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.

Spring Modulo Roundup: 243 Young Musicians, 4 Cities, one unforgettable spring season!

Making musical memories with the Modulo Programme…

This spring, Orchestras for All brought together 243 incredible young musicians from 16 schools to perform in some of the UK’s top venues. Through our Spring Modulo Meets, students from all corners of the UK came together to create, collaborate, and perform—many of them for the very first time as part of a large-scale ensemble.

We’ve been overwhelmed by how positive the response has been from the students and teachers! Let’s dive into what we got up to…

What is the Modulo Programme?

Modulo is Orchestras for All’s flagship schools programme, kickstarting a vibrant culture of inclusive music-making within state schools and community groups - regardless of background, ability, or resources.

The Spring Meets are our formal way of kicking off the programme. Students from participating schools take a day off normal school activities for a day of rehearsals, workshops and a final run-through of the pieces they’ve worked on at a world-class venue.

This year our meets took place throughout February and March in Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, Gateshead, Cecil Sharp House, London and CBSO Centre, Birmingham. 

But it doesn’t just end there! After the spring meets we send one of our fabulous tutors to lead a workshop in-school to help keep the students inspired. After months of hardwork, we regroup again in July for the main event of our Modulo Programme - the Summer Meets - where our students will come together for the last time this season to celebrate their work this year.    

Repertoire as diverse as our musicians

This spring we are working a wide range of repertoire chosen in collaboration with our young people including: ‘I Wish’ by Stevie Wonder, ‘A Keelie Makolay’, a traditional Ghanaian folk song, and ‘The Great Gate of Kyiv’ from Mussorgsky’s ‘Pictures at an Exhibition’.

Modulo participants explored new genres, styles, and musical ideas - building not just their skills, but also their confidence and creativity. And as for the instrumentation of our groups, no instrument is turned away. Our inclusive orchestras include drummers, electric guitarists, melodicas and more. 

The response from Students

Led by professional tutors and musicians, the Modulo Meets gave young people the chance to play alongside peers from across the UK, engage in sectional rehearsals and improvisation workshops and experience the joy of ensemble playing in inspiring venues. 

After the Meets we found that:

• 92% of students said they enjoy playing music more after Modulo

• 91% felt more confident playing in a group

• 84% felt better at collaborating with others

• 76% were inspired to pursue future musical pathways

Here are a few of our Modulo student’s favourite moments:

• “When we played together as a group it made me feel like a professional artist.”

• “Yes, it gave me more confidence to look into a future in music.”

• “I saw a double bass for the first time – which was cool.”

• “I spoke to everyone in the group – it gave me more confidence.”

What Teachers Are Saying

Another way the Modulo programme impacts communities is through helping teachers. Here’s what some of them had to say: 

• “Some of the students I’ve got today have never left their county before. It’s really widened their eyes.”

• “Looking at that orchestra, it looks more like my school. Our students don’t usually see themselves on stage—but today they did.”

• “Modulo gave us a way to make music together, even though we don’t have an orchestra in school.”

Why It Matters

At Orchestras for All, we believe music should be for everyone - not just the privileged few. The Modulo Programme reaches young people who might otherwise never have the chance to play in an orchestra, experience live music-making, or feel the power of belonging to something bigger than themselves.

Modulo is not just about music. It’s about confidence, creativity, friendship, and possibility.

Help Us Do More

This spring was special - but with your help, next year’s Modulo programme can be even better. Your support could help us:

• Reach more schools in underserved areas

• Provide instruments, travel, and access for those in need

• Expand our tutor and workshop programme

Every donation, no matter the size, helps us bring the magic of Modulo to more young people across the UK.

“Orchestral music-making isn’t just for the few – it’s for everyone,” says Modulo Programme Manager, Charlie

With our spring Modulo Meets just on the horizon, we caught up with Charlie to learn more… 

Hello, I’m Charlie! This is my first season as Modulo Programme Manager at Orchestras for All, so I thought I’d introduce myself and share a bit about the work I’m doing with the charity through its fantastic Modulo Programme. 

Music plays a big role in my life. Whether it’s jamming with my friends at weekends or sharing songs and stories at my local folk club, it’s more than just a creative outlet – it’s a way to bring people together and feel a sense of shared passion and belonging.  

I’ve seen firsthand how powerful music can be, whether it’s the triumph of discovering a new instrument (I’m currently learning the tin whistle – not quite there just yet though!), the excitement of live performance, or the sense of belonging and identity it can give someone.

That’s why I’m so passionate about making music accessible to all young people across the UK through my work with the Modulo Programme. 

Read more: 7 powerful benefits of inclusive music education >

Modulo is designed to break down barriers and give young people, no matter their background or ability, the chance to discover the joy of making music in an ensemble. It doesn’t matter if they’re picking up an instrument for the first time or already have some experience; everyone is welcome to join the programme and attend our energising Modulo Meets. 

Modulo Meets are our in-person events that take place at leading arts venues across the country, bringing together young people and their music leaders to learn and play within a safe and supportive space. Here they can grow, collaborate and feel empowered to become a valued part of something much bigger than themselves, all the while guided by an expert team of conductors and Orchestral Tutors. 

What makes Modulo so special to me is its focus on inclusion. By supporting underfunded schools and working with young musicians from underrepresented communities, the programme ensures that orchestral music-making isn’t just for the few – it’s for everyone.  

Read our latest impact report >

We create inclusive arrangements that cater to all kinds of instruments – including those not typically found in a traditional orchestra setting, such as guitars, drums, melodicas and saxophones. We encourage learning by ear as well as using sheet music. Young participants even have the opportunity to reverse roles with the adults and try their hand at conducting! We also care about their emotional wellbeing and have a safeguarding team joining us to keep everyone happy throughout the day. 

From exciting workshops to unforgettable performances, Modulo creates opportunities that many students might never have had otherwise. I hope these can become treasured memories as well as educational experiences, helping our young musicians to develop both musically and personally. 

For me, it’s a privilege to be part of their journey. Watching a young person light up as they hear themselves play their part together with a huge ensemble for the first time – these are the moments that drive me and make me feel proud of doing such meaningful work. 

Read more: Modulo Programme 2024 highlights >

This spring, we’re hosting Modulo in partnership with Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, The Glasshouse Centre in Gateshead, London’s Cecil Sharp House and CBSO Centre in Birmingham. We can’t wait to meet our new cohort very soon and make some epic music together. 

Thank you for reading and if you’d like to learn more about Modulo, do take a look at our brochure here or send me an email and I’d be happy to chat with you. 

In the meantime, stay tuned on our social media channels for future Modulo updates! 

Keen to support Modulo? Please donate what you can to our charity today: 

Inclusive music-making across the UK: Modulo Programme 2024 season highlights

All the best bits from our barrier-smashing national ensembles…

Earlier this year, the Orchestras for All team travelled across the UK with the Modulo Programme to bring inclusive music-making activities to 500 students from 35 participating schools and community groups – with 252 young people joining us in the spring and 248 in the summer months.

We were delighted to be joined by 18 schools from Arts Council England’s Levelling Up for Culture Places, 15 returning schools and one home educated group. We were also thrilled to be able to widen the impact of Modulo even further by welcoming our first ensemble from a Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) school.

From Royal Birmingham Conservatoire to the University of York, Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester to the Royal Academy of Music in London (watch our concert video above), we held eight energising meets that were jam-packed with uplifting ensemble music-making.

A Modulo participant said: “Now I have found where I belong.”

Read more: 9 groundbreaking black composers you really need to know > 

Modulo participants getting in the groove

Our inspiring participants had the opportunity to perform an eclectic programme of music together as one powerful large-scale orchestra, which included everything from video game soundtracks to 1970s funk classics.

Read more: Orchestras for All invites young people to join its new season of inclusive programmes >

Arranged by Orchestras for All’s Associate Conductor, Rocco Brunori, Christopher Larkin’s ‘Hornet’, as featured in the video game Hollow Knight, quickly became a firm favourite for its driving rhythms and captivating melodies (watch video below).

Our participants also had the chance to perform the stunning ‘Allegro’ movement of Florence Price’s Symphony No. 1 (1932), arranged specially for our Modulo ensembles by award-winning composer, Emily Lim.

Plus, our inclusive ensembles even got stuck into ‘I Wish’, the 1976 funk classic written and produced by Grammy Award-winning American singer, Stevie Wonder, and arranged by our keyboard tutor, Matthew Poad. In this catchy tune, Wonder’s lyrics share how he wishes he could go back in time and relive his childhood – and you just can’t help but dance along!

As with all our work, wellbeing was at the forefront of every event this season. Alongside building on their musical skills, our diverse cohort of students were able to develop their social and communication skills, while having their emotional needs fully supported by our expert team of safeguarding staff.

A young participant told us: “I come to Modulo for the confidence-boosting side of it.”

Modulo Participants enjoying a break from rehearsals

On behalf of everyone at Orchestras for All, we would like to thank our Modulo funders, Arts Council England, Department for Education, Foyle Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation, Scops Arts Trust, 29th May 1961 Charitable Trust, Association British Orchestras Sirens Fund and Catherine Cookson Charitable Trust.

We would also like to thank our individual donors, orchestral and wellbeing tutors, freelance staff, ambassadors and audience members for making our Modulo 2024 season so memorable.

Keen to get involved? There’s still time to apply to join our next Modulo cohort in 2025 – but hurry, the deadline is 6pm on Monday 19th November 2024!

Find out how your school can get involved below:

35 UK schools to team up in spring 2024 for orchestral music-making with the Modulo Programme

From London to Birmingham, York to Manchester, Arts Council England’s new National Portfolio Organisation is ready for its next tour…

Spring has long been considered the most uplifting season, with its longer days and flowers in bloom – and at Orchestras for All (OFA), it also means exciting new musical opportunities for the year ahead.

With our first live event for the Modulo Programme just on the horizon, students and music leaders across the country are busy preparing for our next series of ‘Modulo Meets’, which welcome young people from diverse backgrounds to play together in large-scale ensembles – whatever their personal background, ability, level of experience or chosen instrument.

Taking place from 26 February to 19 March 2024, the inclusive music-making activities will kick off at London’s Cecil Sharp House, before heading over to the Midlands Arts Centre in Birmingham, University of York and Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.

We’re delighted to share that Modulo reaches new heights this season, with a total of 41 applications received and 35 schools participating in the programme. This is a new record for in-person Meets at OFA and we’re so pleased to be bringing Modulo’s positive impact to even more local communities across the UK, breaking down musical barriers and improving access to music education for young people who need it the most.

During our spring 2023 Meets, a participant said: “I enjoyed the opportunity to visit a new place and work in some of the different Modulo music spaces. Everyone was very kind and encouraging and made Modulo an enjoyable experience.”

Read more: Orchestras for All’s powerful new Impact Report >

This season, 18 schools joining us are from Arts Council England’s Levelling Up for Culture Places and/or Priority Places, 15 schools are returning to the programme and one is a home educated group. We’re also widening our impact by welcoming our first Modulo ensemble from a Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) school and they will be supported by our Wellbeing Lead, Sasha Mattock.

For the students that join us, Modulo is more than just a music education initiative. For many, attending a Meet can be a transformative experience that goes beyond reading the notes on a page. Our charity’s aim is to empower each young person to express themselves, explore their own creativity and build confidence and leadership skills, while learning to collaborate and communicate with others.

A Modulo musician told us: “I feel more confident in ensemble playing and have enjoyed discovering new music and instruments. I’ve also made new friends through Modulo, who I talk to regularly!”

Read more: 7 wonderful ways youth leadership will empower your youth orchestra >

Modulo values diversity and encourages its young participants to explore a broad range of musical genres and styles from around the world, helping them to foster cultural awareness and an appreciation for different traditions. This spring, our repertoire includes the ‘Allegro’ movement of Symphony No. 1 (1932), penned by Arkansas-born classical composer, pianist and organist, Florence Price, and arranged specially for our inclusive Modulo ensembles by award-winning composer, Emily Lim.

Pictured: A group of Modulo participants and OFA Ambassador, Tashan, at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire

Participants will also be raising their instruments to play ‘Hornet’, a dramatic video game soundtrack taken from Hollow Knight, written by composer and sound designer, Christopher Larkin. Orchestras for All’s Associate Conductor, Rocco Brunori, who specialises in brass and music education in primary schools and universities, produced the Modulo arrangement, and the work was selected as an OFA piece by Modulo and National Orchestra for All members during our 2022-23 season.

Plus, our inclusive ensembles will have the opportunity to perform ‘I Wish’, a 1976 funk classic written and produced by Grammy Award-winning American singer, Stevie Wonder. The uplifting song, which has been arranged for OFA by our keyboards tutor, Matthew Poad, focuses on Wonder’s childhood from the 1950s into the early 1960s, with lyrics sharing how he wished he could go back and relive it.

We can’t wait to greet our dedicated cohort of school students and music leaders – who now have access to an exclusive online hub of Modulo resources – very soon, and would like to extend our warm thanks to the ongoing support of OFA’s generous funders and individual donors. Without you, our charity wouldn’t exist.

Not attending the Meets but keen to get a sense of the action? We’ll be sharing daily event highlights via our social media channels, including Instagram takeovers from OFA’s 10 brilliant Ambassadors, so do visit our profile and follow along!

Finally, if you haven’t quite locked down your New Year’s resolutions this year, why not join our inspiring network of supporters? By donating just £10 a month to Orchestras for All, you could help a young person who faces daily barriers discover the joy of music-making with others, when they may not otherwise have the opportunity.

Orchestras for All seeks new headquarters – join the search!

As Orchestras for All (OFA) continues to expand and develop its reach and impact across the UK, the charity finds itself in an exciting new phase of growth and development.

We are now on the lookout for new headquarters that will provide much more to us than just office space; our new location could also be a hub for forging new partnerships, nurturing existing relationships and fostering creativity within the sectors of music education, mental health and wellbeing, youth leadership and engagement.

We invite you, our incredible network of supporters and followers, to join us on our search by sharing your expert insights and recommendations for where our new headquarters could be based.

A Modulo participant expertly conducting their ensemble

What are we looking for?

Our vision is a country where all young people have access to the joy and benefits of orchestral music making, regardless of the daily challenges they might be facing.

By relocating to a vibrant location that takes OFA’s strategy into consideration, we aim to amplify our charity’s impact, celebrate being truly national and strengthen our connections within the sectors we are so deeply passionate about.

We have now embraced a hybrid model of working and are based all across the UK, so our new headquarters will not merely offer us a physical space, it will also provide us with the opportunity to collaborate and innovate.

We are envisioning an area of the country where like-minded organisations and individuals can come together to share ideas, knowledge and resources. It should be a dynamic space, where music educators, mental health and wellbeing advocates, youth leaders and artists alike can join forces to create a positive ripple effect across the UK.

Anthony and the powerful National Orchestra for All (NOFA) trumpet section

We need your help!

We believe that the best suggestions often come from the participants of our programmes and the supporters who believe in our cause. Whether you’re a young person, teacher or tutor working with OFA, or someone who values the impact of music on young lives, your input is truly invaluable to us.

• Can you suggest a city or town that is well-known for its vibrant arts scene and/or commitment to young people?

• Is there a region in which the passion for music and wellbeing of young people seamlessly unite?

• Perhaps you have a personal connection to a place or organisation that you feel we should be teaming up with, to ensure our vision and mission become a reality?

We hope this callout will result in an exciting list of locations and partners that we can explore for our relocation, or give us food for thought about how we might engage with other brilliant organisations.

Orchestras for All Artistic director and conductor, Emma, leading the way with her violin

How to get involved

There are three key ways you can contribute:

1. Share your suggestions: Please complete the short questionnaire below, offering recommendations for where our new headquarters should be and explain why you think a particular place would be an ideal fit;

2. Spread the word: Encourage your friends, family and colleagues to participate. The more diverse and wide-ranging the suggestions, the better!

3. Engage in the conversation: Follow our social media updates and join the ongoing conversation about our potential new headquarters’ location. Your insights and perspectives are incredibly valuable.

Your recommendations will not only help to shape our future; they will also enable us to have a positive and lasting impact on the lives of young people nationwide.

We will research each and every recommendation, assessing their potential within the topics of strategic and partnership opportunity, accessibility, financial and environmental opportunity and impact, culture and values as well as participant and audience development.

Thank you for being part of our mission – stay tuned for updates and we can't wait to see where this collaborative effort takes us! Together, we can continue to smash down the barriers to music making that so many young people face every day.

Questionnaire deadline: 12pm on Thursday 28th of September

In pictures: tour highlights from our summer 2023 Modulo Programme

Making powerful music with young people nationwide…

Earlier this month, the Orchestras for All team went on tour with the Modulo Programme for the first time to bring inclusive music-making activities to school students all across the UK.

From the University of York to the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester to the Royal Academy of Music in London, our venues for the Meets provided the perfect backdrop for the 330 young people in attendance – 171 of which had never played in an ensemble before.

By working in close partnership with these venues as well as engaging with their participation teams and inspiring students – many of which joined us as orchestral tutors during the Modulo Meets, we were also able to share best practice for running inclusive music-making sessions with our four brilliant ensembles.

Alongside improving their social and instrumental skills during sectional and full orchestra rehearsals, our diverse cohort of participants had the opportunity to perform an eclectic programme of music to special guests together as one large-scale orchestra – with Nena’s ‘99 Red Balloons’, Joe Hisaishi’s ‘Merry-Go-Round of Life’ and Christopher Larkin’s ‘Hornet’ all becoming firm favourites.

During the York Meet, Modulo percussionist, Kiara, from All Saints Catholic College in Huddersfield, told us: “My favourite piece is ‘99 Red Balloons’ – it just sounds so good with everyone playing together! Also, a really kind thing that Modulo has done for me is donated a drum kit. It really helped me out because I needed a drum kit to practice with at home – I’m so grateful for it.”

In London, Modulo musician, David, from Harris Academy Morden, said: “I’m so excited about our live performance later today and I’ve really enjoyed my trips with Modulo and Orchestras for All. I hope that other people have enjoyed them as much as me!”

Scroll down to browse all the highlights…

Read more: Introducing the newest members of the Orchestras for All team >

York: University of York

Birmingham: The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire

Manchester: The Royal Northern College of Music

London: The Royal Academy of Music

On behalf of everyone at Orchestras for All, we would like to thank our funders, Arts Council England, the Department for Education, the Scops Arts Trust, 29th May 1961 Charitable Trust and the Rayne Foundation as well as each of our individual donors, charity volunteers and loyal supporters who help make the Modulo Programme possible.

Please support aspiring young musicians across the UK and donate what you can today:

‘Our son, Xander, was desperate to play the bassoon – and Orchestras for All made it happen,’ says mum, Bec

Breaking down musical barriers, one gifted bassoon at a time…

For many parents in the UK, sourcing musical instruments for their children can often feel like a challenging task – not to mention the high cost often associated with purchasing them.

Research from the Musicians’ Union (MU) has shown that cost is currently the greatest barrier to a young person learning a musical instrument, with over two-fifths (41 per cent) of those from lower income families saying lessons are beyond their household budgets. This financial burden limits access to music education and prevents young people from exploring their creative interests.

Orchestras for All (OFA) exists to help tackle this issue and improve access to music-making. Our charity believes that all young people deserve equal opportunities to pursue their musical aspirations and enjoy the significant benefits that come with playing an instrument – from boosting their confidence levels, happiness and overall wellbeing to improving their social and communication skills.

To create new opportunities for those who are keen to kickstart their musical journey, donating and redistributing unused or unwanted instruments can be an effective solution and at OFA, we’ll always do what we can to find donated instruments a new home.

That’s why last winter, our Modulo Programme Manager, Sam, delivered a gifted bassoon to 11-year-old school student, Xander, after his family had struggled to source one. A few months later, we caught up with the budding musician and his parents, Bec and Peter, to see how he was getting on…

Read more: Orchestras for All’s Annual Report 2021-2022 >

Was it tricky for you to track down a bassoon?

Xander: “Yes, it was very hard to find! One of my friends plays a trumpet and the other plays the drums, but I think one of them got his trumpet from school and the other bought his drums from a percussion shop near us.”

Bec: “Definitely, it took us a long time! We were on a real quest to find one, just to see whether it was something that Xander would enjoy – he’d had an inkling that this was the instrument he’d like to play but finding a bassoon for him to try was so difficult. We eventually found a company that could loan us one for a short period but that wasn’t local to us. That trip was probably 45 minutes away from us, just to rent the bassoon, and we did that for a while.

“Then we got in touch with Orchestras for All, which is when we finally managed to source one for him! I was scouring the Internet, really, trying to find somebody who could help. Our son, Xander, was just desperate to play the bassoon – he knew that this was the instrument he wanted to play. For Xander’s dad, Peter, and I, being non-musical, we really wanted to embrace his enthusiasm and find a way to support him.”

Peter: “Lots of instruments are also very expensive, so Orchestras for All gives many young people the opportunity to learn something that they otherwise might not be able to.”

Pictured: National Orchestra for All bassoonists play together at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire

Why do you love the bassoon and how are you getting on with it so far?

Xander: “I’m getting on quite well with it! I’m going to do my Grade One exam soon. I think it sounds a lot deeper than other instruments and makes a more fluent noise. So far, I’ve been playing a book that’s called ‘The Standard of Excellence’ and lots of short pieces. Sometimes, I find getting the right pitch very difficult. Putting your fingers in the correct place on all the holes can be difficult too!”

Bec: “I would say another challenge is trying to dismantle the bassoon and pop it in his bag! Xander has a lesson each week at school and he's also allowed to take it into his music lessons, so he gets another opportunity to play it then. So, it’s a good few times a week that he’s practising it – actually every evening – and then we’re packing it up in the morning. At times, it can be a mad rush trying to get it back in the bag again to get it ready for school!”

Please donate what you can to Orchestras for All >

Would you encourage other young people to play a musical instrument?

Xander: “Yeah, it’s much easier once you get started and it seems difficult in the beginning, but you get going in about a few weeks and then it gets much faster! Now I’m considering joining the woodwind orchestra at my school, and I’m also doing the beginners’ woodwind ensemble (I think, or band?) – it's on a Thursday anyway, every lunchtime!”

Bec: “I’m not musical at all, so at first, I found the whole process quite daunting but once we got in touch with you guys, it made everything quite easy and straightforward. I guess it’s just knowing what resources to tap into. It’s been hugely rewarding seeing Xander grow! He is genuinely enjoying playing the bassoon at home and practising at school. He had a lesson earlier today actually and as soon as he got in the car, he was like: ‘Oh mum, I had a great bassoon lesson this afternoon!’ He is really enjoying it, so it's just brilliant.”

What do you love the most about music?

Xander: “For me, playing instruments is the best part about music. I think it’s very exciting and I really enjoy that part. I enjoy playing music even more than listening to it and it also helps with your memory. It seems very daunting at the start, but you hit a point where it’s not so difficult and then you can just get going with it! Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to play the bassoon.”

Bec: “I want to reiterate what has been said there – thank you very much, Orchestras for All, for making it happen! We genuinely feel super privileged that you sorted out a bassoon for Xander and are giving him this opportunity. We can't thank you enough for that.”

Peter: “I think music also adds a unique element to a young person’s day. It's not just purely reading or playing through all the books; music allows young people to express themselves in different ways. I think it's really important that Orchestras for All is able to give this opportunity to young people and would encourage anyone to give it a try.”

To give other young people like Xander the opportunity to discover the joy of playing music, please support Orchestras for All’s vital work and donate what you can today:

University of York’s spectacular concert hall hosts the Modulo Programme’s final meet of the spring

We’re already counting down the days to our summer sessions…

Following a successful series of events in Birmingham, London and Manchester, Orchestras for All (OFA) took its fourth and final Modulo meet of the spring to the picturesque city of York.

Taking place in the grand surrounds of the Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall at the University of York, which boasts a peaceful riverside setting for its music students, the programme welcomed 60 young people to enjoy its inclusive music-making activities this time round, led by Associate Conductor, Rocco Brunori.

A superb effort from each of our mixed-ability participants – who joined us from Heworth Grange School, Parkside School, Immanuel College​, All Saints Catholic College, Woodham Academy and St. Bede’s and St. Joseph’s Catholic College – as well as OFA Ambassadors, Nell and Grace, who kindly supported young musicians in the string and woodwind sections.

Despite having only met each other for the first time on the day, the newly-formed ensemble played Nena’s ‘99 Red Balloons’ and Joe Hisaishi’s ‘Merry-Go-Round of Life’ beautifully, rounding off this year’s spring sessions in good spirits and leaving us all feeling energised for the summer Modulo meets ahead.

We look forward to seeing you again soon – but first, please enjoy our York snaps below!

Read more: Royal Northern College of Music welcomes 83 young people for a day of group music-making with Modulo >

On behalf of everyone at Orchestras for All, we would like to thank our funders, Arts Council England, the Department for Education, 29th May 1961 Charitable Trust and the Rayne Foundation, and each of our individual donors, charity volunteers and loyal supporters who help make the Modulo Programme possible.

Keen to support a young musician on the Modulo Programme? Please donate today:

Royal Northern College of Music welcomes 83 young people for a day of group music-making with Modulo

Making lifelong memories at our third meet of the spring…

After kickstarting our spring Modulo meets in Birmingham and London, the Orchestras for All team took to the road once again to bring the charity’s powerful music-making programme to students in and around the city of Manchester.

Held at the Royal Northern College of Music, the third Modulo event of the season was attended by 83 young people from six maintained schools in the UK – including Hathershaw College, Bellerive, Bridgewater, Philips, St Patrick’s and Ullswater – and with bassoons, drum kits and electric guitars in the room, what a wonderful sound they all made.

With a revitalised push for more music in schools following the national plan for music education, the Modulo Programme exists to support teachers and community music leaders in setting up a small, inclusive ensemble of their own, before inviting participating students to team up with others from across the country to play together as one giant orchestra.

From soothing warmups with our Artistic Director, Emma, and a friendly greeting from Ambassador and former National Orchestra for All member, Haseeb, to an energising orchestral rendition of of an 80s pop classic, our Modulo meet in Manchester was surely a day to remember. Scroll down for a few of the highlights!

Read more: This gallery of 108 young Modulo musicians gathering in London is the wholesome content we all need >

On behalf of everyone at Orchestras for All, we would like to thank our funders, Arts Council England, the Department for Education, 29th May 1961 Charitable Trust and the Rayne Foundation, and each of our individual donors, charity volunteers and loyal supporters who help make the Modulo Programme possible.

Keen to support a young musician on the Modulo Programme? Please donate today: