Deaf Youth Orchestra
Since setting up its first Deaf Youth Orchestra in West Yorkshire in 2006 “Music and the Deaf” has wanted to give more deaf children the chance to learn a music instrument. Over the next 3 years we will create a National Deaf Youth Orchestra, in time for our 25th anniversary.
Players attend a “Fun Day” to try out different instruments and then join one of our regional tuition schemes. These are running now in West Yorkshire, North West, East of England and London, and next year plan to add Midlands, South West and North East. Eventually we will cover the whole of the UK.
The tuition scheme takes place once a month, in supportive groups with an expert team of tutors and sign language interpreters. Players are encouraged to join a regional Deaf Youth Orchestra who meet and rehearse 6 times a year, after tuition sessions.
“I cannot put into words just how I feel. As I write I can both see and hear those fantastic children giving their all, and this is bringing tears of joy to me eyes.”
We also have the “Hi-Notes ensemble” in Yorkshire which involves 8 players who compose and perform original music. Within 10 months of being set up in 2008, the ensemble won the New Composition Award at the National Festival of Music for Youth and performed at the Royal Albert Hall in the Schools Prom.
“The Hi-Notes musicians performed brilliantly as usual. Thank you to Danny and Paul for your continued hard work and enthusiasm. We look forward to Thomas being part of MATD and their exciting plans for many years in the future”.
For information about the regional orchestras and tuition schemes contact
Yorkshire: Fiona Lamb dyoyorks@matd.org.uk
North West: Carlie Ward dyonw@matd.org.uk
East of England: Lin Hetherington Lin.Hetherington@cambridgeshire.gov
London: Miriam Smith dyolondon@matd.org.uk.uk
If you would like to make a general enquiry about the orchestras and the Hi-Notes Ensemble, contact Danny Lane, Education Projects Manager, at: danny@matd.org.uk
“It was a brilliant concert and one of those special occasions that is totally uplifting. The spontaneous standing ovation at the end was testament to the way that the audience felt moved by the power of the performance.
It was a real pleasure to work with everyone – Danny’s calm and good natured leadership; Andy’s catchy, exciting and memorable music; Jeff’s inspiring directing; the obvious good practice that Jill has brought to the singing and Paul’s charisma, vision and drive to bring the whole thing together – what more could you need?!”
We would like to thank our funders and partners across the country for helping us to make this project a success. We are truly grateful. To find out more about who some of our supporters are, please click on the following link: Our Supporters
