Latest news with #NOYO
BBC News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
'I'm autistic and my orchestra helps me be myself'
A French horn player has said that being part of an orchestra that includes disabled and neurodivergent musicians has helped her to be Spray, 25, plays for and is assistant music leader for the Birmingham National Open Youth Orchestra (NOYO) is set to perform with the orchestra in an inclusive concert experience at Birmingham Town Hall on 8 June."As an autistic musician, NOYO has given me opportunities within the music sector… I'm in an ensemble where I belong and I can be myself," she said. "I started playing the French horn when I was 12, and I love making music and playing with other musicians."NOYO sees 11 to 25-year-old disabled and non-disabled musicians rehearse and perform event on Sunday is set to have a relaxed atmosphere designed to welcome neurodivergent and disabled audiences. There will be a seating area with bean bags and a "chill out" area outside the venue's concert hall for anyone who needs a bit of quiet during the will also be British Sign Language (BSL) ensemble will perform six pieces of music, using a mix of electronic and acoustic instruments."Our concert is called 'No more barriers, just great music', because NOYO is breaking down the barriers, so as musicians we can just focus on our love for the music," said Ms Spray."Our first piece of the concert, which is called Barriers, by Oliver Cross, has a really lovely horn solo which I enjoy playing." 'Everyone is welcome' "What I love about NOYO is the diversity, and all musicians share the love of music and you can really hear that at our concerts," she said."NOYO is proving that with a few adjustments, ensembles can be inclusive."It's really important to me that the audience members can see themselves represented on the stage, and I love that about our relaxed performances."The Birmingham Town Hall performance on 8 June begins at 15:00 BST. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Bournemouth disabled-led orchestra 'removing barriers'
A violinist says playing in a disabled-led youth orchestra is "a way of proving we are good enough".Cass Alabaster plays the violin and viola in the Bournemouth ensemble of the National Open Youth Orchestra (NOYO).He said performing in the group has meant having his needs as someone with a disability "understood and accepted".Cass is set to perform with the national ensemble at the Lighthouse in Poole during a special livestreamed concert at 15:00 BST on Saturday. He travels from Gosport in Hampshire to Bournemouth to play and says navigating life with a disability can feel "embarrassing"."My last orchestra tried to send me upstairs, that wasn't really an option because I'm physically disabled," he explained."Disabled musicians, you don't have to expect them to be worse - just because they're disabled."[NOYO is] a way of proving we are good enough to be in other people's ensembles and worth the extra work of finding accessible routes or other accommodations for." At least 80% of the NOYO musicians are people with disabilities or neurodivergent, says programme manager Bea orchestra started 10 years ago and has grown to five regional ensembles across the UK, working with disabled and non-disabled musicians between 11 and 25 years old."The idea was to remove barriers for individual musicians who have got disabilities, we wanted to get people playing together - regardless of their disability," Ms Hubble explained. The performers use acoustic, electronic and accessible instruments, which Ms Hubble says may not be "traditionally found" in an include a LinnStrument, Seaboard RISE and the clarion, which some musicians play through an iPad with eye or head Hubble added: "We're here to show people it is possible, it can be done and it brings amazing results." You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
