Based in north London, 19-year-old English Literature student and clarinetist, Joe, first joined the National Orchestra for All (NOFA) in 2014. Years on he supports the group as an Ambassador, so we caught up with him to find out more about his life and musical journey…

Tell us what music means to you.

Music has always been central to my life. We had to learn an instrument in Year 4 [at school], which for me was the clarinet. I’ve kept it up ever since and also did music for GCSE. For me, music is a creative outlet – I do love those creative outlets, which is why I’m studying English Literature!

I love expressing my emotions in a way that other people can enjoy them as much as me, whether that’s through music, art or writing.

What’s been keeping you busy in lockdown?

I’ve mostly been in class – studying English Lit is pretty heavy! I’ve been reading Sabrina by Nick Drnaso, which is a really great graphic novel and there’s a whole bunch of poetry too. We’ve adapted well [during the pandemic] – the university’s got a good system going and the union is working the hardest they can, so it works.

This might sound a bit odd but I’m also a professional conker player. I picked it up in lockdown when the conkers fell and started practising. So yeah, I’m good with a conker!

‘Playing the clarinet is relaxing – it forces you to focus on your breathing’, says Joe

Who inspired you to pick up the clarinet?

To be honest it wasn’t really inspiration, it was more the instrument we were handed in Year 4 and told ‘this is what you’re going to play now’! I learned the basics and got to Grade 1 standard of playing by the end of Year 6. When I went to secondary school they didn’t have a clarinet, but I picked it up again in Year 8 and have had it ever since.

It’s a very relaxing instrument because it forces you to focus on your breathing, so you get into a rhythm and that really calms you down when you’re taking big breaths or holding [a note]. The clarinet is also a soft-sounding instrument (although it can be noisy when it wants to be!).

On the whole it’s an instrument that takes the back melodies – not many pieces are written for the clarinet, so when you play them they tend to be calm.

Describe what music you enjoy listening to the most.

I’m a huge fan of Florence and the Machine – I just love her music, it’s so great! I think I pretty much know every song now. Similarly with Amy Winehouse and Elbow. They’re my mainstays but I also listen to the radio quite a lot (I’m old-fashioned like that), so pick up songs I like from there too. And I love Celeste’s music.

A lot of [Amy and Celeste’s] music touches on issues that I grew up around, so it resonates with me in a big way. But the songs also have gravity and weight in ways that other songs don’t. They usually have a heavy beat, a low line and as for the lyrics themselves, you don’t necessarily have to listen to the words to get the meaning – and sometimes that’s really powerful.

Joe (pictured top left) supports a virtual rehearsal with the National Orchestra for All

Has Orchestras for All impacted your life and musical journey?

The National Orchestra for All (NOFA) has been such a help; it advanced my musical skills grade upon grade, year after year and the [team] are always willing to help you learn. It also massively widened my classical music range – I now have a classical playlist that’s like 300 pieces long!

It’s given me a real appreciation for other art and music and I’m really thankful that I was given the chance to learn and to improve. I’ve met so many nice people that I still contact today.

Why is playing in a youth orchestra so special?

You don’t really find that togetherness anywhere else. You can go out to university clubs, but there’s only so many people there. Orchestras represent a unique harmony, if you like – they’re organic and [in NOFA] you get 100 young people coming together in a uniform way, it’s so great! It’s inspirational because you just don’t see it anywhere else.

Artistic Director Emma Oliver-Trend leads a Modulo performance at the Royal Academy of Music

What’s your advice to other young musicians who are considering joining an orchestra?

Absolutely go for it! Try your hardest – if you’ve tried your best, no-one will ever fault you because you’ve still contributed in some way to the harmony of that orchestra. You’ll definitely take away something more from it – you’re never not learning.

Orchestras for All is…

Amazement! Coming from a working class background, classical music seemed so inaccessible. It just seemed like something for the rich and wealthy – you could learn but weren’t given the opportunity unless you had the money.

If you break down those barriers, more people can have an appreciation for it. And it’s history! If you section off that part of music, you lose something forever. The more you break down those barriers, the more people can remember [the music] – and that’s really important.

To support young musicians like Joe, please donate to Orchestras for All >