

Plus, NOFA will be joined on stage by 13 young musicians from CBSO’s Learning & Engagement programme and there will be solos, small group performances and original NOFA compositions to be heard such as ‘Strength in Numbers’, which the ensemble created in collaboration with Birmingham-based multi-instrumentalist, Joe Broughton.

Aged between 11 and 19, NOFA members come together from diverse backgrounds and cultures, from all corners of the country – and thanks to our charity’s inclusive, non-auditioned programme, they have been able to experience the joy of playing in an orchestra regardless of the daily barriers they might be facing and take ownership over their learning.

On an individual level, ‘Sounds of Change’ represents the personal growth and development that NOFA musicians experience. This could include mastering new skills, making new friends, growing in confidence and finding a deeper sense of identity through musical expression.

NOFA violinist, Meicha, said: “NOFA is just a wonderful community and experience for young people across the UK.” NOFA cellist, Jess, added: “At NOFA, you don’t have to feel like you have to be the best – you can just play along and laugh if you make mistakes.”

Orchestras for All strives to make its concerts accessible to all, so admission to ‘Sounds of Change’ is free. However, we welcome any donations to the charity and would like to thank each of our individual supporters as well as our loyal NOFA funders – including Arts Council England, Department of Education, Garfield Weston Foundation, Foyle Foundation, Association of British Orchestras Sirens Fund, Finzi Trust, Schroder Charity Trust and Wavendon Foundation – for making this life-changing programme possible.

Music has the ability to shift our mood, alter our perspective and create emotional connection, so whether you’re a long-time supporter of orchestral music or new to the scene, ‘Sounds of Change’ is a wonderful opportunity to experience the transformative power of live music. Come along and be part of our musical celebration. We look forward to seeing you there!

Watch this epic live concert starring one of the world’s most inclusive youth orchestras

It’ll brighten your day.

In July 2022, National Orchestra for All’s diverse young ensemble treated a Nottingham audience to an afternoon of powerful orchestral music – and it was pure joy.

Titled ‘The Way We See It’ (a tribute to the season’s theme), the one-hour concert was held at the city’s prestigious Albert Hall and celebrated all that the orchestra, better known as NOFA, has achieved over the past two years – and in spite of global uncertainty following the coronavirus pandemic.

While NOFA’s inspiring members each face significant challenges in their daily lives – from physical disability and mental health conditions to rural isolation and economic deprivation – they can leave their troubles at the door when taking centre stage and instead, focus on doing what they love the most: making epic music together.

During the show (watch video above), we see the musicians – who come from all corners of the country – team up with NOFA’s squad of tutors and alumni to perform an eclectic programme of music, accompanied by newly-written spoken word produced in collaboration with witty Nottingham-based poet and comedian, Ben Macpherson.

NOFA cellist and Orchestras for All youth board member, Chloe, told attendees: “Playing in an orchestra is playing with pieces of puzzles. These pieces are like a well-lit forest: enormous and sometimes scary. It’s super important to keep counting.”

Read more: ‘The Way We See It’ – National Orchestra for All’s Nottingham concert in pictures >

Pictured: National Orchestra for All performs a powerful end-of-season concert in Nottingham.

She continued: “One musical family, playing equally important roles, working in unison to create and develop an atmosphere: diverse and talented, very colourful and fast, forgetting to count to four.”

NOFA violinist, Alasdair, added: “Synchronised swimming in sound form. A triangle of unity, mistakes and waves. All of it feels good. The power of an orchestra when everyone works as a team. Work harder, challenge myself more, sitting next to a great musician, forgetting to count to four.”

They were joined by esteemed conductor, José Salazar, who first rose to fame after participating in Venezuela’s prestigious El Sistema programme and was coined by the media as “the world’s youngest conductor”.

It was surely a memorable occasion, with each piece of music specially selected to reflect the season’s modern theme as well as one of Orchestras for All’s key values: harnessing the power of youth voice.

Repertoire included a stunning rendition of ‘Andromède’, a symphonic poem drawn from the myth of Greek goddess, Andromede, which was penned by French-Irish female singer, pianist and composer, Augusta Holmès, in 1883.

National Orchestra for All members take a moment from playing to enjoy spoken word at the event.

This was followed by ‘Crossfade’, British composer Jack McNeill’s unique take on a musical crossover that expertly fuses traditional orchestral instrumentation with electronic influences and boasts a steady beat reminiscent of popular club culture.

Listen to other music by Jack McNeill and NOFA >

And of course, no summer concert would be complete without an iconic masterpiece from one of the late great composers – this time, Britten’s ‘Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra’.

Also known as ‘Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Purcell’, the spectacular 1945 work is based on the second movement of the Abdelazer suite, ‘Rondeau’, and was originally intended to introduce children to the instruments of the orchestra – making it just as relevant with classical fans today.

On the surface, we hear variations played by a whole host of instruments and groups, with the style of each section telling us about a particular quality of that instrument, while characters tell their stories through the music within a unifying theme that celebrates the diversity of the orchestra itself.

Grand finale: Audience members take to their feet and cheer on NOFA’s bright young musicians.

Finally, a lively performance of ‘Spoitoresa’ – arranged by Mahala Rai Banda, OFA’s Artistic Director, Emma Oliver-Trend, and Jack McNeill – had audience members up on their feet as NOFA trumpeter, Tashan, encouraged a memorable moment of crowd participation with a good-humoured lesson in body percussion.

On behalf of everyone at Orchestras for All, we would like to thank each of our loyal funders – Arts Council England, Association of British Orchestras – Sirens Fund, Finzi Trust, Foyle Foundation, Headley Trust, Promenaders’, Musical Charities, The Radcliffe Trust, Michael Tippett Musical Foundation, Samuel Gardner Memorial Trust, Sarum Hall School Parents' Association, University of Warwick and Youth Music – as well as our individual donors, advocates, Trinity Catholic School, photographer Will Pace, Broaden Films, orchestral and wellbeing tutors as well as our team of volunteers for making NOFA’s summer residential and live concert possible.

Please support us in breaking down barriers to music education and donate today >

National Orchestra for All comes to Nottingham this summer with a powerful end-of-season concert

This one’s not to be missed…

Orchestras for All (OFA) is excited to announce that its National Orchestra for All (NOFA) members will be performing live in concert this summer – and we would love for you to join us!

Titled ‘The Way We See It’, the musical extravaganza – which is free to attend – is due to take place at the Albert Hall Conference Centre in Nottingham on Friday 29 July at 3:00p.m. and will celebrate all that our epic orchestra has achieved over the past two years.

From stomping Balkan tunes and anthemic clubby dance, to rousing Romantic music and one of Britten’s most iconic works, ‘The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra’ (1945) – including newly-written spoken words – the eclectic programme of music will surely make it an afternoon to remember.

Along with OFA’s Artistic Director, Emma Oliver-Trend, the ensemble will be led by esteemed international maestro and violinist, José Ángel Salazar – who quickly rose to fame at the age of 14 after participating in Venezuela’s El Sistema music programme and became the world’s youngest conductor. Since then, José’s musical career has taken him to new heights and seen him work with a host of established orchestras as well as with communities of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Artistic Director at Orchestras for All, Emma Oliver-Trend, said: “We are all feeling really excited about NOFA’s summer concert. The friendship, commitment to the orchestra and love of music really shine through in our young people’s performance.”

Read more: Orchestras for All wins award for Outstanding Musical Initiative at the Music and Drama Education Awards 2022 >

She continued: “This is a showcase of some superb orchestral music and hopefully, with something for everyone. I'm particularly excited that we are finding fun and easy ways for the audience to get involved in the performance too, so they get to share in the joy that is NOFA. A fun, friendly, family concert!”

Aged between 11 and 19, NOFA’s diverse young members come from all corners of the country and thanks to our charity’s fully-inclusive, non-auditioned programme, they have been able to experience the joy of music-making with others regardless of the daily barriers they face.

Orchestras for All is also working in close partnership with The Trinity Catholic School as part of the event, with a group of its pupils performing live alongside NOFA.

Nottingham Music Hub CEO, Ian Burton, said: “I’m really pleased that the National Orchestra for All is coming to Nottingham. Their work is inspirational in enabling young musicians with significant challenges to engage in orchestral music making and there is real synergy between their approach and that of the music hub here in Nottingham. Their music making is joyous – do go to hear it if you can!”

Free tickets are available to book via Eventbrite and to discuss any queries or access needs, please contact NOFA Programme Manager, Paula, via email at paula.morgan@orchestrasforall.org.

On behalf of everyone at Orchestras for All, our sincere gratitude goes out to our individual donors and loyal funders – Arts Council England, Youth Music, Association of British Orchestras, The Michael Tippett Musical Foundation, The Foyle Foundation, The Radcliffe Trust, Finzi Trust and The Samuel Gardner Memorial Trust – for making this concert possible.

Do spread the word, share the news with your network and we hope to see you there!

Book your free tickets via Eventbrite >