Deaf Youth Ensembles

We have four Deaf Youth Ensembles in Yorkshire, Manchester, Peterborough and London. Recently, we launched two further groups in conjunction with the Nottingham City Music Hub and the North East Hub Cluster (which covers Northumberland, Durham and Newcastle.

This project has had a ripple effect of inspiration on many Music Education Hubs nationally and there has been renewed enthusiasm for new music groups to be set up in other areas. This will enable us to spread wider and reduce travel for deaf young people.

Whilst we work with many deaf children, we are always delighted to welcome more. Most of the children who join the ensembles have little or no experience of playing a musical instrument (in many cases because they had not been offered the opportunity.) For those with existing musical skills, the ensembles provide them an opportunity to shine.  Playing alongside their peers, with first-rate tutors and sign language interpreters, all the children are given the very best experience of group music making.

 

The ages of the young members range from 8 to 20. If your child wants to come along to one of our sessions to find out more, we would be delighted to offer a tour. Please note that we strongly recommend for all young members to have instrumental tuition outside the orchestra so that they can progress and have the best possible experience from our sessions. We may be able to provide instruments ourselves and support you with finding lessons with suitably trained teachers.

15 year old Thomas West from Leeds, took an interest in the piano through Music and the Deaf and is now working on his grade 4. He has performed in several prestigious venues including the Royal Albert Hall and has won composition awards at the National Festival of Music for Youth. His mum says  “… the project has given him so much joy. He has learnt new skills, but above all else, he has made new friends”.

 

If your child wants to take part in any of the ensembles. Please contact your nearest coordinator:

Fiona Lamb (Yorkshire) dyoyorks@matd.org.uk

Carlie Ward (North West) dyonw@matd.org.uk

Lin Hetherington (Cambridgeshire / Peterborough) Lin.Hetherington@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

Miriam Smith (London) miriam.matd@gmail.com.

Beverley Sterling (Nottingham) bev.sterling@collegest.org.uk

Kathryn Jill Walker (North East) Kathryn.Walker@northumberland.gov.uk

Angela Parker (Music and the Deaf) for general enquiries North East: angela@matd.org.uk / 01484 483115