Orchestras for All

05/06/2026

Did you know that today is World Environment Day? 🌎

At Orchestras for All we believe in climate justice… but what does this mean? 🤨

Climate justice is all about being environmentally friendly whilst also fighting inequality, particularly for young people. 💪

Climate change and climate injustice affect people unequally, and we know that understanding this is essential to making the best decisions and protecting our charity and our young people in the future. 🙌

In 2024, we set up the OFA Green Team which a committee made up of members of our office team, Youth Board and Trustees. The Green Team meet every three months and help shape our policies, making sure we are acting responsibly and minimising the environmental impact of our work on the world around us. 👏

Sustainability should not exclude people, and decisions are stronger, fairer and more effective
when shaped by those affected by them. 💚

04/06/2026

See the National Orchestra for All live this July! 📣

Come and join us next month and celebrate the work of our brilliant NOFA musicians as they reach the end of another incredible 18-month season... 🎉 🎶

⏰ When: Sunday 5 July 2026, 1-3pm
📍Where: Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
🎟️ Tickets: £3

Book tickets now by clicking the link or scanning the QR code 👉 https://ow.ly/hrRn50Z7IaC

We can't wait to see you all there! 👏 🥰

12/05/2026

We’re hiring a Programme Coordinator! 🌟 🎶

✅ Are you passionate about making music accessible to all young people?

✅ Do you have an eye for detail and enjoy taking on a varied workload?

✅ Are you keen to work with a sector-leading , dedicated to breaking down barriers to music education for young musicians nationwide?

If so, we’d love you to join our dedicated team and help us deliver OFA’s inclusive, award-winning programmes, changing lives through the power of ensemble music-making! 🎻

This role is a fantastic opportunity to develop skills in programme delivery, while also building experience and growing in confidence within a supportive and friendly environment.

⏰ Application deadline: 26 May 2026

Learn more and apply via our website 👉 https://ow.ly/nBHW50YY8Lo

06/05/2026

We want to say a huge thanks to the Samuel Gardner Trust for sharing our Royal Philharmonic Society Awards news on their website. ☺️

We are incredible grateful for their continued support of our work, most recently though their grant towards our National Orchestra for All programme. 🎶

Wins like these are made possible by their generosity, along with the support of all our funders, donors and our incredible Orchestras for All community. Thank you. 💛

You can read their post here:

We are delighted that Orchestras for All has won the Royal Philharmonic Society (RPS) Impact Award 2026 which recognises organisations that demonstrate the life-changing role of classical music in society, and celebrates our work empowering young people to take on leadership roles and access creativ...

29/04/2026

This Sunday 3 May, Orchestras for All percussion tutor, Julian, will be tackling the Great Birmingham Run! 🤩 👏

He's taking on this challenge to raise vital funds for our organisation and we couldn't be more grateful. 🥰

Please join us in wishing Julian the best of luck from everyone in the OFA community! 🎉 💙

Keen to support Julian's efforts? Please donate what you can 👉 https://ow.ly/Ih6Z50YRcai

19/03/2026

Meet Jack, Grade2athon participant number eight… 🎶

Hi, I'm Jack and I am the Head of Fundraising at Orchestras for All! 👋

I have seen countless moments of individual success and progression through my time at OFA - it’s difficult to pick out just one!

From seeing a group of young people hugging their new friends goodbye at the end of an event or witnessing a small moment of personal satisfaction on someone's face after nailing a piece of music - it makes it all worth it!

Why did I choose the guitar? 🎸

I have played music my whole life but, I’ve always learned by ear, so I wanted to pick up a new instrument that challenges myself with a new way of working, all whilst supporting a charity that makes a huge difference to young people's lives across the UK.

It feels scary but exciting to be taking part in this Grade2athon! As I’m an auditory learner, I’ll need to be very disciplined when going back to reading sheet music… something I haven’t looked at since I was about 12 years old!

I’ve seen first hand the transformative benefits of this organisation. Contributing to its success in my personal time whilst enjoying the challenge of learning a new instrument is win win for me!

Please donate and share my challenge far and wide. Every pound will go towards reaching more young people than ever before through this charities fantastic programmes. ❤️ 👉 https://ow.ly/jsGt50Yq5LF

Thanks once again to ABRSM for partnering with us on this campaign!

Grade2athon2026

18/03/2026

We’re incredibly proud to share that we have won the Royal Philharmonic Society Impact Award 2026! 🎉

Thank you to the Royal Philharmonic Society for this national recognition of our work, and to our fantastic community for your continued support - we really couldn't do it without you. 👏

Receiving this award is a huge win for inclusive music-making across the UK, and reaffirms the importance of our mission. ❤️

Read more about the award on our blog - link in comments! 🔗 👇
(📸 by Mark Allen)

17/03/2026

If you could connect with someone through just one piece of music... what would it be? 🎶

Each year, Orchestras for All's programmes are shaped by a theme developed by our young people. 👏

For our 2026-2028 season, our young musicians have chosen the theme of connection - and we’d love your help with shaping what this will sound like! 🤩

We’re looking for repertoire ideas for our Modulo and NOFA programmes that capture connection through music - emotional, cultural, personal, joyful, powerful - however you might hear it. ❤️

Any genre. Any style. Any era. 😎

Share your song suggestions via this form or in the comments below, and in April, our orchestra will vote on the repertoire choices you’ve helped inspire! ☺️ 👉 https://forms.office.com/e/iMryWVWmZW

12/03/2026

Meet Lawrence, the sixth member of Team Grade2athon… 🎶

I am Lawrence and I am a lower strings tutor at Orchestras for All! 👋

Through my work at OFA, it has been amazing to see how their young musicians are so alive with learning and passionate about performing. They love to play together, create new music and share their own skills. OFA provides them with this environment and the young people come back year after year, eager to reconnect and have the opportunity to perform again. 💛

But what drew me to the drums? 👀

I was born a cellist, but have always looked over to the far distant realm of the percussionists and admired their skill, precision and abandonment, so I have decided that I too want to bang a drum…loudly! 🥁

A few years ago, I judged a competition, and the winner was a young drummer. They were superb; absolutely faultless. This was the first time I have ever seen a young person perform with such expertise and panache. For me, that sealed the deal. 🤩

I am a perfectionist by nature, so I will aim to be good at this task in small steps. One step at a time. I am also hoping that my own ability to keep time will not be undermined and I soon realise that I actually can't count in time. This might be catastrophic for my ego… 😆

The cello will remain in its case until the thunder and cacophony have passed, and I have become skilled enough to join a marching band. 😎

I am very excited to be taking part in the Grade2athon because I am passionate about making music accessible to everyone. It really inspires me to see the confidence of the young musicians grow through OFA’’s programmes so I hope my journey from reeds to rhythm will raise smiles—and funds—to help more young people experience the joy of playing music together.👏

I am sitting my exam next Tuesday 17 March, so please support me in my quest and help the wonderful young people of Orchestra for All. 👏 👉 https://ow.ly/gy8I50Yq5GP

Huge thanks to ABRSM for partnering with us on this campaign!

Grade2athon2026

10/03/2026

Meet Mary, our fifth Grade2athon Challenger… 🎶

Hi, I'm Mary and I am a Student Orchestral Tutor at Orchestras for all! 👋

Born and based in Birmingham, I am currently studying at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Having performed on stages from Symphony Hall to school halls with my oboe and saxophone, I am now taking on a new musical challenge—learning Grade 2 tuned percussion all in support of OFA. 🎷

But how do I feel about picking up the xylophone? 👀

I'm really excited to learn a new skill and explore an entirely new instrument. I'm a visual learner, so looking at sheet music and watching videos will hopefully help me with along my journey and through sitting my exam. ☺️

I am very excited to be taking part in the Grade2athon because I am passionate about making music accessible to everyone. It really inspires me to see the confidence of the young musicians grow through OFA’’s programmes so I hope my journey from reeds to rhythm will raise smiles—and funds—to help more young people experience the joy of playing music together. 👏

Please donate and share my Grade2athon journey and give young people across the UK the life-changing experience of group music-making (link in bio!). ❤️ 👉 https://ow.ly/OHlU50Yq5wZ

Thanks once again to ABRSM for partnering with us on this campaign!

Grade2athon2026