Paraorchestra

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Paraorchestra

With our fearless collective of disabled and non-disabled musicians we push the boundaries of music-making to create art with passion and purpose.

We are orchestrating the extraordinary. The British Paraorchestra is the world’s first, large-scale professional ensemble for musicians with disabilities, founded by British conductor Charles Hazlewood in 2012. Just as the Paralympics have achieved so effectively in sport, the British Paraorchestra has shifted perceptions of disability and disabled people by creating a visible platform for gifted

disabled musicians to perform and excel at the highest level. The group debuted at the London 2012 Paralympics Closing Ceremony. The Paraorchestra and Friends is a registered charity based in Bristol that aims to further the aims of the British Paraorchestra through an array of ground-breaking musical projects. The charity has a new home in At-Bristol, whose vision of a closely connected culture of arts and science chimes with the Paraorchestra’s mission to push creative boundaries and seek out diverse collaborations. Supported by Arts Council England

05/06/2026

We’ve added two dates to our summer-autumn tour of ‘Music for 18 Musicians.’

Catch us performing Reich’s minimalist opus in our signature immersive style at Bristol Beacon for the BBC Proms, Southbank Centre in London, and Sonica Glasgow 2026 before we head to RNCM - Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester for an intimate seated show in the RNCM Concert Hall.

Each of these four performances is going to be unique in its own way, and each will be a chance to experience the expanses of this wonderful, singular piece in vivid detail. We hope you can join us.

Tickets for Bristol, London and Manchester are on-sale now via the link here - https://paraorchestra.com/events/music-for-18-musicians

Thank you to Alfie Dwyer for the gorgeous artwork for the gorgeous artwork and intuitive getting-of our vision for this show.

Artwork description: A collection of eighteen animated figures are arranged across a pastel blue gradient background. The figures are glimpses of the natural world and anatomic processes: a flower blooming, a chick hatching, lungs breathing, hands flexing. The figures pulse and glow with vivid pastel colours trailing from each figure. Black text reads: “Paraorchestra. Music for 18 Musicians. Steve Reich. BBC Proms at Bristol Beacon, Friday 7 August. Southbank Centre, London, Sunday 27 September. Sonica Glasgow 2026, Saturday 3 October. RNCM, Manchester, Friday 27 November. Performed by Paraorchestra. Directed by Charles Hazlewood and Faye Stoeser.”

03/06/2026

‘An act of love’

We are so excited to be bringing SMOOSH! to Tredworth High Street on 10 July in collaboration with Strike A Light

Join us as we dance through the streets of Gloucester, forming a mobile human jukebox of musicians and dancers with members of the local community.

SMOOSH! is free to attend. You are welcome to watch from the street, from your window, or wherever you feel comfortable. More info on timings and full route here - https://bit.ly/4tE6ANj

30/05/2026

“Walk so silently that the bottoms of your feet become ears.”

Happy birthday to the visionary composer, philosopher and teacher Pauline Oliveros (1932 - 2016) 🌌

Swipe right to hear Victoria Oruwari and Paraorchestra performing Oliveros' 'The Last Time/ Ultima Vez' at Southbank Centre.

Video description: Slide one shows a black-and-white photograph of Pauline Oliveros playing her accordion on a stone bench in a garden. She has short grey hair, wears jeans and is barefoot, with her eyes closed and her mouth open as she plays. Slide two shows Paraorchestra performing on stage bathed in purple light, mostly focussing on the singer Victoria Oruwari who has long dark hair and wears a white blouse.

29/05/2026

We’re recruiting a producer to join our team.

Salary: £35,858 per annum
Contract: 12 Month Fixed-Term, FTE
Location: Bristol based, minimum of 2 days per week in the office

We create orchestral music experiences that sit outside of conventional formats, span across disciplines, and are presented in unusual locations.

We’re looking for a producer who genuinely enjoys the challenge of presenting original work in new and interesting ways.

The position of Producer is a key role within our projects team. You will lead the production of our live projects including national and international touring, creating strong relationships with a wide range of colleagues and partner organisations.

This role will suit an organised and experienced arts producer who is adept at holding multiple projects and working positively as part of a team.

Follow the link here to find out more - https://bit.ly/4fLOFB1

Apply by 10am Tuesday 30 June 2026.

Image descriptions:

1. Set to a neon green background, black text reads ‘We’re recruiting. Producer. £35,858 (Fixed-Term 12 Month Contract, FTE)’.

2. A person is dancing on the floor of Beacon Hall at Bristol Beacon, while Paraorchestra musicians and audience members surround them.

3. Around 30 Paraorchestra musicians perform with The Breath and conductor Charles Hazlewood on stage at the Barbican Centre in London. They are all dressed in white and the stage is warmly-lit.

4. Paraorchestra performing at the Cow and Calf in Bradford district. They are all dressed in white and a large audience surround the performers.

5. Set to a neon green background, black text reads ‘Apply now via the link in our bio’

28/05/2026

What’s it like to make music in an environment free from disabling barriers?

That’s the question we’re looking to answer with ‘Play with Paraorchestra’ - a free two-day workshop for young disabled musicians hosted by Paraorchestra in Bristol this October.

Applications are open now and will close on Monday 22 June. Head to our website for more information on the offering and a short(!) application form.

https://bit.ly/3S5IwWy

Music: Hannah Peel and Paraorchestra - Part Cloud

14/05/2026

The rip-roaring parade from Paraorchestra returns!

Taking to the streets of Gloucester on Friday 10 July, SMOOSH! brings high energy wind, brass and percussion to Tredworth High Street in a celebration of music, movement, and community.

In partnership with Strike A Light, a core of Paraorchestra musicians - accompanied by dancers, and alongside members of the local community - will form a mobile human jukebox that invites you out onto the street to dance and sing along in a magnificent communal ‘mass-aoke’.

The joy-packed parade will feature a selection of pop bangers and karaoke classics - with tunes from Fatboy Slim and Basement Jaxx, to Kate Bush and Adele.

Head to the Strike a Light website for timings and full route information - https://bit.ly/4tE6ANj

13/05/2026

Harry Bassett and Lauren Martin are our Musicians in Residence for 2026/7.

What happens when you unite innovative music-makers with truly person-centred support? That’s the exciting question that our residency programme asks.

Now in its sixth year, the scheme creates space for unrestrained exploration. This is where seeds of ideas are given the time and resources to blossom into brand-new projects and collaborations.

Harry will be exploring the trumpet and untraditional notative forms while Lauren will be researching gender and personality in the bassoon cannon.

We can’t wait to see how Harry and Lauren’s projects come to life. Visit our website via the link in our bio to read more about what they’ll be working on.

Image description:
1. Harry Bassett, a man with short brown hair and a beard with glasses, is wearing a black t-shirt and holding a trumpet. Harry is a wheelchair-user and is situated in a studio space.

2. Lauren Martin, a woman with shoulder length blonde hair wearing a white hoodie and baggy ripped jeans, is playing the bassoon in a studio space.

07/05/2026

Our Summer begins with a bucket-list gig: our US debut at the Lincoln Center in New York City.

When we premiered The Anatomy of the Orchestra - The Four Sections at Bristol Beacon back in 2018, it marked the first time we experimented with our Artistic Director, Charles Hazlewood’s vision of putting audiences at the heart of the performance. People of all ages walked amongst our players for an up close, 360-degree feast for the eyes and ears. It was an instant hit and an unforgettable moment.

As part of Lincoln Center’s Big Umbrella Festival we will be taking our presentation of this influential work by Steve Reich to New York City. On Saturday 13 June, 51 musicians will be spread out across the Wu Tsai Theater in the David Geffen Hall, inviting US audiences into the heart of our orchestra for the very first time.

Hear from Charles about why this piece, in this venue, in this city is such a landmark moment for Paraorchestra.

Big Umbrella Festival is a free large-scale performing arts festival created with and for neurodivergent people of all ages. It’s free to attend but advance booking is advised to guarantee entry.

Head here for more info - https://bit.ly/3P8y9QI

Video description: Charles Hazlewood, a man with light skin-tone and short hair wearing a khaki jacket speaks to camera in a brightly-lit room. The video is interspersed with images of Charles at University along with short videos of Paraorchestra performing The Four Sections and clips of the interior and exterior of David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Centre.

23/04/2026

We raised the roof off the Barbican last night with Symbiosis, our collaboration with The Breath.

For those of you who joined us, thank you for making it a spectacular evening.

Led by Charles Hazlewood, with compositions from Oliver Vibrans, and exceptional visual storytelling from BSL interpreter Becky Barry.

We’re hugely grateful to the Barbican Centre for having us, to our fantastic BSL host Daryl Jackson, and to our funders - Arts Council England, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, The Mark Leonard Trust, The Linbury Trust, Garfield Weston Foundation, and Bristol City Council.

Photos by
Lights by

21/04/2026

What’s minimal and maximal at the same time?

Join us as we bring our interpretation of Steve Reich’s game-changing composition to the BBC Proms at Bristol Beacon and Southbank Centre.

Fifty years on from its debut, we’ll perform ‘Music for 18 Musicians’ in our signature style: with the players spread across the floor of the venue and you, the audience invited to move amongst them as the performance unfolds.

This is a mind-and-body, head-and-heart experience. No rules. Climb inside these sublime shifting patterns and take in the sensory journey of Reich’s masterpiece however you please.

Tickets for BBC Proms are available now. Tickets for Southbank Centre go on sale 28 April, 2026.

Thank you to Alfie Dwyer for the gorgeous artwork and intuitive getting-of our vision for this show.

Artwork description: A collection of eighteen animated figures are arranged across a pastel blue gradient background. The figures are glimpses of the natural world and anatomic processes: a flower blooming, a chick hatching, lungs breathing, hands flexing. They evoke an organic sense of growing and unravelling. The figures pulse and glow with vivid pastel colours trailing from each figure. Black text reads: “Paraorchestra. Music for 18 Musicians. Steve Reich. BBC Proms at Bristol Beacon. Friday 7 August. Southbank Centre, London. Sunday 27 September. Performed by Paraorchestra. Directed by Charles Hazlewood and Faye Stoeser.”

Address

The Courts, Bridewell Street
Bristol
BS12QD

Website

http://www.paraorchestra.com/

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