National Orchestra For All

The National Orchestra For All (NOFA) is an exciting new project for Music First in collaboration with two large scale education programs, Teach First and Achievement for All. In 2011, the first year of its existence, NOFA will take the form of a four day orchestral residential course bringing together young people from challenging schools or communities from all over the country to play together as an orchestra for the first time. The course will take place at Warwick University and will run alongside the Teach First Summer Institute where brand new trainee teachers are prepared to start at their schools in September. We believe NOFA will provide fantastic opportunities for the young people who attend but also for the 2011 Teach First participants who will have opportunities to develop their skills as teachers through working with the orchestra and its students.

Why start the National Orchestra For All?
Every school has that committed musical student who stands out. He or she may be learning an orchestral instrument and doing well, but will not have had much opportunity to play with other people. For musicians, this is one the most powerful and enjoyable musical experiences possible and some children in the UK are given this opportunity on a regular basis either in their school or through courses such as The National Children’s Orchestra or National Youth Orchestra. At Music First, however, we believe that every child should have this experience regardless of their socio-economic background or their instrument level. Through NOFA we aim to address the current disparity, opening up music for all young people coming from schools in challenging circumstances or disadvantaged communities across the UK.

The inaugural NOFA course will take place from 30th July – 3rd August 2011 and the students will be based at Warwick University for the duration. An end of course performance will be taking place in the Butterworth Hall at Warwick Arts Centre on 3rd August.

For more information, please email Music First’s Director of Development and NOFA Founder, Marianna Hay, marianna.hay@musicfirst.org.uk