The end of a truly special season…
At the start of 2020, National Orchestra for All’s core team of staff had no idea that all their plans for the next cohort of young musicians would swiftly be scrapped and re-imagined in a way that the season had never been delivered before.
My name is Paula Morgan and I joined Orchestras for All (OFA) in February 2022 as NOFA’s new Programme Manager – a role I proudly took on. Shortly after, we would be delivering two residentials in person for the first time since the effects of the pandemic swept the nation.
No easy task. However, my motivation was spurred on by the NOFA members who had kept the orchestra alive via Zoom in spite of the world rapidly changing around them.
When planning the residential in April, a lot of thought and consideration went into how these young people would feel after being placed in a room of more than 100 people and, for some of them, playing their instrument outside the safety of their own home for the first time ever.
National Orchestra for All musicians gather during their spring residential in Birmingham
Making music during a global pandemic
We’re all aware of the devastating impact the pandemic has had – especially on our young people – and so, for NOFA, our wellbeing programme was more important this year than ever. Artistically, they had been learning online for the past two years and finally had the opportunity to bring it all together.
We were so lucky to host our spring residential at iconic music venue, the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Our young musicians travelled from every corner of the UK on buses, trains, planes, and taxis.
While there were a few anxious faces meeting us for the first time, many excited members were glad to be reunited with old friends. Others were curious about what the next few days would entail. We had a huge, friendly support team on hand to help guide them throughout as well as our wonderful team of orchestral tutors, wellbeing tutors, core staff members, volunteers and of course, NOFA’s influential Young Ambassadors.
We spent the next few days rehearsing the season’s diverse selection of repertoire, honing our skills and spending time socially to bond as a cohort.
The famed recital evening, a tradition enjoyed by young people and adults alike at each NOFA residential, had us all in tears as usual. The final performances (watch below) were astounding! Despite some of our young musicians struggling during the week and having to take time out, they all got on stage in the end and it sounded incredible.
Experiencing for the first time – and in person – what NOFA is able to achieve in a few short days blew me away and spurred me on even more to prepare for our next residential.
A summer to remember
NOFA’s summer residential was hosted in Nottingham at Trinity Catholic School (also known as the school of the Kanneh- Mason siblings) and provided the perfect space for our ensemble to gather together.
With NOFA’s end-of-season public performance just on the horizon at the Albert Hall Conference Centre, we all made the most of our fun-filled week of playing music together, rehearsing the repertoire and welcoming young people who had attended in-person for the first time.
We were also thrilled to have José Ángel Salazar-Marin, Director of El Sistema Greece, to work with our young people, alongside OFA’s brilliant Artistic Director, Emma Oliver-Trend.
Throughout the season, the level of commitment, dedication, patience and participation shown from everyone involved was astounding. This paid off after witnessing the orchestra’s memorable final performance – featuring striking new words written by NOFA members and spoken word artist, Ben MacPherson – at the end of our summer residential.
Here are a few of my favourite quotes from our young musicians before the final performance:
NOFA trumpeter, Tashan, said: “We’ve got a concert coming up! I’m super excited – we’re gonna play quite a few fun pieces at the Albert Hall. I can’t wait!”
Another NOFA member said: “I’m looking forward to the adrenaline rush that we get when we finish playing our pieces. [After the course], it’ll be sad though to see all our friends go back to wherever they came from!”
National Orchestra for All performs live in concert at the Albert Hall Conference Centre in Nottingham
A keen percussionist added: “Guys, just remember: percussion is the best section! Make sure to listen out for our amazing solo during ‘The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra’.”
The OFA team were also really pleased to have received so much positive feedback from our audience members:
“As parents to sit in the audience and watch [our daughter] being part of this truly amazing and talented orchestra was one of our proudest moments!”
“I saw your recent concert at the Albert Hall, Nottingham. It was brilliant. Good enough for the London Albert Hall!”
“Inspiring. Elevating. Fun.”
Final thoughts
To get through a pandemic and wrap up the season in the way that we did was truly special.
One NOFA member took to their feet to shout, “Hip hip!”, to which we responded, “Hooray!”. So, I say hip hip hooray to many more events with NOFA and would like to thank anyone reading this who helped us make this season happen or came to see us perform.
We’ll be sharing an image gallery of our favourite moments very soon and for anyone who missed out, or for those who would love to see it again, a video recording of NOFA’s final concert will also be available to view in full – watch this space!
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