Open Up Music

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Our mission is to open up music to young disabled musicians. We've also developed award-winning accessible instrument Clarion.

Our Open Orchestras and National Open Youth Orchestra programmes create opportunities for them to play in inclusive ensembles.

13/10/2026

Bristol music legend Jeff Johns, AKA “Big Jeff”, was at the very first Open Orchestras concert at Bristol Beacon 10 years ago. A decade on, he was in the audience for our Open Orchestras 10 year celebration!

Watch to hear Big Jeff and our CEO Barry discuss:
* How the makes music accessible to young people who can't hold a traditional instrument... “there’s just something really beautiful about that”

* Musical freedom... Is there more to making music than playing the 'right' notes?

Thank you Jeff for coming back to celebrate with us! And to everyone who has been part of the Open Orchestras journey since that first concert. Shout out to St Rose's, Chadsgrove, and Claremont Schools Open Orchestras for playing for us - and the biggest round of applause to the young disabled musicians who showed what can be done🙏🎶 👏

26/06/2026

We're looking for an amazing Assistant Music Leader to join the Birmingham NOYO Ensemble!

This freelance role is an incredible opportunity to work alongside brilliant 11-25 year old disabled and non-disabled musicians

Learn more and apply: https://www.openupmusic.org/apply/

24/06/2026

Diversity is something we deeply care about at NOYO. To celebrate Pride Month Bethan (harp and flute) explored 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯'𝘴 𝘎𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘛𝘰 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘖𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢 by gay composer Benjamin Britten.

This year, musicians in each Regional NOYO Ensemble have been playing their own version of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘖𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢: 𝘈 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯'𝘴 𝘎𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘦 - a modern reinterpretation, composed by Charlotte Harding.

Come experience the National Open Youth Orchestra performing 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘖𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢: 𝘈 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯'𝘴 𝘎𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘦 with members of BBC National Orchestra of Wales in Cardiff and Bristol!

Cardiff tickets: https://www.wmc.org.uk/en/whats-on/2026/national-open-youth-orchestra-with-bbc-national-orchestra-of-wales
Bristol tickets: https://bristolbeacon.org/whats-on/bbc-proms-2026-relaxed-prom/

NOYO is delivered in partnership with Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Bristol Beacon, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, MAC Makes Music, Services For Education, Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama - Coleg Brenhinol Cerdd a Drama Cymru and BBC National Orchestra of Wales with B:Music and Barbican Centre as national partners.

18/03/2026

If you can, please support our Big Give campaign this week and double your donation. You will be making it possible for NOYO musicans to show other young disabled people that music is for them - something they deeply care about 🙏

23/12/2025

We're wishing you a festive end of the year with the Middlesbrough Open Orchestra's rendition of Mariah's "All I want for Christmas is you" 🙌🤩. Thank you so much for your support of National Open Youth Orchestra and Clarion this year. Looking forward to more music-making in 2026, and celebrating our 10th anniversary with you!

11/12/2025

A huge thank you to everyone who shared or donated to our Big Give Christmas campaign!

Thanks to your help, we managed to raise an incredible £20,070. 👏

As a small charity, these funds are vital in enabling us to run our programmes and create opportunities for young disabled musicians to play and perform.

With gratitude ❤️

08/12/2025

One day left to support our Big Give Christmas campaign!

Donate today, and your impact will be doubled thanks to match funding.
👉 https://bit.ly/OUMChristmas

Thanks to everyone who has given so far. We really need you to get us closer to our goal. 🙏

07/12/2025

Please help us reach our Big Give Christmas Challenge fundraising goal! Donate before Tuesday 9 December, and everything you give will be doubled thanks to match funding ⤵️
https://bit.ly/OUMChristmas

06/12/2025

Three days left to support our Big Give Christmas Challenge campaign!

Help us level the playing field for young disabled musicians through the National Open Youth Orchestra, the world’s first disabled-led national youth orchestra, the Clarion, our accessible musical instrument, and Open Orchestras, our network of special school ensembles.

Donate before Tuesday, and every pound you give will be doubled ❤️
https://bit.ly/OUMChristmas

05/12/2025

"I don't know where I would be if I wasn't in NOYO (The National Open Youth Orchestra), but what I know is that it's made me a good person." - Holli (harp)

Find out about the opportunities we are creating for young disabled performers through our programmes... including appearing in Netflix music videos!

Create more opportunities for young disabled musicians. Donate before 9 December and every pound you give will be doubled: https://bit.ly/OUMChristmas

Big Give

Address

Open Up Music, Streamline, 436-441 Paintworks
Bristol
BS43AS

Telephone

+443300167574

Website

http://www.openupmusic.org/

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