A look back on the 25/26 NOFA season

Written by Jenny Forbes - NOFA Programme Manager

In July 2026, we celebrated the end of another successful National Orchestra for All (NOFA) season with a four-day residential filled with music, friendships and two incredible concerts for local families and primary schools. As we enter a quieter period while we recruit the next cohort (visit National Orchestra for All — Orchestras for All to apply!), it’s the perfect time to reflect on all that our NOFA members and team achieved during the 2025 – 2026 season.

Our first residential of 2025 saw us welcoming 42 new young people to NOFA, as well as 58 returning members. They travelled from all over the country to join us – from Aberdeenshire to London, Belfast to Gateshead, and everywhere in between! Of course there were some nerves about spending four days away from home, meeting new people and learning new music, but my highlight from spring was seeing how quickly everyone settled into the course and how many new friendships were formed in those first few days together. 

We started the season’s repertoire strong with A Keelie Makolay, a traditional Ghanian playground song and favourite of past NOFA members; Ritmos Ciganos, a Latin-American piece by Carlos Garcia that we learned by ear; and Spring Morning, an amazing new composition for NOFA written by one of our alums, Christian. We also launched a whopping twelve creative workshops for NOFA members that continued throughout the season, including music technology, visual art, conducting, choir, improvisation and folk music. 

In Summer 2025, we added to more pieces to our repertoire, both chosen by the cohort. The first was the epic ‘This is Berk’ from the DreamWorks film How to Train Your Dragon, and the second was the dramatic fourth movement from Dvorak’s 9th Symphony. 

A personal highlight for me during Summer 2025 was the orchestral and wellbeing team reflection meetings. It was so special to hear each tutor’s ‘magic moment’ from the course, and it was a chance to celebrate the many ways in which they’d supported the NOFA members to develop. I’d like to thank our incredible tutor team for always creating an environment where so many magic moments can happen! 

In Autumn 2025, we hosted three regional events in London, Sheffield and Glasgow. We collaborated with Kyle McInnis from Kinetika Bloco – a London-based youth music organisation that specialise in carnival performance. We combined Ritmos Ciganos with Eu Vou La Para Luanda (a favourite piece of Kinetika Bloco’s), practiced learning by ear, created our own music, and explored movement in our performance. My highlight from the regionals was the creative workshops – it was so special to see the NOFA members’ musical ideas showcased in the final performances. 

In Spring 2026, we added our final piece to the repertoire: ‘Crystal Kingdom’, a commission by Emily Lim to celebrate OFA’s 15th (Crystal) anniversary. This was a particularly exciting piece because Emily used ideas from the young people to create it, and it was named by them too. 

We also started offering life skills sessions during Spring which was a highlight for me. I loved watching the NOFA members explore the sessions that they were interested in and learn from the incredible skills and experiences of our tutor team in new ways. 

The season culminated in our Summer 2026 residential. The four days were spent celebrating all we had achieved, and we got to share the celebrations with hundreds of audience members at our family and primary school concerts. My favourite moment of the season has to be these concerts! The young people led the way, hosting pop-up performances in the café, facilitating drop-in workshops, presenting the concerts beautifully, and creating a visual art film to accompany Spring Morning. I particularly enjoyed seeing Christian, our alum composer, receive his well-deserved round of applause for the premier of Spring Morning!

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About NOFA

NOFA is our inclusive, non-auditioned national youth orchestra. Each season it brings together 100 young people from all four corners of the UK. NOFA members come from all backgrounds, at any stage in their musical journey, playing any instrument they choose. 

We want to make sure that cost isn’t a barrier to participating, so everything is covered when a young person joins NOFA, including their food, travel, accommodation and tuition.  

Recruitment for our next NOFA season is now open!

Introducing Ingles & Hayday

Tim Ingles and Paul Hayday joined Sotheby’s in the 1990s and ran their Musical Instrument department for 15 years. In 2012, they left to establish Ingles & Hayday, a specialist musical instrument auction house and dealership where fine and rare stringed instruments are offered for sale by auction and private sale. They have sold over 50 instruments by Stradivari and Guarneri del Gesù, as well as numerous notable instrument collections, including those of Yehudi Menuhin and Norman Rosenberg.

With a team which grew up surrounded by music, Ingles & Hayday takes pride in the work it does to support musicians, both amateur and professional. The recently founded I&H Artists programme supports young professional musicians with access to a top class instrument. In addition, Ingles & Hayday funds music programmes every year with various charities across the UK and abroad, helping children access music, music education, and stringed instruments. These charities have included Creative Futures, Luthiers sans Frontieres, Armonico Consort and, most recently, Orchestras for All.

Ingles & Hayday’s work with Orchestras for All has been particularly special as most of their team plays, or has experience playing in, an orchestra. They understand the communities which orchestras build and the love of music they can foster in young people. They hope to continue their relationship with Orchestras for All and to support their work for years to come.

Celebrating the life of Asteryth Sloane

A photo of Asteryth Sloane - they posing for the camera, with their hair in a shoulder length bob and are wearing a pinafore dress with a bright sunflower pattern, over a black long-sleeve top.

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Asteryth Sloane – a brilliant composer and musician, who worked with Orchestras for All as a Wellbeing Tutor on our NOFA residentials between 2022-2024.  

As an accomplished composer, Asteryth also joined our arranging team, creating braille scores for the NOFA during the 2022-2024 season that enabled us to support members with sight loss to join the orchestra.  

Their passing is a huge loss to music and to the world, and we send our sincere condolences to Asteryth’s family and friends. 

Listen to Asteryth's latest album, Unravellings:

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Remembering Asteryth 

Sasha, Head of Wellbeing and Inclusion: 

“Asteryth had a huge positive impact on many of the NOFA members who needed a quiet space to regulate and have some calm quiet support. They brought a very therapeutic approach to the breathing space and highlighted to us again how individual differences bring and create more diverse inclusive spaces.  

 Asteryth was an integral part of the wellbeing team and worked beautifully with many of the team members. They were loyal, challenged situations and very aware of other's needs.  

 I am very sad that we won't be able to continue to work with Asteryth and learn about their insights into the world. They had also become a therapist specialising in working with people who are neurodivergent. Asteryth had a massive positive impact individually, at OFA and the world with their care, understanding and dedication to making the world a more inclusive supportive place to be.  

Asteryth will be missed in many ways, I am grateful for everything I learned from them and fortunate enough to have known them for a few years.” 

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Jenny, NOFA Programme Manager: 

“Asteryth was a kind and gentle person who was able to build meaningful relationships with people from all walks of life. They were an integral part of our wellbeing team at residentials, facilitating a calm and welcoming space where NOFA members felt able to open up to them.  

Asteryth has been fondly remembered by other wellbeing tutors for having impactful conversations, teaching braille, and wearing a variety of beautiful dungarees! Asteryth will be missed by many.” 

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Nick Thorne, Orchestras for All Executive Director: 

“Asteryth often hosted our breathing space during NOFA residentials and created a brilliant calming atmosphere that enabled NOFA members to open up to them about challenges they were facing, often while creating brilliant arts and crafts. A huge loss to music and to the creative world.” 

Lisbon Marathon: Orchestras for All Trustee runs in support of NOFA

Here at Orchestras for All, we appreciate all the support we receive from our incredible community – especially when they take the opportunity to go one ‘step’ further.  

This is the case with one of our Trustees, Dominic Parker – who is running the Lisbon Marathon in October later this year. With training for this challenge now well underway, we thought it would be a good idea to take the opportunity for Dominic to introduce himself in his own words: 

Please can you introduce yourself and your relationship to Orchestras for All? 

Hi, I’m Dominic - I’ve been a Trustee of Orchestras for All for around four years now, I think it is a brilliant charity. In my day job, I am the Director of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. 

What do you play, and what do you love most about your instrument? 

I mainly play piano but have also played the flute and I have sung a lot. I love the piano because it is so versatile and can suit any mood - it’s therapeutic, challenging, satisfying, infuriating….  

What are you doing? Why? 

I have slightly crazily decided to run a marathon for Orchestras for All to try to raise some money – so in October I am going to Lisbon to run 26 miles. I’m aiming to raise £5,000 to fully fund one young person’s place in the National Orchestra for All (NOFA) - an incredible youth orchestra.  

A full orchestra rehearsal at a NOFA residential

If you were introducing Orchestras for All to someone new, what would you tell them? 

I’d say it is a great charity, now in its 15th year, that facilitates the joy of group music-making for young people who most likely would not otherwise have that opportunity – most importantly there are no fees and no auditions - and I’ve seen the change it has made to participants lives, through music, though community, through new opportunities and horizons. 

What is your favourite thing about Orchestras for All? 

For me, as a Trustee, it is that we have young people as fellow Trustees, and a youth board - this brings a vibrancy and insight which makes us all focus and think more clearly about what we are trying to do and how we do it.  

What have you learned from your time with Orchestras for All? 

That everyone should have the opportunity to make music – for simple joy, but also for the impact that experience can have on your aspirations and trajectory, whether that is musical or not. And that we are a long way from everyone in our society having that opportunity, so we have to keep trying.  

The guitar section of the National Orchestra for All (NOFA) - our inclusive, non-auditioned national youth orchestra

What is your favourite part of the charity? 

I love to hear testimonials from people who have participated in Orchestras for All’s programmes, as they are invariably incredibly passionate about the benefits they have taken away and the fun they have had.  

If you had to describe Orchestras for All in one word, what would it be and why? 

Smiles. Because that is the predominant reaction I see when I ask participants if they’ve enjoyed their times with Orchestras for All. 

Young people relax at a NOFA residential.

We’ll be keeping up with Dom in the run up to his marathon – and if you’d like to donate, you can do so:

Celebrating 15 years of Orchestras for All at the State Rooms, Speaker’s House, House of Commons

To celebrate 15 years of Orchestras for All, we hosted a special evening at the State Rooms, Speaker’s House at the House of Commons in June by kind permission of Mr Speaker, The Rt Hon Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP. Joined by friends, partners, donors and funders who have supported our journey, we celebrated the life-changing power of inclusive music education and its impact on young people across the UK! 

The evening saw performances from Fir Vale Academy, Sheffield’s Lead School for music and a part of our Modulo programme, as well as performances from National Orchestra for All (NOFA) alums Deronne White and Ambassadors Bella and Jesse.  

Since 2011, Orchestras for All has had a huge impact on thousands of young people. In that time we have worked with: 

• 1,200 musicians through our NOFA 5,000 musicians through our Modulo programme 

• 2,000 teachers through our Music Leadership Training programme 

• 77 young people and alums to help us run the charity, from Co-Chairing our board of Trustees, to our Youth Board, to paid freelance and management team roles.  

Co-Chair of Trustees, Beth, shared: “You see, OFA caters to young individuals from all walks of life. There is no barrier we will not break down. We believe that access to music making is a right every young individual should have.” 

“One of my favourite OFA slogans is the youth boards motto ‘nothing about us, without us’, I think that truly does portray the importance of empowering our young people.” 

This motto rang true on the night too, with speeches shared from three alums, Beth, Sophie and Jesse. 

Ambassador Sophie shared: “If it wasn't for OFAs ethos, I would have never had these opportunities and I would be a very different person. OFA has inspired me to keep making music during tough times and has made me into the musician and person I am today. I am so glad I get to be here to celebrate 15 years of this incredible organisation.” 

Ambassador Jesse closed his speech with a word of thanks: “I know personally that I would not be the same person without this organisation. So today, I just want to say thank you — to the staff, tutors, supporters, volunteers, and everyone who makes NOFA possible. Thank you for believing in young musicians. Thank you for creating opportunities. And thank you for continuing to prove how powerful music can be when everyone is given the chance to take part.” 

This summer, our celebrations continue with the finale of our Modulo and NOFA seasons, including our inclusive family concert on Sunday 5 July 

You can book tickets to see NOFA in action here: 

Thank you to everyone who has supported us over the last 15 years, including every young person, school, teacher, music educator. As well as our team, Trustees, Youth Board, freelancers, funders, donors, partners and friends – we couldn’t do it without you! 

Get involved! Orchestras for All invites young people in the UK to join its next season of inclusive programmes

“OFA is the place where confidence is built, ambitions are formed, and careers are kickstarted.” 

Orchestras for All (OFA) is delighted to announce that it is now recruiting young people, state schools and local community groups for two of its flagship programmes: National Orchestra for All (NOFA) and the Modulo Programme.  

Whether a young person is an experienced player or just getting started, OFA welcomes all young people to join our vibrant community and experience our life-changing opportunities.

NOFA cellist, Jess, said: “NOFA is a good space to join if you are nervous about going to an orchestra because it is just one big happy family! You don’t have to feel like you have to be the best – you can just play along and laugh if you make mistakes.”  

One Modulo teacher also said: “It has given my students real life experience of playing in a big ensemble and the skills that involves. Today, in a choir rehearsal, a pupil involved in Modulo mentioned leaving silence at the end and feeling the ‘magic in the air’ – something she learnt from conductor Rocco. It seems the lessons they learned have stayed with them.”  

Read more: Orchestras for All wins RPS Impact Award at the Royal Philharmonic Society Awards> 

What are the NOFA and Modulo programmes?

National Orchestra for All:

NOFA is our inclusive, non-auditioned national youth orchestra. Each season it brings together 100 young people from all four corners of the UK. NOFA members come from all backgrounds, at any stage in their musical journey, playing any instrument they choose. 

The orchestra performs all types of music, from popular songs to classical works, film music to jazz, video game soundtracks to dance anthems  – with pieces coming from around the world. Members also have the opportunity to create their own pieces with professional composers -it doesn’t get much cooler than that!  

 Plus, we want to make sure that cost isn’t a barrier to participating, so everything is covered when a young person joins NOFA, including their food, travel, accommodation and tuition.  

“The teachers really understand you and take care of you!”

— NOFA member

The Modulo Programme:

We support teachers and music leaders in state schools, local community groups and music hubs and services to set up and run their own ‘Modulo ensemble’ which is accessible to every young person.  

They receive all the music, training and resources they need to create an inclusive, sustainable and high-quality musical experience for young people, ensuring they have fun every step of the way. 

“Thanks to Modulo our students and staff are thriving.”

— Modulo teacher

Throughout the year, Modulos from different parts of the UK come together to play as multiple large-scale orchestras at our ‘Modulo Meets’, alongside our expert team of professional musicians - with each culminating in a celebratory showcase of group music-making.  

Read more: Orchestras for All wins award for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at the ABO Impact Awards> 

Reflecting on our most recent season 

 With its wide range of workshops, social activities, youth leadership initiatives and colourful concerts, NOFA’s 2025-26 season has been a truly memorable experience for everyone.

Members have had the opportunity to rehearse and perform at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire , all whilst being supported by an incredible team of Ambassadors, Orchestral and Wellbeing Tutors. 

 Chosen in collaboration with the young people we work with, NOFA’s current repertoire includes an eclectic mix of works.

For NOFA’s season finale in July 2026, members will be performing ‘Spring Morning’, written by NOFA alum, Chrsitian Dews, ‘This is Berk’, taken from John Powell’s original soundtrack for film, How to Train Your Dragon, a new arrangement of Carlos Garcia’s Ritmos Ciganos, created in collaboration with NOFA members and Kinetika Bloco, Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, Mvt. 4 and traditional Ghanian folk tune, ‘A Keelie Makolay’. They will also be premiering an exciting 15th birthday commission, written by Emily Lim. 

You can book tickets to see NOFA in action now:

“I’ve been exposed to a lot of music that I never would have listened to. It has actually put me on a path that I never would have expected.”

— NOFA member

Meanwhile, 235 young musicians from 24 schools and community groups joined us for six dynamic Modulo Meets at leading arts venues in Sheffield, Gateshead and Birmingham. Performing Queen’s iconic anthem, ‘We Are the Champions’, as part of their concert programme, participants had audiences singing and dancing all over the country. 

This season, we have been delighted to see several new Modulo ensembles established. We also held many in-person workshops, created visual scores, or music maps, to make our resources more inclusive, continued to utilise our digital hub for Modulo leaders to access their resources more easily and worked with three Special Education Needs and Disability (SEND) schools.  

Why should you join our programmes? 

By signing up for National Orchestra for All and Modulo, young people and music leaders will have the opportunity to: 

• Be part of a national movement: Connect with like-minded individuals from across the UK and be part of something bigger that shapes the future of music. 

• Make music accessible: Help us break down barriers to group music-making, making it possible for all young people to get involved, regardless of their background. 

• Perform in inspiring venues: Experience the thrill of performing in some of the UK’s most iconic spaces. 

• Learn from the best: Receive expert training and mentorship from professional musicians and educators, with the safety and wellbeing of young people at the heart of all our activities.

How to apply:

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of something truly extraordinary. Take a moment to sign up - we’d love to have you as part of the Orchestras for All community! 

Learn more about our application process and application deadlines below:

Huge thanks to our funders, partners, donors and supporters for making these life-changing programmes possible. 

Orchestras for All wins RPS Impact Award at the Royal Philharmonic Society Awards

Photography by Mark Allen

Celebrating an incredible win for inclusive music-making across the UK.

Orchestras for All (OFA) is proud to announce that it has won the RPS Impact Award at the Royal Philharmonic Society Awards! 

Held at the Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall on the 12th March, these awards - billed by The Sunday Times as 'the biggest night in UK classical music’ – celebrate classical music’s power and resonance nationwide. The night was hosted by BBC Radio 3 presenters Georgia Mann and Petroc Trelawny, with trophies presented by RPS Chair Angela Dixon. 

The awards are hosted by The Royal Philharmonic Society, which commissioned Beethoven to write his ninth symphony, and now supports emerging composers, female conductors and creates opportunities for musicians to excel. 

The RPS Impact Award is designed to celebrate ‘ventures that prove classical music's life-changing role in society’ - recognising the work we do to ‘empower young people to take charge and have leadership roles in creative opportunities nationwide’. 

Read more: Discover the 2026 RPS Award winners >

Photography by Mark Allen

The award was collected by several of our Ambassadors and alums: Cameron, Kit,  Isabella, Shannon and Tashan, alongside members of our team and Trustees. As part of the ceremony, Isabella gave an acceptance speech, which we are pleased to share:

 “Hello, I hope everyone's having a wonderful night. My name is Isabella and I am an Ambassador for Orchestras for All, however many moons ago I was once a student in this fantastic organisation. I must say it feels so powerful to stand here tonight, once a young girl petrified to join my first ensemble now a proud employee of, in my opinion, one of the greatest music organisations in the nation. The work we do is incredible, it changes lives and I'm proof of that.  

There are so many biases against so many groups in the classical music world such as class, disabilities and race. We are here to break down those barriers and prove with the right tools anyone can achieve anything regardless of their life path. We believe holistic learning changes lives, experiences changes lives. Music changes lives.  

Photography by Mark Allen

I want to give a massive thanks to RPS for the award tonight and Oxford University Press for sponsoring it. A big thank you to anyone who has supported our journey over the past 15 years. And most of all thank you to the young people for inspiring us every single day.  

To close I would like you all to take a moment to open your eyes to all the people you pass by on the street every single day. People with massive hidden potential but miss the opportunity to thrive due to the barriers they are facing. When can we stop talking about making the music sector more accessible and start doing it.  

We believe there is always more to be done and we will not stop until music education is available to all.  

Thank you.” 

Keen to support OFA’s award-winning work? Please make a difference and donate what you can to our charity today: 

Orchestras for All wins award for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at the ABO Impact Awards

“The presence of Orchestras for All in the orchestral sector has changed the landscape of youth music” 

Orchestras for All (OFA) is proud to announce that it has won the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion award at the 2026 ABO Impact Awards! 

Held at the Southbank Centre, this inspiring ceremony celebrated organisations and individuals working across the UK classical music sector whose work demonstrates the values of inspiration, innovation or collaboration. 

Thank you to the Association of British Orchestras (ABO) for this energising recognition of our work, and to our incredible community for your continued support. Receiving this award reaffirms the importance of our mission to break down barriers so that all young people can experience the joy of orchestral music-making, regardless of the challenges they face.  

Announcing the Award, Classic FM presenter Ritula Shah told the audience, “The presence of Orchestras for All in the orchestral sector has changed the landscape of youth music, placing youth voice at the centre of their work and encouraging the sector to embed young people in its governance, strategy and delivery.”  

 Read more: Orchestras for All joins Music Mark’s podcast to talk Youth Leadership

Orchestras for All celebrate winning the ABO Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Award 

At Orchestras for All, we know that inclusive music-making changes lives. As we enter our 15th anniversary year, we are aware that the barriers we set out to overcome in 2011 have only increased.  

Today, challenges such as rising mental health concerns, widening inequality, and social media pressures make it both more vital and more difficult than ever for young people to access music-making opportunities. 

Through our three transformative programmes - National Orchestra for All (NOFA), Modulo, and Music Leadership Training (MLT) – Orchestras for All is rewriting the narrative of who gets to take part in music and supporting the sector to become more equitable, accessible and inclusive.  

“In 2025, Orchestras for All delivered on its mission to bring people together by providing opportunities for 100 young musicians of all abilities and backgrounds to participate in its flagship programme, National Orchestra for All (NOFA)”, shared Classic FM presenter Ritula Shah during the ABO Impact Awards ceremony.  

“NOFA is the most inclusive, accessible and diverse national youth orchestra in the UK today, welcoming all instruments, and encouraging those often excluded from a more traditional orchestral setting.” 

Meanwhile, Jonathan Harper, CEO of Paraorchestra, commented, “We couldn’t be happier to see Orchestras for All win the EDI Impact award for embedding young people’s voices so strongly at the centre of their work” 

 Read more: Empowering young minds: The importance of young people’s mental wellbeing

Executive Director Nick Thorne, Youth Leadership Coordinator Becky Thomas, Composer and NOFA Alum Christian Dews and Founding Director Marianna Hay MBE, accept the award. 

Thank you! This award belongs to you.  

Our heartfelt thanks to the Association of British Orchestras and to our amazing community of funders, supporters, and partners who make our vital work possible.  

Thank you to the inspiring young musicians and leaders at the heart of everything we do. Our charity wouldn’t exist without you, and this award celebrates you! 

As we embark on our 15th anniversary year, we’re excited to continue our work redefining equity, accessibility and inclusive practices in music-making!  

Keep an eye out for exciting updates and stay tuned to see what our NOFA and Modulo orchestras get up to in 2026.  

 Keen to support OFA’s life-changing work? Please make a difference and donate what you can to our charity today: 

Have your say in what we play! Cast your vote on the Modulo 2025/26 repertoire

The music in the running…

This summer, young musicians from across the UK came together at our Modulo meets in Manchester, Birmingham, London and Gateshead. During exciting days of ensemble music-making, we asked participants to share their suggestions for the next season’s repertoire.

From classical favourites to iconic pop hits, the suggestions were wonderfully diverse. With the help of our Youth Board, we’ve narrowed it down to a final shortlist.

Now we want to hear from you – our community!

Pictured: Modulo members performing together at our last Summer meet!

Shaped by and for young people

From writing suggestions on post-it notes to national performances; the repertoire vote is a chance for participants to make their mark on the programme. In partnership with our Youth Board, this process is one example of the ways Orchestras for All ensures young voices are steering the direction of our Modulo programme.

Modulo is all about breaking down barriers to ensemble music-making. It enables young people in state schools and community groups to experience the joy of performing together, and welcomes all instruments, abilities and backgrounds.

Once the chosen piece is selected, teachers and music leaders will be provided with resources and practical tools to make learning the 2025/26 Modulo repertoire flexible, accessible and inclusive for the participating young musicians.

Read more: Orchestras for All joins Music Mark’s podcast to talk youth voice and leadership

Pictured: Modulo members enjoying playing music together in the guitar section

What’s next?

We’ll be announcing the selected piece soon, alongside the launch of a brand-new season of Modulo!

Make sure you’re the first to hear and keep up to date with other exciting Orchestras for All news by signing up to our newsletter.