Musical Chairs veterans Emily and Mark are joining the orchestra again this year, and we’re so delighted to welcome them back on new instruments - piano and viola this time. We caught up with them both to find out how they’re feeling about this year’s event and why you should come and join in the fun. Click here to out more about Musical Chairs and sign up today!
“In the past few times I have played with Orchestras for All, I have thoroughly enjoyed every second, we play such a variety of pieces and they have really opened up a wider range of musical skills for me.”
Emily tells us…
So far to date I have played music for six years, ever since my Year 4 class music teacher said “you have a talent” - so I took up the cornet for a while and moved on to saxophone. When I’m playing my music, I get lost in my own world.
Having played the cornet, alto saxophone and now piano, my love for music is still going strong. I am now about to start Year 11 at secondary school and am excited for where the near future takes me. Certainly college, then possibly university, and from there, who knows where music can take me! It’s such a big industry and needs more attention, through schools, colleges and the rest of the world!
In the past few times I have played with Orchestras for All, I have thoroughly enjoyed every second, we play such a variety of pieces and they have really opened up a wider range of musical skills for me.
Now I have the chance to give something back to this amazing charity, by raising money to support other musicians. In the past I have played saxophone with OFA, this time I'm trying piano.
And Mark says…
Since learning to play an instrument myself four years ago - initially violin now just starting viola (not a massive leap I know, but I'm finding the change to C clef a challenge!) - I've come to appreciate the satisfaction you can get by learning new skills, techniques and pieces. I played with Musical Chairs before when I first started to learn the violin, and was blown away by the talent and commitment of the tutors, staff and young players.
Once again Orchestras for All is giving me the chance to come and play in a real-life symphony orchestra for a day, working with a team of professional music tutors and members of their innovative National Orchestra for All. We will be performing a variety of pieces from OFA's season of music making including Verdi’s Anvil Chrus and an arrangement of a traditional Ghanaian song, A Keelie Makolay.
The work of Orchestras for All is extraordinary. In times where education budget cuts mean that schools will axe the arts before almost all other subjects, the tireless effort put in by the team at Orchestras for All is so important. So much talent is going to waste simply because it is either undiscovered or simply suppressed due to lack of opportunity. Orchestras for All give that opportunity to so many young people, who can express themselves through music, teamwork and personal achievement.
Please give any amount you can afford to help me reach my target and beyond - this really is such a worthwhile cause. If you enjoy music of any kind, you'll appreciate that the young people playing with Orchestras for All now are the future stars we'll all be downloading in years to come.
Join Emily and Mark and sign up to Musical Chairs today!
