A celebration of inclusive music

Four weeks of rehearsing culminated in a glorious collaboration between two orchestras last weekend. 

Orchestras Inc joined forces with West Sussex Youth Orchestra for a one-off performance of Strauss’s Radetzky March on Saturday at Horsham Music Centre, based at Millais School. 

The two orchestras are organised and run by West Sussex Music. 

Orchestras Inc. is an inclusive creative music group for SEND children and young people under 25 with special educational needs or disabilities, and their parents or carers.  

West Sussex Youth Orchestra (WSYO) offers talented young musicians opportunities to develop their instrumental playing and build the skills needed to play in an orchestra, learn beautiful music and to have fun along the way. 

Orchestras Inc. had met for four sessions over the last month and had learnt the Radetzky March with their teachers with the aim of a playing alongside WSYO as well as performing their own pieces to leaders from the orchestra. 

Hannah from Orchestras Inc. said: 

“I liked it when everyone played together, the orchestra was absolutely fantastic. I’ll definitely come again.” 

Alison Sutton, Assistant Head and Inclusion Lead at West Sussex Music, said: 

“The idea of the joint performance was to give both orchestras the chance to perform with each other, and to give Orchestras Inc something to aim for at the end of their rehearsals after four weeks of learning. We’re very proud of all the young musicians, they all did incredibly well. It was truly joyous to listen to all the young people performing together.” 

The SEND ensemble is open to all children and young people with additional needs, including those attending special schools, those at mainstream schools or colleges with additional needs and those who are home schooled. 

More Orchestras Inc. opportunities will take place next year, dates and further information to be released soon. 

For more information go here.  

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