Spoiler alert: they’re all pretty darn amazing.
Over the past year, Orchestras for All (OFA) has continued to evolve as a charity and grown at rapid speed, reaching even more young people across the UK than ever before through its inclusive music-making programmes.
To support this demand and further develop OFA’s musical offering, its team has welcomed 10 inspiring ambassadors, who all started out on their journey as young musicians with National Orchestra for All. In these paid roles, ambassadors play a vital part in assisting the core team and championing OFA’s work across all programmes, while also boosting their skills and having the opportunity to focus on a specialty of their choice.
Joining them is OFA’s new Youth Leadership Coordinator, Elen, who will be creating and facilitating opportunities for young people – including current members, ambassadors and alumni – to be involved in the charity’s key decision-making, planning and delivery of work. We believe that young people are best-placed to tell us what they want and need, so it’s essential that their voices and opinions are heard, valued and actioned. Outside OFA, Elen is a member of the ABO board’s Musicians’ Advisory Council, which also ensures that the voices of orchestral musicians are heard at board and executive level.
Finally, OFA is pleased to welcome Sasha, who will be supporting the wellbeing of both staff and participants across the charity as Wellbeing Lead, alongside superb Associate Conductor, Rocco, barrier-smashing Programmes Coordinator, Jenny, and Production Manager, Chris, whose role is key to making our live events a success.
From Arsenal fans and filmmaking students to keen cellists and music-loving maestros, let’s meet the latest additions to the team…
Read more: National Orchestra for All’s barrier-smashing spring residential in pictures >
Atse, Ambassador
Hi, my name is Atse and I’m an OFA Ambassador. I’ve been a part of OFA since 2014, when I joined as a NOFA member. As an Ambassador, my role is to help guide young people through the experience of being part of OFA, using my own knowledge of being a NOFA member.
I am also a member of the Youth Board, which is where we take the feedback of members and discuss how we can improve the OFA experience. Outside of OFA, I’m studying to be a music producer and sound engineer and I’m a big Arsenal fan.
Beau, Ambassador
Hello! I’m Beau and I’m an Ambassador for OFA. I’ve been with NOFA since 2016 and I’ve enjoyed every year I’ve been here. An ambassador helps young people feel more comfortable within OFA as we act as a bridge between staff and members as we were once members ourselves.
Music has always been a big part of my life and I’m always doing something that has music. Outside of OFA, I love making my own music – OFA helped me gain the confidence to be able to do that. I’m also a filmmaking student in Brighton, specialising in production design, sound design and soundtracks for film.
Chloe, Ambasssador and Trustee
I’m Chloe and I loved music from a young age – sitting in my Granny’s kitchen in Belfast, listening to my family have a trad session, I desperately wanted to join in. I felt then how music brought people together and created a feeling of community. Naturally I did the only reasonable thing… stole one of my uncle’s tin whistles and began to make a racket.
I then started learning the cello in school at age eight. There was very limited opportunity for ensemble playing and my idea of an orchestra was “serious and stuffy”. Joining National Orchestra for All in 2018 changed that entirely! There I felt that same sense of community but this time it was with 99 other young people that I’d only met three days prior! Most importantly, as an Ambassador and Trustee I’m looking forward to helping OFA achieve what the Youth Board likes to call… “world domination”!
Chris, Production Manager
Hi everyone, I’m Chris Tindall and I’m the Production Manager at Orchestras For All. My job is to make sure all the equipment, such as stands, chairs, power for guitars and so on, is set up and working for rehearsals. I also help with the lighting and sound for the recital evening.
I love working with musicians and have previously worked for lots of opera companies. The thing I’m most excited about with NOFA is hearing the orchestra play together for the first time! I also live in the North East of England, love cricket and am a trained umpire.
Elen, Youth Leadership Coordinator
I’m Elen and I am the Youth Leadership Coordinator at Orchestras For All. My role will be focused on amplifying youth voices and furthering the youth involvement in all areas of OFA. I have recently graduated from Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama but prior to this, I was a member of OFA’s National Orchestra For All. My experience with music education, especially conservatoire, has meant that I have experienced first-hand the inaccessibility of the music industry, but these experiences have only made me more passionate about OFA’s mission.
My time with OFA has given me an insight into the lives of young musicians from all walks of life and has truly shown me the value of music-making opportunities. I firmly believe that everyone should have the opportunity to make music regardless of their background or personal challenges, so I am incredibly excited to be a member of the OFA team and to be part of the positive changes they are making!
Grace, Ambassador
Hi everyone! My name is Grace and I’m one of the NOFA ambassadors. A bit about me – I’m a violinist and auditioning for a conservatoire in November, but I also play piano and like to sing. I love buying clothes from charity and thrift shops – you will often see me in brightly-coloured clothes!
I’m very excited to meet NOFA’s new musicians in the summer – I’m sure it’ll be a fantastic week! Like the other nine ambassadors, my job is to support the young people if they need anything or have any questions. Always happy to help! The thing I’m most excited about is seeing everyone play together at the end of the course as well as seeing how much progress everyone’s made!
Haseeb, Ambassador
Hello everyone! I’m Haseeb, an OFA Ambassador. I have been with the organisation since 2015 and have loved every second (as you can probably tell as I’m still here). As one of the ambassadors and someone who only recently aged out of being a NOFA member, I essentially act as a bridge between members of OFA’s programmes and its staff.
I’ve also been a member of the Youth Board, so if you have an idea on how we could improve something, I would love to hear it and feed this back to the Board, who can take it further up the ladder. Outside of OFA, I've completed my A-Levels and I'm currently a Medical Engineering Apprentice at Leeds Teaching Hospitals.
Jenny, Programmes Coordinator
Hello! My name is Jenny and I’m the Programmes Coordinator for Orchestras for All. My role is new and was created because OFA’s programmes are reaching more people than ever before! I support the lovely Sam (Modulo and MLT Manager) and Paula (NOFA Manager) in the delivery of OFA’s three innovative programmes. Something I am particularly looking forward to is attending OFA events, meeting the young people involved and experiencing their incredible performances!
Music has been a part of my life since I started learning to play the violin aged eight. My favourite part of learning an instrument was playing in ensembles – particularly orchestras! If I hadn’t participated in orchestras while growing up, I wouldn’t have the skills, friendships and life experiences I am fortunate enough to have today. I am delighted to be joining the OFA team and contributing towards inclusive music-making opportunities in the UK.
Keefe, Ambassador
Hi, I’m Keefe and I come from London. Music has been a large part of my life for a long time now, ever since I started playing the piano in Year Three. I love it because although music can vary massively, it has always been a universal language for everyone. Music has always been a sort of safe place in my mind that I can retreat to when I’m nervous or overwhelmed, almost a sort of second language. I can't imagine a life without it now.
I’ve been with OFA for three years now (although it seems a lot longer than that!) and it has given me invaluable experience, many unforgettable memories and great friends. I’m absolutely honoured to be an Ambassador for OFA! Outside of music, my biggest interest is medicine and I’m aiming to become a doctor in the future. I will also never say no to a game of chess, although I’ll probably lose very quickly!
Nell, Ambassador
I’m Nell and I’ve enjoyed playing music since I was little, bouncing around between instruments until ultimately settling on the clarinet. I joined NOFA back in 2015 and they’ve yet to manage to get rid of me. OFA were the first to introduce me to the joys of playing with others, especially on a large scale. My hope as an Ambassador is that I can play a part (get it?) in helping the current generation to experience all the opportunities OFA has given me.
Outside of music, I study physics at university. I’m also always on the lookout for another sport to try; the current list includes trampolining, netball and gymnastics. I try to find the time to play in an orchestra but none of them ever quite match up to NOFA (we’re just that good!).
Noah, Ambassador
I’m Noah and I’ve been a part of OFA for nearly six years – and every year has been better than the last. Over the years, OFA has helped me to improve my confidence and musical ability. I can play things now that I thought were impossible for me to do. I have been playing double bass for the past eight years and thanks to OFA, I have no intention of stopping anytime soon. I have always had a passion for music as it allows me to imagine and create from my mind, something which I am very grateful to be able to do.
I am incredibly grateful to have the opportunity of being an Ambassador as I would like to be able to give back to the orchestra and organisation that I have been a part of for so long. Outside of OFA, I enjoy programming – especially in the field of cyber security, as well as making robots and machines. I also enjoy outdoor sports like bouldering and kayaking.
Rocco, Associate Conductor
My name is Rocco and I am the Associate Conductor of Orchestras for All. I was born and raised in Tuscany, Italy, where I started playing the trumpet aged seven. I immediately fell in love with ensemble playing – that hasn't changed yet! I studied classical trumpet, jazz trumpet and music education, and have played in 1,500 concerts all over Europe, Asia and Oceania.
After a few years travelling around the world, I settled in North London, where I work for several music services. I truly enjoy seeing so many young musicians and colleagues every week. I conduct all sorts of musical styles (symphonic, jazz, big band, wind band, choir and brass band) and I love the challenges that this role is offering me every single time. It’s never-ending fun! I also love coffee, painting, cooking, reading and my dog Frank.
Sasha, Wellbeing Lead
Growing up, I was taken to a local brass band concert and my mum asked me what I would like to play. I vividly remember choosing the drum kit, which I think surprised even me as my mum and brother both played a brass instrument! Later on, I volunteered with a community theatre company in Toronto, where I learned about the different access points of music, before studying psychology at Goldsmiths, specialising in musical ability in children who are neurodivergent. We explored the positive sides of neurodiversity and I loved it!
I found my early 20s quite hard mentally, so started exploring different ways of looking after my wellbeing. Music, dancing, family, friends and being outside were all helpful for me during difficult times. After my dad was diagnosed with motor neurone disease, I also became an advocate for my family, keen to challenge systems that did not put the person receiving the care or support first. My dad shared all his music with me throughout this period and it held us together. Then, I found Orchestras for All. It showed me that there are places that value wellbeing completely. It makes me excited that I can use the skills and knowledge that I developed to contribute to creating spaces that support wellbeing.
Shannon, Ambassador
I’m Shannon and I joined NOFA in 2018. It changed my life as a musician – NOFA’s approach to music-making was different to anything else I’d experienced and made me realise just how much music could connect people. Since first picking it up in secondary school, my cello and I have been inseparable. I ended up studying music at college and I’m now studying Actor-Musicianship at a drama school.
I’m so excited to be joining the OFA team as an Ambassador and supporting their mission towards making music education more inclusive. I’ve been so inspired by the way OFA empowers young voices and by their commitment to making music accessible – giving me an opportunity that I otherwise wouldn’t have had. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
Tashan, Ambassador
Hey! It’s Tashan here. I’ve been part of OFA for quite some time actually – it’s been seven years. As an Ambassador, I feel that it’s important to assist the core team to make sure all OFA courses, sessions and events run smoothly. I also believe that being an Ambassador puts me in a position to be the bridge between the staff and the young members of OFA, to gain insight on what the young members like and how these OFA courses can be improved for them in the future.
I’m just another guy who really likes music and as I’ve gotten older, I’ve grown to appreciate how much music touches people and brings them together. Outside of music, I’m also studying physics at university, which is another interest of mine. It’s challenging but it’s quite fun too.
On behalf of everyone at Orchestras for All, we would like to thank our individual donors and funders for their kind generosity; without them, these opportunities to strengthen our team wouldn’t be possible.
